If you're looking for a quick, easy answer, this is not the place. I don't believe in crash diets, losing ten pounds in ten days, the latest in fad diets diet pills or quick fixes of any kind. What I do believe in is making the healthy lifestyle changes that will bring your body into balance and find your perfect weight.
Therefore, I'm not even going to mention fad diets, diet pills and the like. You've probably heard this before and very likely will hear it againa healthy diet and adequate exercise are essential for losing weight and keeping it off. Well, that's true. But what does that really mean? The question then becomes "What is a healthy diet? What is adequate exercise? And is that all there is to it?"
Let's tackle the question of diet and let me say here that I mean "diet" in the sense of "what food you put into your body" rather than a prescribed regimen. In fact, let's start with that question: what food are you putting into your body? We don't always keep track. One thing I like to recommend to my clients is to keep a food diarywrite everything down. You may be surprised at what you're eatingand what you're not. Just being aware of what you take in over the course of a week is a really good place to start.
Read labels! I continue to be amazed at the unnecessary junk found in just about everything. Before I get on my soapbox about pre-packaged, processed foods, reallyjust start reading those labels. My general guideline is this: If you can't pronounce it, if you don't know what it is, if it seems unnecessarydon't eat it. I have an acquaintance, for instance, who began losing weight virtually effortlessly. The only change in her diet? She stopped eating anything containing high fructose corn syrup.
And of course, I recommend lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and protein from high quality sources, preferably organic. With summer in full swing, there are farmers' markets and fresh produce just about everywhere. Not only is fresh, local produce delicious, hitting the farm stands and markets tends to be a much more pleasant shopping experience (Don't forget that stress can keep on unwanted pounds).
Getting the junk out ofand the good stuff intoyour diet is the best place to start. We'll talk more about fine-tuning how you eat another time.
I'm just going to say a brief word about exercise here: find something you like to do and do it. If you're not crazy about going to the gym, chances are that even if you summon up the willpower to go anyway, you probably won't stick to it. On the other hand, if you love gardening, then make that your source of physical activity. Walking, as I'm sure you've heard, is a great way to get some exercise. Try walking around your neighborhood, find a nearby park. Check out the track at your local high schoolmany school let walkers use the track after school hours and when it's not in use by the school. Or simply try something new. My personal favorite form is exercise is bellydance (really fun and a great way to work out). Check programs at your local YMCA or Continuing Ed programs. The point is to find a physical activity that you enjoyyou'll be more likely to stick to it if you're having fun!
Is that all there is to it? Well, yes and no. Yes, eating a healthy diet that's right for you and finding exercise that you enjoy are key components to weight loss, but in my opinion, it's just as important to find the right frame of mind. If you're stressed out about losing weight, how effective is your diet and exercise going to be? And will you be able to stay motivated? Here's where my secret comes inand part of what makes me an expert-of-sorts in this area is my own experience with weight loss. After taking my own advice, figuring out what foods were right for me and finding activities that I loved (bellydancing and walking), I still wasn't achieving the results I wanted; I wasn't meeting the goals I set for myself. I was, in effect, stuck. Still convinced that I was on the right diet and exercise path, I decided to try an experimentI simply changed my goals. Since the goalsnot the food or the physical activitywere what was stressing me out, I made them easier. Rather than pushing myself to lose the 1.5 to 2 pounds a week I knew could be done healthfully, I decided to set a goal of just one pound a week. I eased up on myself and in just releasing the stress of the higher goal, I started losing the weight I wanted. In the first month of this new mindset, I lost five poundsvirtually effortlessly.
Sounds simple, doesn't it? Well, it is, really. That's not to say that finding your healthy weight doesn't require any effort. You do need to do the work to find a way of eating that's right for you, you do need to get your body moving and you have to find the right frame of mind. These tasks can take time, but the result is a healthier youand you're worth it! The good news is that it can be done and you don't have to go it alone. Don't be afraid to ask for support from friends, family or from the Humble Neighborhood!
Love & Light!
Maia
For more information, visit me on the Web at http://www.humbleneighborhood.com. For online support, new friends and healthy recipes join the Humble Neighborhood on Yahoo! Groups at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/humbleneighborhood/
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