It is obvious that exercise directly helps the loss of excess weight by burning calories. It is less well known that exercise also has indirect benefits for controlling weight.
Many studies have found that even moderate exercise can improve the feeling of well being and vitality.
When you put aside a sluggish body, you also tend to put aside cravings for food, especially harmful foods. Of course, if you have really gone all out in burning calories, your body will tell you that you need to eat. But you will tend to taper off as you satisfy your body's real needs.
Here's a trick that works for me. If weather cooperates, a walk before breakfast helps me to be satisfied with a small breakfast of well chosen foods. If my schedule allows, a half hour of jogging, then shower, before lunch helps me be satisfied with a light meal.
Play around with this concept, and listen to what your body tells you. You might well find that heavy exercise after supper is out of the question, but medium to heavy exercise which ends 30 to 60 minutes before supper can actually reduce your craving for food, especially deserts.
Don't forget, however, that wise choices of food types means you can eat heartily without counting carbs or calories.
