This poor guy could use a weight-loss program - PetCenter.com photo

Today is Fitness and Weight Loss Day.  Many Americans are overweight, so it's a good idea to take today and see where you are, vs. where you'd like to be in regards to weight and fitness.  But don't forget your dog - read on to see the benefits to both of you if you grab the leash and get outside.

A University of Missouri-Columbia study took a group of obese people, issued them each a dog and gave them a walking regimen for 50 weeks.  They started with 10-minute walks three times a week and gradually increased it to twenty-minutes walks five times a week.  At the end of the study, the average weight loss was 14 pounds per person, with no other change in their eating or lifestyle except walking the dog.

Some personal trainers tell their clients, "if your dog is fat, you're not getting enough exercise."  They're not kidding, either!

And many dogs suffer from being over-loved by their people.  Most dogs are at least a little bit overweight, and study after study has shown that being overweight shortens a dog's life span.  So people with obese dogs are literally "loving" them to death.

Some veterinary hospitals even run weight loss clubs for dogs, including monthly meetings, a weight-loss counselor, PT sessions and more.  If your dog is very obese, it's a good idea to have a thorough check-up, including bloodwork, to see if a metabolic disorder is contributing to weight gain.  If so, treatment can be started.  If not, then you and your dog need to get to work on getting your dog to a healthier weight.

Most people find they walk longer when they're walking with a dog.  They forget to stress about all the other things they "should" be doing.  They just get into the zone of watching their dog enjoy the world.  Walking a dog is great exercise for both of you, and is a stress-buster that most of us could use in our day.

Most people know how to tell if they're overweight, and think they can manage the weight loss themselves.  If so, great.  If not, there are good programs that cost very little money that will help them achieve and maintain a weight-loss goal.  But many people don't know how to tell if their dog is overweight.  They'll pat the side of their obese furry friend, saying "it's solid muscle" when in reality, the dog needs to lose weight.  How to know if your dog is packing a few extra pounds?  Gently run your fingers down your dog's side over the ribs.  Can you feel each rib and the shallow indentation between them?  If so, then your dog's weight is probably fine.  If not, then it's time to see the vet for a recommendation of how much your dog should weigh and a plan to get there.  You shouldn't be able to count the ribs by sight alone from across the room, but you should be able to feel them when running your hand along your dog's side.

So today, Fitness and Weight Loss Day, vow to spend a little more time outside and a little less time on the couch.  Both of you, because it's good for you both!

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