The Right Way to Lose Weight
The Right Way to Lose Weight
The percentage of overweight Americans has increased steadily over the last 20 years. Fad diets and magic pills are everywhere, from television infomercials to kiosks in the local mall. Everyone is talking weight loss. Of course, if these quick fixes worked, the United States would not be the land of the free and the home of the fat. Weight loss is not effortless and it does not happen overnight. Healthy and successful weight loss requires a balanced, committed approach that includes nutrition, exercise, and emotional support.
The first step to a successful weight loss journey is embracing healthier foods. A healthy diet must be followed to achieve desired weight loss goals. By decreasing the body’s caloric intake, the body can use stored fat as fuel, rather than use what is being absorbed from each meal. Lower calories, however does not mean boring, tasteless food. Limiting fat while increasing plant-based foods such as fruits, whole grains and vegetables, creates a balanced diet that is full of variety and is easy to prepare without giving up flavor (Mayo Clinic, 2006).
“Dieting alone can help you lose weight. Cutting 250 calories from your daily diet can help you lose about half a pound a week … add a 30-minute brisk walk … and you can double your rate of weight loss” (Mayo Clinic, 2006). Adding an exercise regimen is a vital part of losing weight. Even a simple 10 minute walk a day is a step in the right direction. Slowly adding exercise to a daily routine helps maintain the commitment to exercise. Jumping into a full blown workout will only discourage and overwhelm, rather than help build a lifetime exercise relationship. Hiring a personal trainer can help with accountability and motivation for exercise, and can also be a great for encouragement in reaching weight loss targets.
Changing eating habits along with making time to exercise isn’t easy to do alone. It is essential to have a support network when making the
The percentage of overweight Americans has increased steadily over the last 20 years. Fad diets and magic pills are everywhere, from television infomercials to kiosks in the local mall. Everyone is talking weight loss. Of course, if these quick fixes worked, the United States would not be the land of the free and the home of the fat. Weight loss is not effortless and it does not happen overnight. Healthy and successful weight loss requires a balanced, committed approach that includes nutrition, exercise, and emotional support.
The first step to a successful weight loss journey is embracing healthier foods. A healthy diet must be followed to achieve desired weight loss goals. By decreasing the body’s caloric intake, the body can use stored fat as fuel, rather than use what is being absorbed from each meal. Lower calories, however does not mean boring, tasteless food. Limiting fat while increasing plant-based foods such as fruits, whole grains and vegetables, creates a balanced diet that is full of variety and is easy to prepare without giving up flavor (Mayo Clinic, 2006).
“Dieting alone can help you lose weight. Cutting 250 calories from your daily diet can help you lose about half a pound a week … add a 30-minute brisk walk … and you can double your rate of weight loss” (Mayo Clinic, 2006). Adding an exercise regimen is a vital part of losing weight. Even a simple 10 minute walk a day is a step in the right direction. Slowly adding exercise to a daily routine helps maintain the commitment to exercise. Jumping into a full blown workout will only discourage and overwhelm, rather than help build a lifetime exercise relationship. Hiring a personal trainer can help with accountability and motivation for exercise, and can also be a great for encouragement in reaching weight loss targets.
Changing eating habits along with making time to exercise isn’t easy to do alone. It is essential to have a support network when making the
References: Weight Watchers Research Department, (2005, March). Social support and lasting weight loss. Retrieved from http://www.weightwatchers.com Mayo Clinic Staff, (2006, December 20). Weight loss: 6 strategies for success. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weightloss