This article has been written specifically for those who are
finding it difficult to lose weight, or those who are simply just having
problems adhering to regimented training schedules and adopting healthy eating
habits. By following the simple advice offered in this article the odds of achieving
a healthier lifestyle should increase drastically. The most important thing to remember
before embarking on a dietary/training regime is that the overwhelming majority
of those who fail to follow these through do so because they are placing the
bar too high. Their goals may be perfectly realistic, but the way that they chose
to go about it is definitely not. There is a lot more to losing weight than just
working out at a gym and cutting back on unhealthy foods for a couple of months.
Losing weight is about making profound and conscious lifestyle choices, and above
anything else, it’s an exercise in mental strength.
There are only two ways that healthy persons can lose weight
and those are by eating less, by exercising more, or a combination of the two. There
is no magical solution or wonder pill that will help people achieve this goal
without any effort on their own part. The notion that it is somehow possible to
lose weight without having to take any serious proactive steps is not based in
reality. There are however some very simple methods that people can avail themselves
of, and which will eventually see them achieve their goals.
When going on a diet it’s important to remember to take it
slowly, and above anything else to set achievable and realistic goals. Most people
are incapable of transforming their lives completely over night. The more stringent
the training regime, the more difficult it is going to be to adhere to. If the
only physical activity required to lose weight was to sit in front of a TV for
4 hours a day, chances are that everybody would be able to do it. However not
everyone have the mental stamina to follow a rigorous exercises program that
involves arduous physical activities on a daily basis. The lessons to be drawn
from this simple observation are that slow and gradual changes are easier to
follow through than fast and profound changes. In this article we are going to
take a closer look at some of the slow, but highly effective steps that people
can take to get into better shape.
The most important lesson when it comes to losing weight is to
eat less. It’s a message that really can’t be stressed enough. If you are successful
in reducing your food portions and if you manage to only eat at predetermined
times you’ll have achieved more than 70 percent of your goal. Bigger portions
along with less physical demanding jobs and changing pastime habits have
contributed to an obesity epidemic that have effected almost every single
nation in the western world. It goes without saying that the more food a person
put into his/her body, the more mass that body is going to attain. By reducing
your food portions you’re basically denying your body the opportunity to grow
in size.
Another common misconception when
it comes to losing weight is that people have to change their diets from day
one. Granted, you will have to change the type of food that you eat, or at
least some of them. But in order to increase your chances of maintaining a diet
you should only do so gradually. If the changes occur too quickly, odds are
that you will fail in your endeavour. The best thing to do is to gradually
introduce new and healthier foods, and slowly phase out the more harmful ones.
If this is done over the course of a few months it’s not going to be such a massive
shock to the system, and you are more likely to be able to pull it off.
The second strategy that you
should adopt is to start walking around inside your house/apartment after each
meal, instead of sitting down and being inactive. By simply walking around for
an hour a day you’ll reduce the amount of time you spend sitting down, which should
be sufficient to see you start losing weight. You can gradually extend these
sessions and walk around for longer periods, once you get accustomed to the new
routine.
The third strategy is to become more physical active in
general. Instead of jumping in elevators whenever you are going up or down a
building, start climbing the stairs. Stop parking right next to the entrance of
the shopping mall/shopping centre, and instead park at the far end of the
parking lot and walk the extra distance. Also start going for walks in the
local park and begin taking leisurely strolls around your neighbourhood on
weekends and in the evenings.
By introducing these very simple, but highly effective strategies
you will gradually start to lose weight, and you should see an overall
improvement in your general health. The best part about employing theses
methods is that it will enable you to lose weight without having to endure the
gruelling and strict training regimes that are offered at various fitness gyms.
As with any type of challenge the first few days are always going to be the
hardest, but don’t despair, once a routine has been established things will start
to become much easier.
Another important thing to keep in mind, and one by the way that
very few give much thought to, is that it’s almost impossible to maintain a strict
diet for long periods of time. Staying away from unhealthy foods and expect to be
able to do so for extended periods is unrealistic. Hence you should consider introducing
a so-called ‘junk food day’ once a week, where you are allowed to indulge in whatever
types of food that your heart may desire. This will make your new diet seem less
challenging and much more manageable. However do remember to stick to the
smaller portions and only eat at predetermined meal times.
In recent decades protein shakes
and other types of health products have started to appear on the market and these
are often touted as ‘magical wonder cures’ that will help you lose weight
quickly. In reality however these products are a waste of time and money and they
should be avoided. Not because they don’t work, or because they somehow give
people false expectations, but simply because there is no need for them. The
best way to lose weight is to eat healthier foods, by sticking to smaller
portions and by being more physical active. Trying to lose weight by drinking
protein shakes or taking diet pills in lieu of consuming normal organic foods
is unnatural and should therefore not be encouraged. You are much better off
eating normal foods.
You should also start writing grocery lists, and stick to these
lists religiously, whenever you do your grocery shopping. Make it a habit never
to buy anything that isn’t on the list. Most people will engage in impulse shopping
and the products they tend to go for are often of the more unhealthy kind. A
shopping list is a highly effective antidote that will prevent you from buying such
unnecessary products, not to mention that it will save you lots of money. You
should also consider setting up weekly menus where you list the types of meals that
you are going to have during the week.
Any activity that involves physical exertion can be mentally
challenging, and hence there should be a carrot at the end of the stick in
order to entice you to maintain your focus and stick to your new routine. One very
simple way to achieve this is by introducing a motivation jar, which basically
involves positioning a big glass jar in a strategic location inside your house
and put a few dollars in it at the end of each day. When the jar is full, empty
it and use the money to pamper yourself. However if you fail to reach your
goal, i.e. you cave in and completely quit your diet, then donate the money to
a charitable organization. By employing this strategy you will add an additional
motivational factor that should help you stay focused on the task at hand.
You should also start to record your progress. Put a
detailed chart up on the wall that shows how much weight you have lost. This
should serve as a morale booster and it should help you to keep pushing on. It’s
important to remember that exercising may initially seem like a strenuous and
tiring activity, but in fact the opposite is true. It is actually an energy
booster. Not only will it help you to lose weight, but it will make you feel
better about yourself, and most importantly, by taking small steps instead of a
giant leap you are lowering the mental bar and not setting yourself up for
failure. For most people a stringent military like exercise and dietary regime
will fail to work because it’s simply too hard to follow through. In most cases
such programs will only push the participants back to square one, disillusioned
and unmotivated to start over again.
Contrary to popular belief it is not necessary to work out a
gym on a regular basis, or to run 5 miles a day to lose weight. Losing weight
can be accomplished by making some very simple, but profound changes to your
daily life, and as opposed to signing up for an expensive gym membership, it
doesn’t have to cost you a single cent. In fact it’s a bad idea to purchase a gym
membership if you are struggling with motivational issues, as odds are that you
won’t have the required drive to go there on a regular basis. If you want to
join a gym you should only consider doing so after having firmly immersed
yourself into the type of routines that are offered here in this article.
And there you have it, a simple and easy non-strenuous
training and dietary regime that actually works. All you have to do is to
follow these simple methods and you’ll be on your way to a better and healthier
future. And the best part about it is that you don’t even have to leave your house
to do so.
So get up from that chair, put away those chips and start
pacing your unit :)Good luck!
