You’ve probably heard obesity is on the rise again! The Center for Disease Control is predicting an American obesity rate of 42% by 2030. That’s close to half the population!
So, how do you avoid becoming part of these statistics? Or, maybe you have quite a bit of weight to lose and realize you need to take action. Read on my friend!
Studies are showing that 97% of the overweight population is overweight due to lifestyle. The remaining 3% have been diagnosed with a medical issue that causes weight gain. If exercise and healthy eating have not moved the scale I suggest you talk to your doctor.
For the majority, poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyles, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, lack of time, automation, and chemicals in our food are all some of the things that contribute to being overweight.
I’ve been a personal trainer for over 20 years. I have seen many successful weight loss stories. My own thirty pounds of weight loss included!
I can tell you the success was not due to any government initiated program by itself. Information like www.myplate.org is a good resource. However, you cannot lose weight without action.
Successful long term weight loss occurs when an individual makes a decision to lose weight. Followed by consistent repetitive behavior. That change must come from within!
The tips below will help you lose and/or maintain your weight. They have helped me and my family stay slim for years!
1) Knowledge is key! Tap into health and fitness professionals that are results oriented and not selling you a bunch of hype.
Learn about healthy eating habits rather than the latest fad diet.
Learn portion sizes and how to read labels. See my article Portion Control vs. Elimination Diets for some easy tips to follow.
2) Eat Fresh! Do the majority of your grocery shopping around the perimeter of the store. Fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, dairy, and whole grains are all good choices.
Avoid the processed foods with high fructose corn syrup and partially hydrogenated oils.
Tip: If you can’t pronounce the ingredients you may not want to eat it!
3) Exercise! Push the stroller, walk the dog, walk to work, walk to the bus stop, take the stairs. Just start moving.
It hasn’t been until recently (right around the 1950’s) that planned exercise even became necessary. Up until then, people were pretty active in their every day lives and/or jobs burning calories throughout the day. “Working out” just for the sake of it was not the norm.
Every day tasks have been automated. Removing the need to use the calories and muscle power. While I have no plans of getting rid of my dishwasher, it helps us understand the need for intentional exercise.
Most of us stay more consistent when we have a purpose to exercise. “It’s good for you” is generally not enough unless you’ve had a life threatening visit to the emergency room.
Choose things like hiking a beautiful trail, walking your dog, doing errands on foot, or train for an event. These types of activities give you a reason to exercise which helps you stay on track.
4) Avoid a common trap! One of our relatives stopped eating fast food and lost 20 pounds! She didn’t even exercise!
You may not be a fast food person, However, the average American eats out 4-5 times per week. By cutting this in half you can seriously cut back on calories.
I hope this is helpful for you! Care to share a success story or have a question? Please comment below!
Blessings to you and yours!
Jennifer