Fit and healthy for a lot of Americans starts with losing weight.
Losing weight is not just about looking good but it is also about
feeling good. Heart disease is a big problem in the United States
causing 25% of all deaths in the US. The CDC predicts that one-third of
the adult population in the US will develop Type 2 Diabetes. Both of
these diseases are totally preventable. In fact, both are directly
correlated with being over weight. Meaning, if you are overweight, you
are more likely to suffer from heart disease and type 2 diabetes than
someone who is not. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The
problem is, losing weight is not easy for most people who are at risk.
In fact, it may seem down right impossible.
The fact is, there is no easy way to lose weight. Losing weight requires simple changes in lifestyle that are not easy because they need a shift in mindset. To lose weight, we have to adjust our eating habits and level of activity. Diet and exercise. Simple. The difficulty with that is, our eating habits form during childhood, passed down from generation to generation. As children, we do not have control over what we eat and where we go. We may or may not learn poor eating habits that we then pass on to our kids. Eating healthy does not just mean fewer calories and more salad. It means eating whole foods, foods that have not been processed. Simple concept. Not always easy to execute.
The same thing goes for exercise. If exercise and physical activity were not a part of your upbringing, the odds are high that exercising is not even on your radar. Which probably means you'll have to change your entire schedule to include exercise into your daily routine as an adult. Simple concept. Difficult to execute.
Here are some tips that may make it easier to make simple changes to your diet and exercise to meet weight and health goals:
The fact is, there is no easy way to lose weight. Losing weight requires simple changes in lifestyle that are not easy because they need a shift in mindset. To lose weight, we have to adjust our eating habits and level of activity. Diet and exercise. Simple. The difficulty with that is, our eating habits form during childhood, passed down from generation to generation. As children, we do not have control over what we eat and where we go. We may or may not learn poor eating habits that we then pass on to our kids. Eating healthy does not just mean fewer calories and more salad. It means eating whole foods, foods that have not been processed. Simple concept. Not always easy to execute.
The same thing goes for exercise. If exercise and physical activity were not a part of your upbringing, the odds are high that exercising is not even on your radar. Which probably means you'll have to change your entire schedule to include exercise into your daily routine as an adult. Simple concept. Difficult to execute.
Here are some tips that may make it easier to make simple changes to your diet and exercise to meet weight and health goals:
- Figure out your relationship with food. Are you eating to survive? Do you eat when you're bored? Do you eat to celebrate? Do you eat when you're sad? You can recognize what triggers you to eat when don't need to.
- Start phasing processed foods out of your diet. Anything packaged in a box or bag and stored at room temperature probably has ingredients your body can't process. This also includes fast food. Eating them will not help you lose weight. Simple concept. Not easy to execute.
- Don't wait to get to the gym to exercise. Find ways to merge exercise into your daily routine. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park in a far parking space. Hand deliver notes and documents.
- Exercise BEFORE you start your day. Getting a brisk walk or run in early in the day jump starts your metabolism and gets those endorphins flowing. Working out in the evening may seem better in theory but sometimes after a long day, you just do not feel like it. Other times, things come up. Life happens and you may find yourself missing your work outs.