Obesity is a serious health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. Being overweight or obese can lead to many health problems. These include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obstructive sleep apnoea and arthritis. It is estimated that 70% of Australian men and 50% of Australian women are overweight or obese and rates continue to climb. Obesity is a long term problem. It is caused by consuming more energy (eating too much food) than is being used through exercise and daily activities. Over a long period of time the excess energy (stored as fat) builds up and begins to cause serious problems.
Weight loss means the reduction of total body mass. It can be through the loss of fluids, fats and lean mass. There are different reasons why people want to lose weight. It could be to become physically fit, to improve health or to look good.
The quickest way to lose weight is through diet and exercise, period. That means taking in fewer calories than you burn. Starving yourself is silly because it sends your body into a low calorie burning mode, and it could cause serious health issues. Patience is a virtue when trying to lose weight, as with many endeavors. In the long run a smart every day diet combined with good exercise is the quickest way to lose weight. And the best part is you won’t regain the weight.
Diet means the everyday way you eat, not a short term solution for losing weight. Foods from each food group are part of a healthy, balanced diet. From there adjust down calories at times when some weight loss is needed.
Sounds like a big change, huh? It doesn’t have to be. You may already eat most of the foods needed for a well balanced diet, just not in the right portions. Cut down quantities, replace starches with whole grains, and you can still even eat cake while losing weight .
The key to maintaining a healthy diet is planning. When you fail to plan you miss meals, that leads to binge eating. When you fail to plan you often end up at the mercy of a fast food restaurant or a friend whose cooking leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to healthy foods. Plan meals in advance, including for occasions like parties and social gatherings. It only takes a few questions to find out what’s being served and plan the days other meals accordingly to not eat too much. Part of the plan is understanding that sometimes the plan will fail. Don’t let a failure discourage you. One cheated meal doesn’t mean the whole diet, remember it’s an every day for the rest of your life diet not just a few days diet, has failed.
As for exercise do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise seven days a week. That’s the goal, don’t worry if you miss a day here or there. Add extra exercise such as parking further from the store or office for a little walk, or using stairs instead of the elevator.