Obesity has reached epidemic levels in the United States. At least two thirds of American adults meet the criteria for being either overweight or obese. Nearly 5% of American adults are considered to be extremely obese. One of the problems is that far too many adults around the country do not get enough exercise. It has been estimated that only 20% of adults in America get the amount of activity recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a consequence, more of us than ever suffer from heart disease, Diabetes and are at risk for having a stoke. All of these problems can be reduced by getting more exercise. Enter the PiYo program.
“PiYo” is a combination of pilates and yoga. The pilates part of the PiYo workout plan tones, reshapes and strengthens the body. The yoga helps promote better flexibility and mindfulness. PiYo workouts are great for burning fat. They carve out all of the muscles you want to show off without forcing you to do high impact exercises that may be hard on your joints. If you have knee or hip issues, this may be a great workout for you. There are no jumping to hurt your knees and hips. This workout does combine aerobic exercise with strength training moves.
The PiYo system also includes the PiYo diet plan. This is a personalized diet plan that is tailored to the individual’s weight loss goals and needs. The PiYo eating plan’s main point is that the real “secret” to weight loss is to use more calories than you take in. Many people believe that they need to starve themselves to lose weight but when you just stop eating, your body does not know that there is a 7-11 around the corner. It just knows that it needs calories and it is not getting any. The result is often than the metabolism plummets and your body will hold onto every calorie it gets. Another misconception is that one kind of energy is “bad.” For a long time, fat was the baddie. Then it was carbs. Your body needs protein, fat and carbohydrates to function properly. The PiYo diet also understands this.
What are the benefits of the PiYo program?
- It promotes weight loss. The high intensity PiYo workouts keep you moving constantly as you work out multiple muscle groups at the same time. The plan has been designed to keep participants’ heart rate in the ideal range for weight loss. This is one of the main reasons the program is so successful, it helps people lose weight.
- It helps people tone without adding bulk. A lot of people want to gain tone and definition but not bulk. This program is generally not for people who are looking to get huge. This program does not rely on the use of weights but on the body itself.
- It is very low impact. A lot of people have fallen out of the habit of exercising because they have suffered an injury. Because there is no jumping or bouncing, this is a very easy program on the joints. This is a great workout plan to get back into an exercise regimen.
- It is good for people of all fitness levels. If you are an elite athlete, you can still get a lot from the flexibility training aspects that come from the yoga part of the PiYo plan. If you are a body builder, for instance, this program will not add bulk but can be great to help you gain flexibility. For runners, it can be a great workout to compliment your running. For beginners, they can start out slow and build up to more intense workouts. It is great for people who have never worked out or have fallen out of the habit.
Every January, millions of Americans resolve to work out more, eat better and lose weight. Every year, gyms across the country fill up, people push themselves to the point of injury and then give up. The PiYo plan is a gradual one. It is not about suffering, just getting into great shape and losing weight.