Holiday Weight Loss is Possible
Ok before we talk diet - Why did the rabbit cross the road? Answer is at the end.
The world is overweight, especially in the United States. Every year we seem to get fatter. And the rest of the world is rapidly catching up. It does indeed seem to be a case of feast or famine.
People who have put on a few extra pounds typically fall into one of two categories. They are either obsessed with dieting and losing weight or they act like they do not seem to care.
The first group will likely fail because of their unreasonable expectations, while the latter group thinks that weight loss and fitness are just too difficult, so they give up without even trying.
If you belong to either group, you need to put things into perspective. You will probably never develop a supermodel figure or bodybuilder physique. But the good thing is that you do not need to.
Fitness is not about hourglass figures or washboard abs. Just losing a few pounds can add years to your life and make those years much more enjoyable.
Excess weight can reduce your stamina, put stress on your joints, and even cause illnesses, such as heart disease or diabetes.
So start each day with the intention of eating better and getting just a little exercise. Do this one day at a time and you will find it to be much easier than you expected.
Now instead of waiting until January 1 to start a "new you", start now today because tomorrow will never come.
Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. Start your day with a tall glass of cold water. Not only is it a great way to start the day, but you feel less hungry, so you will eat less. If your stomach absolutely rebels at the thought of downing a cold drink try sipping. Now my grandmother always had a cup of warm water. She would drink it as she walked around the house or the yard during warm weather. She said it got all her insides working.
2. Try to eat breakfast within an hour of getting up in the morning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but you should not wait until you get really hungry or you may be inclined to eat too much. If you drink a pot of coffee for breakfast your stomach will be sloshing in fluid and you will not feel the need to eat. Big problem - you metabolism will not kick in until you put solid food into your stomach that requires digestion. So before you hit that second cup insert a banana or an apple.
3. Eat a lot of fresh fruit. They are an excellent source of nutrition and many contain the extra fiber that your body needs. The fiber will help move the more unhealthy food items from your system.
4. Do not forget the vegetables. Try to eat at least one salad every day. When you feel the urge to snack, try some celery or carrot sticks. Some people seem to have a phobia about veggies, but they really are good when you give them a chance. Have the salad dressing in a small container - on the side. Dip instead of drowned.
5. Control your sweet tooth. Sweet usually means sugar, which translates into calories. Holidays always have those extra yummy goodies sitting around. Family and neighbors bring cookies. You absolutely must make your famous pie. If you cannot limit yourself to just one piece, then add some exercise. Pay the price in movement rather than pounds.
6. Keep a food diary. Write down everything that you eat. At the end of the day, you may be surprised, even shocked by what you have written down. Don't show your diary to anyone else or you may be tempted to cheat and not write everything down.
7. Stay away from fried foods. Even if the oil is drained away, there is still a lot of hidden oil, which adds fat and calories.
8. Do not be a couch potato. There are several little things that you can do for exercise. Walking instead of driving. Bike riding. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you just stop for a moment and think about it, you can come up with dozens of ideas. Instead of saving time by taking everything in one trip - make those extra steps count. For instance - if you are taking all the clean laundry back to bed rooms - take only a few items and make several trips.
So start with small goals and find how much easier it gets every day. By the time New Year's day gets here you will already be into a new way of eating and exercising.
And let's face it, isn't that what you are looking for? Easy and do-able.
Oh I almost forgot - why did the rabbit cross the road? It was the chicken's day off.
If I don't manage to get another posting done - Have a Merry Christmas
until next time - smile
Sharono
The world is overweight, especially in the United States. Every year we seem to get fatter. And the rest of the world is rapidly catching up. It does indeed seem to be a case of feast or famine.
People who have put on a few extra pounds typically fall into one of two categories. They are either obsessed with dieting and losing weight or they act like they do not seem to care.
The first group will likely fail because of their unreasonable expectations, while the latter group thinks that weight loss and fitness are just too difficult, so they give up without even trying.
If you belong to either group, you need to put things into perspective. You will probably never develop a supermodel figure or bodybuilder physique. But the good thing is that you do not need to.
Fitness is not about hourglass figures or washboard abs. Just losing a few pounds can add years to your life and make those years much more enjoyable.
Excess weight can reduce your stamina, put stress on your joints, and even cause illnesses, such as heart disease or diabetes.
So start each day with the intention of eating better and getting just a little exercise. Do this one day at a time and you will find it to be much easier than you expected.
Now instead of waiting until January 1 to start a "new you", start now today because tomorrow will never come.
Here are some tips to help you get started.
1. Start your day with a tall glass of cold water. Not only is it a great way to start the day, but you feel less hungry, so you will eat less. If your stomach absolutely rebels at the thought of downing a cold drink try sipping. Now my grandmother always had a cup of warm water. She would drink it as she walked around the house or the yard during warm weather. She said it got all her insides working.
2. Try to eat breakfast within an hour of getting up in the morning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but you should not wait until you get really hungry or you may be inclined to eat too much. If you drink a pot of coffee for breakfast your stomach will be sloshing in fluid and you will not feel the need to eat. Big problem - you metabolism will not kick in until you put solid food into your stomach that requires digestion. So before you hit that second cup insert a banana or an apple.
3. Eat a lot of fresh fruit. They are an excellent source of nutrition and many contain the extra fiber that your body needs. The fiber will help move the more unhealthy food items from your system.
4. Do not forget the vegetables. Try to eat at least one salad every day. When you feel the urge to snack, try some celery or carrot sticks. Some people seem to have a phobia about veggies, but they really are good when you give them a chance. Have the salad dressing in a small container - on the side. Dip instead of drowned.
5. Control your sweet tooth. Sweet usually means sugar, which translates into calories. Holidays always have those extra yummy goodies sitting around. Family and neighbors bring cookies. You absolutely must make your famous pie. If you cannot limit yourself to just one piece, then add some exercise. Pay the price in movement rather than pounds.
6. Keep a food diary. Write down everything that you eat. At the end of the day, you may be surprised, even shocked by what you have written down. Don't show your diary to anyone else or you may be tempted to cheat and not write everything down.
7. Stay away from fried foods. Even if the oil is drained away, there is still a lot of hidden oil, which adds fat and calories.
8. Do not be a couch potato. There are several little things that you can do for exercise. Walking instead of driving. Bike riding. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. If you just stop for a moment and think about it, you can come up with dozens of ideas. Instead of saving time by taking everything in one trip - make those extra steps count. For instance - if you are taking all the clean laundry back to bed rooms - take only a few items and make several trips.
So start with small goals and find how much easier it gets every day. By the time New Year's day gets here you will already be into a new way of eating and exercising.
And let's face it, isn't that what you are looking for? Easy and do-able.
Oh I almost forgot - why did the rabbit cross the road? It was the chicken's day off.
If I don't manage to get another posting done - Have a Merry Christmas
until next time - smile
Sharono
posted by sharono at 4:55 PM
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