For centuries, dogs have been regarded as man’s best friend, they have become so close to us that we have not only taken them as our companions and friends, but we have also brought them into our homes and made them part of our lives. But the utility of these dogs goes beyond simple companionship.

Dogs can help foster and encourage healthy habits and if you incorporate them into your exercise routine can help you stay motivated, healthy and fit always.

Dieting on only low sodium food with no exercise cannot take you to that level of fitness you want, this as totally been tested and found true with the evidence increasingly clear that having a pet can lead to a longer, healthier life.

Here are some of the ways your dog can help you lose weight and stay healthy:

They Can Be Your Exercise Partner

There are thousands of exercise programs, low sodium food dieting, books, videos and even theories all coming out to claim to have found the secret to easy weight loss. But very few, exercise programs have been designed to help you and your dog stay fit together.

Whether you’ve packed on a few extra pounds over winter or you’ve spent your entire adult life battling to stay healthy, losing weight does not have to be a daunting challenge, by incorporating your dog into your exercise or walking routine, it can make weight loss fun for both of you.

They Can Help You Stay Motivated

Then you feel completely overwhelmed and little down setting goals, dieting or exercising altogether can become a thing forgotten. But if you want to lose weight and you’re looking for some extra motivation and inspiration, then your dog is a very special friend you can call on for help.

Dogs are wonderful motivators, they can provide you with the motivation and encouragement you need to get out and about whenever you face those days when getting any form of exercise seems like the hardest thing in the world.

Dogs Encourage Healthy Habits

Getting into a healthy habit of exercising every day takes time, consistency and dedication. But having a friend who will always nudge you to get up once it gets to that time can help you develop this good habit faster.

You can start by setting a daily routine where you go out for a walk or run with your dog. You can also combine the two by trying to walk a little and then run at the same time each day. Taking morning walks are the best because walks at this time help you to get ready for the day and it helps your dog to disperse the pent-up energy he accumulated during the night.

If you make this a regular habit, then your dog will grow to become used to them and will expect it from you. On those days you feel a little lazy and don't want to get off the couch, your dog will nudge, pull, and whine until he gets his daily exercise. You could take this behaviour as annoying, but it would help a lot if you can see it as a motivation to having a good exercising habit.

Eating Right

Having a furry best friend that supports you and is ready to join while you are doing exercises is quite great but also eating the right kinds of food can also go a long way too. Understanding the health problems posed to individuals due to the high rate of sodium (salt) consumption is important. High sodium consumption can lead to health problems like high blood pressure. Taking low sodium foods (do not forget that the dog also needs special food while exercising regularly with your dog can help you reach your goals of losing weight, staying healthy and fit faster.

You can use the Nutrition Facts label to check the amount of sodium. Compare labels to find low sodium food.