losing weight should be about establishing a program which will allow you to reduce your weight gradually. By doing this there is a far greater chance that you will keep that weight off. In most cases there is no problem with starting out on a weight loss program without medical supervision. However if you need to lose a lot of weight and/or have medical problems then supervision of a health professional is essential. losing weight does not have to be difficult.
There are a few non negotiable facts that we have to accept before beginning.
We are all individuals, each with our own genetic make-up which pre-determines things such as body shape and our general build. Therefore it is essential that we are realistic in our goals. It may be that you will never fit into the same dress size as your friend just like the fact that you did not grow to be as tall as your friend because you are two very different people.
One thing that is certain by going about it in the correct manner everyone can lose weight, let's have a look at how we can do this successfully.
It is all about our calorie intake, if we take in more calories than we burn off the excess is stored as fat. Did you know that every extra pound of fat you have amounts to 3500 excess calories which your body did not need? So, basically if we reduce the amount of calories we take in by this amount in theory we should be able to lose one pound in weight. So where do we start?
1. Move to eating 5-6 small meals per day and incorporate lots of fresh fruit, vegetables and lean protein. By doing this you will regularly boost your metabolism and reduce the temptation for unhealthy snacks. Cut back the amount of carbohydrate you consume i.e. pasta, rice potatoes etc. but do not eliminate them from your diet completely.
2. Drink plenty water, experts recommend we consume 8 large glasses per day. This also helps to burn calories by allowing the body to digest the high fibre foods and convert then to energy more efficiently. Avoid sugar filled carbonated drinks completely.
3. The best way to burn off calories is by exercising regularly. Whilst most of use would consider going for a jog or a swim which are classed as cardiovascular exercises for even better results we should consider adding in some exercise which will increase muscle in your body like weight training.
Both types of exercise will increase your metabolism i.e. burn off calories to produce energy. However muscle will actually burn more calories than fat and even once your exercise session is over it will continue to burn calories for up to 24 hours. Cardiovascular exercise will only maintain an increased metabolic rate for a few hours after a session therefore burning less calories.
A successful diet is all about getting the correct balance between the amount of calories we consume and the amount we burn off. Crack this equation and you will be on the road to a slimmer, healthier you.
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