Weight Loss Diet Advice :: Advice for those looking to lose weight
Whether it's just a few extra pounds gained over the holidays, 10-20 put on during pregnancy, or "a bunch" borne out of too many beers or sweets over too many years, you need to set your goals, choose a weight loss program you can live with and stick to, and do it one day at a time.
A sensible weight loss program will usually include a modification of eating hatits, and at least a small increase in exercise (exercise doesn't need to be torture, it can start as a walk around the block). If the excess poundage is significant, you should also consult your physician before beginning.
Many dieters look at weight loss as something they need to do quickly, like lose 10 pounds the first week. Although it can be done, a more sensible, long term, approach is one that will take off a pound or two every week for the first month or two, and then a pound or two a month until you reach your goal.
Just for fun, try carrying a bowling ball in one hand and a sack of potatoes in the other, take a walk around the block, then sit down and think about how great life would be if you didn't have to do that every waking moment of every waking day. Does that get you motivated? You see, a weight loss of 25 pounds is the equivalent of the bowling ball and sack of potatoes completely eliminated from your body.
Just a warning. If you let them, your body and your mind will resist every attempt at change, even if they know what you're attempting to do is the right thing. That's why most people put lost weight back on quickly. Diet doesn't have to be a 4-letter word (well, I guess it does, but not a bad 4-letter word).
A sensible weight loss plan will not be to skip breakfast, then eat a Snickers bar for energy later on. This is where setting initial goals and making a commitment to follow your personal game plan will yield tremendous benefits.
A sensible weight loss program will also make sure you don't run into vitamin deficiency problems, since cutting back on calories sometimes means not getting enough of the foods that contain the recommended daily allowances of the vitamins and minerals that make bodies and minds function properly. We've set up another web site to help you find discounted quality vitamins, minerals, and supplements. There is also a chart that helps you recognize when you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency problem, and what to do about it.
In order to find the perfect weight loss plan for your particular situation, I recommend that you step back and do some research before you start. That's where the Internet gives you an advantage over prior generations. There are thousands of great articles available and tips galore to help you get started. Many of them are catalogued on this site, and the sites we link to.
Today's the day you can choose to finally get your weight under control. Here's the plan:
- decide how much weight you want to lose
- look around our site and the resources and articles we link to. Jot down the tips you like onto a sheet of paper. You might jot down 30 things, that's fine, you can edit your list later.
- put together your personal program. It might be as simple as "drink more water, no snacking after 9:00 at night, go for a walk 4 times a week", or "substitute carrot sticks for cookies and water for cola". See, that isn't so hard, but if your problem is greater, you might need a few extra action steps in your personal program.
- stick with it and check your progress every couple weeks. Don't watch the scale daily, your water weight will vary and only discourage you, allowing the devil in your mind to take you off the path to success. You'll know by how you feel if you're making progress. You'll have more energy and look better in the mirror, forget the scale's opinion.
Start now by looking through the links on our site, you'll find lots of articles. Read them all, no charge. It might take a few days or more to read them all, but it's time well spent, and each one will give you a better idea about how you want to set up your personal weight loss program.
Good luck and good health, and don't forget to tell your friends about us, too!