“Lose weight” is the most common New Year resolution. If it really is a resolution, it should only be the goal of one year, right? Apparently it’s not. A person must “qualify” to lose weight before they can. Read on to see how to qualify and then how to do it.
DO I QUALIFY?
- Is the motivation level high? Many people scramble to lose weight after a doctor tells the patient to come face-to-face with mortality. Now that’s motivation. However, it shouldn’t come to that. Before a person decides to live a healthy lifestyle, he or she must realize what it is going to take and decide beforehand if they are ready to do what is necessary.
- Can you do and not say? Many people eat meals with three times the recommended portion size. Then, completely stuffed, they put their hand on their belly and say, “I need to lose weight.” The old adage, “actions speak louder than words” rings true now and always will. People can’t say they want to lose weight - they have to do it. Are you ready to do what is necessary?
- Can exercise be made a priority? People have their jobs, spouses, children, housework, televisions shows and still need to find time to sleep. To lose weight, people have to put some activities like shopping or television on the backburner and replace them with exercise. Are you willing to do this?
- Do you really want to? Drugs, alcohol and smoking are addictive. Food is the drug of overweight people. Just like any other addicted person, the food addict needs to really want to quit. If the person isn’t ready to quit deep inside, the recovery process will not be successful. If you are not ready to give up cake or fast food, your weight loss goal will be a failure.
- Do you have a course of action? Plan out exercise days ahead of time instead of trying to make time at the last minute. Don’t go on a diet. A diet is a stressor all in itself. Prepare yourself to make consistent healthy food decisions.
Did you answer “yes” to all of the above questions? Then you are ready to begin. You are mentally prepared to begin a new healthy life.
WHAT MUST I DO?
The American Heart Association recommends an elevated heart rate of thirty minutes every day. Some people find cardiovascular exercise boring so pick a recreation you enjoy doing. It can be walking, dancing, racquetball, bike riding, basketball or anything that elevates the heart rate.
Busy lives sometimes restrict daily exercise. Try to complete cardiovascular activity 180 minutes per week and/or at least three days per week. If you work nine to five Monday through Friday, then be sure to take advantage of Saturday and Sunday. Then you only need one or two more days during the week.
Chew sugar free gum. Some people eat because of an oral fixation or out of sheer habit. Chewing gum takes away the need.
Drink water. Water triggers the satiety portion of the brain. This curbs appetite. Chewing gum and drinking water are especially effective when trying to control nighttime snacking.
Sleep. People can’t eat when they are sleeping. Going to bed earlier is the sure-fire way to eliminate getting a bowl of ice cream from the freezer. Sleep also releases many hormones that provide health benefits like relieving stress, cleaning the digestive system, build muscle and more.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Are you going to take financial advice from a homeless person? Of course not, so listen to people who actually practice what they preach. Yes, overweight people are less “intimidating” but it doesn’t mean they really know how to lose weight. Listen to people who have actually lived it, not say it.
Don’t neglect the mental portion of weight loss. You need to have the motivation, a plan of action and then execute it.
For more tips on nutrition, see the "Calories and Weight Loss" article. For exercise methods, read the “Weight Loss Workout." Good luck and make 2000gr8!
References:
“The Benefits of Water” The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
The American Heart Association
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