It's Difficult to Keep the Weight Off
Losing weight might seem to be a difficult task, but it's nowhere near as tough as keeping it off!
Recent studies have indicated that half the population in the developed world is overweight, and of those, around a third are so overweight they are classified as obese. It's little wonder that the diet, fitness and weight loss industries are so profitable, in fact each is a multi billion dollar market.
Unfortunately, many, if not most, of the diets being promoted offer a less than ideal nutritional answer to what the body needs. The human body is a complex thing, and it needs a wide variety of nutrients. The typical weight loss diet offers a limited range of foods, and is most likely unsustainable, particularly those targeting a very low calorie intake.
So how do you lose that extra weight, and more importantly keep it off without going to ridiculous lengths and becoming a "dieting tragedy?" Here are few simple ideas to get you started on the right track:er.
- Identify the problem, and you are half way to solving it. Look at why you eat the way you do. Often stress, fatigue or dehydration are disguised as hunger. Are you are overwhelmed, thirsty, bored or truly hungry when you reach for a snack?
- Plan your meals ahead of time. No need to program a detailed menu, but think about what you will eat for lunch and dinner beforehand, so that you aren't scurrying around at the last minute or eating on the run because you're hungry and it's time to eat. Try to cook a few meals ahead of time, ready to defrost when you are short of time.
- The human body is great at maintaining itself, but only if you keep your immune system working well. Diets are often short of essential nutrients required for the immune system to function at it s best, so you may need to supplement your diet with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and maybe even a pro-biotic. There are many reputable products on the market that will supply the necessary nutrients to boost your immune system and general well being.
- Small steps add up to big results. Eating "smart" across a wide range of foods will add up a saving you lots of calories, without making huge dietary changes. For instance, switching to low fat milk, cheese, butter, dressings and jams will help a lot, as will switching to low sugar drinks.
- Exercise. You knew this one was coming didn't you! Losing weight without some form of exercise is very difficult. Even if you day is jam-packed already, you can squeeze in some exercise with a little planning. It's generally accepted that 3 or 4, 30 minute sessions a week is the minimum you should be aiming for, but more is definitely better. Be creative, take the stairs, jump of the bus a few stops early or walk to the shop to get the Sunday pap
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Hard to Keep the Weight Off