Saturday, March 03, 2007

Eight Helpful Tips to Win the Battle of the Bulge

Do you have problems with weight gain?

Can’t seem to get enough of eating?

Is weight gain your main concern now?

Chances are you are one of the 1.2 billion people in the world who are having problems controlling their diet and weight. In the United States alone, 93 million Americans are classified as obese.

Losing weight is one of the most daunting tasks that a person can undergo. It requires a great amount of discipline and perseverance on the part of the obese person.

Some people have the tendency to go on a “crash” diet just to be able to get rid of those fats and calories. The bad news is dieting is just not effective in the long term. You will have to change your lifestyle, if you are bent on shaving off some weight.

If you are seriously considering reducing some pounds in your weight, read on.

1.Determine if there is a real need to lose weight. Look at your shape, height, weight, and history of obesity in your family. When was the last time you gained weight? Does obesity run in your family?

2.Evaluate your eating habits. Are you constantly starving or craving for food? If you are, you first need to learn how to eat in a normal pattern. Erratic eating habits and dieting may reduce your body metabolism causing you to starve and hoard food into your stomach.

3.Make a plan. Once you have set your mind on changing your pattern, you have to determine how to do that. You can choose the food you eat, the amount of food you ingest, or the physical regimen you will engage in. You can also seek the help of a dietitian.

4.Don’t aim to lose too much too quickly. Avoid getting the habit of losing weight at once. Don’t try to lose more than half a pound in just a week. Take it one pound a week. Make changes gradually.

5.Start with damage control. You can handle this task yourself. If you are not in-charge of the shopping chores, you can ask the one doing the shopping not to include chocolates or potato chips in the shopping list. Rather, opt for the low-calorie diet.

6.Don’t give up easily. Just because you failed and chose the wrong food one day doesn’t mean you should totally forget the weight loss issue. You can always start out the next day.

7.Reduce the fat. Cutting out on fatty foods is not only good for your figure but also for your health – you can lower your risk for heart diseases as well as cancer. Fatty foods eat up a lot of calories in your body. A gram of fat contains nine calories while a gram of protein or carbohydrates contains four.

8.Have a regular exercise. Exercise and other strenuous activities can burn out unwanted calories. However, it may also increase your metabolism so choose the right kind of exercise. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Ride the bicycle or do brisk walking.

Weight loss programs may provide empty promises. Taking into consideration these eight helpful tips may be the key to a genuine weight loss program.

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