From personal experience I have myself like all of you at one time or another tried dieting. I have lost weight on some plans but in the long run was not able to sustain it. It seems as though every time I lost some weight I would gain it all back and then some. It was a never ending depressing cyle.
The question you should ask yourself before attempting any diet is can I live with this for the long term? Another words can I incorporate this as part of my healthy lifestyle, day in and day out?
And the reason most people can't is very simple. There are a number of reasons and i will name a few. When you deprive yourself of some of the foods you like human nature takes over you "resent it" food is suppose to be a pleasurable experience one of the many joys in life. How does it make you feel when you can't have something?
Usually when people diet they lose energy. Your body is use to a certain amount of calories and now you cut down and you become lethargic and tired, and energy levels drop.
Dieting lowers your metabolism. Your body will go into starvation mode making it harder and harder to achieve results.
Dieting usually causes hunger signals to increase and we start to get cravings, and they are usually carb cravings and any excess sugar usually ends up around our waistline or hip area.
Dieting creates a false sense of confidence because most of the time the more you diet the harder it becomes and now a sense of guilt creeps in everytime you eat a food on that forbidden list.
Usually when you lose weight on a diet a lot of it is water, and muscle. At all costs you want to preserve muscle mass because in a resting state muscle burns more calories than fat. So again what have you really done here? Set yourself up for failure again.
Have you ever seen a thin fat person???????? A person who looks like there at their proper weight but if you feel their body they are soft, soggy, and what I call fleshy. A high percentage of fat, even though they might be in a good weight range.
On the other hand you see someone who weighs 250lbs. with 4-6% bodyfat and are mostly all muscle. Now they too as far weight goes may not fall into proper weight ranges, but as we all know muscle does weigh more than fat!
This is why I don't believe in BMI (body mass index}. I really don't give it any relevence at all. That is in my humble opinion only.
So what is the solution to the problem?
The very first question you want to ask yourself is: Can I see myself sticking to this program or routine for life? If the answer is no forget it. If you can answer yes and live happily with your decision then you are onto something.
Throw away the scale. Dump it. This is a microwave society if you don't see results quickly people usually lose interest. A better barometer of results is your clothes that have all of a sudden become too tight and uncomfortable. You have to understand that a lot of times following a sensible exercise and nutrition program weight will shift and the scale may not reflect it. Loss of inches and toning will.
What is my game plan? Well I hate to be redundant but the only thing that works long term is regular and consistent physical activity and a sensible eating plan. Now I could tell you what to eat but I really feel that most people know what they have to do. And as far as exercise all I can say is do what you enjoy whether it is running, weightlifting, rebounding, tennis, rollerblading, skateboarding, it doen't matter. If you enjoy it you will be consistent. Dont do something just because it will burn more calories faster, you won't keep it up.
I will share with you my personal strategy that has worked for me and I can live with it very comfortably. And i think most people could do the same.
1.) USE SMALLER PLATES: Instead of using normal dinner plates. This allows me to eliminate nothing! I eat everything. But I obviously don't eat as much of the food that is bad for me. SO I DON'T FEEL DEPRIVED. Pizza, ice cream, chips, etc. I think the word here is everything in MODERATION.
2.)Eat 5-6 times a day, instead of 3. I know it is hard just do it! This works well with the smaller plate concept. You will not be hungry if you eat every 2-3 hours. I bring cans of tuna with me on the road, apple, and string cheese.
3.) Doing this actually speeds up your metabolism. You will become a fat burning machine instead of a fat storing machine.
4.) Limit alcohol, all it really is a lot of sugar. If you need to have one the best are dry wines, scotch, and vodka. Avoid the mixers with sugars. Add water, soda water, or diet tonics.
5.) For snacks I like smoothies and protein drinks.By adding nutri-sweet/or vanilla extract It can curb carve cravings. Bananas are another excellent choice.
6.) Your exercise of choice. (MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU). Treat it like any other priority. I like to see a minimum of 3 workouts per week. Make the time, and be consistent.Enjoy it!
There you have it. (REMEMBER! IT IS A LIFESTYLE CHANGE) if you want long term results. Not a quick fix.
Who else? Wants to get in shape fast! I need your advice! "FREE REPORT" by visiting: http://askyourfitnessquestion.com
Lincolnshire shuttle from Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThis little known secret has been used by bodybuilders for... Read More
You could try one of the many sexual enhancement drugs... Read More
Weight training combines building muscle tone and working the cardiovascular... Read More
CancerCoronary heart diseaseStrokeOsteoporosisMajor Depression from Brain StarvationHeadlines.WASHINGTON, Jun 22, 2004... Read More
I was at the grocery store the other day, doing... Read More
Ever thought of, known someone, or gone on a diet?... Read More
How would you like to eat all you want and... Read More
Here come the candy canes. In our house, Santa always... Read More
Dietitians just plain don't like low-carb or high-protein diets.Whether it's... Read More
It's always great to find a protein supplement with very... Read More
Supporters of the Atkins Diet claim that a low carbohydrate... Read More
According to the American College of Surgeons, most severely obese... Read More
Losing weight quickly is not advisable as most of the... Read More
Chances are if you've stepped foot in a gym or... Read More
When women talk about their biggest obstacles to successful weight... Read More
Axiom Number FourTo have a great selling diet plan encourage... Read More
Self-acceptance and body love can be tough concepts to grasp... Read More
As of the writing of this article, May 16, 2005,... Read More
Since gastric bypass weight loss surgery gives us a second... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifteen... Read More
A "normal-tummy" looks at the food pyramid from the bottom... Read More
Everywhere we look in the western world we are inundated... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight... Read More
Yes and no. Moderate calorie restriction helps in controlling and... Read More
Algonquin limo Chicago .."I eat like a bird, why do I gain weight?"... Read More
Of all the possible exercises there are to help you... Read More
Diners have become more health-conscious the last few years, and... Read More
Abdominoplasty, or "tummy tuck" is a major surgical procedure that... Read More
Weight Loss Red Flag GuideDespite claims to the contrary, there... Read More
As a woman, your body is very complex. Throughout every... Read More
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More
Eating the right foods and exercising regularly have been the... Read More
Are you considering a low carb diet? If so you... Read More
Life is extraordinary filled with wonderful people to show up... Read More
Steady gains made in improvement in life expectancy may be... Read More
In March 2003 our then 13 year old daughter, Helen,... Read More
Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day... Read More
Things get so confusing when it comes to understanding what... Read More
One alternative method to traditional and tumescent liposuction is mesotherapy.... Read More
Axiom Number FourTo have a great selling diet plan encourage... Read More
"THE SECRET REMEDY OF THE ANCIENT WARRIORS"Since what would seem... Read More
Is Zone Diet a Fad?How do you recognize a fad... Read More
Natural Weight Loss Is PermanentOnly natural weight loss can be... Read More
You've seen them a hundred times: "Before" and "After" pictures.... Read More
Are you ashamed of your weight? Do you have a... Read More
Green Tea Also Has Anticancer PropertiesGreen tea, which has been... Read More
Obesity, once seen as akin to laziness and overeating, is... Read More
A pound of fat represents approximately 3500 calories of stored... Read More
Are you feeling down and out? Do you feel even... Read More
Weight Loss |