| With so many scores of people going on the | | | | to see any long term success. |
| latest fad diet only to gain all the weight back, | | | | And, you will need to include one other important |
| you may think that diets don't actually work. Well, | | | | element in your weight loss strategy...exercise! |
| Diets Do Work, but you must realise that diets | | | | Whatever your visions are about exercise, it does |
| are designed to cater to a specific lifestyle. Going | | | | not have to include expensive gym membership, |
| on a diet usually produces mixed results. In the | | | | long gruelling workouts with a personal trainer or |
| beginning, you cannot help the amount of weight | | | | running 10K races. |
| you lose. It just seems to melt away with very | | | | Walking to the corner store instead of taking the |
| little effort. | | | | car, walking the dog early in the morning or joining |
| Then, as you reach your desired goal weight and | | | | a walking club is all that's needed to make |
| revert back to your 'normal' eating pattern, the | | | | exercise a long term part of your weight loss |
| weight seems to slowly return until you realise | | | | plan. |
| that you're back to where you first started, with | | | | Coupled together with good food choices, you will |
| a little extra for added measure. The fact that | | | | find that exercise will accelerate your weight loss |
| you lost weight in the first place proved that | | | | more quickly than just by eating alone and will be |
| Diets Do Work! So, why did you gain back all the | | | | key to your long term goal of maintaining your |
| weight you lost and then some, making the whole | | | | desired weight. |
| weight loss journey a frustrating experience? | | | | Here are the six steps to reaching and maintaining |
| Well, first you must realise that the foods you | | | | your ideal weight to suit your lifestyle. |
| ate to contribute to those extra pounds is | | | | 1. Exercise is key. At least 30 minutes, three |
| essentially your diet. It's what you have been | | | | times a week, walking or doing an activity that |
| following for a long time. Chances are that your | | | | gets the heart rate up, such as an exercise DVD. |
| choices have not been the best and given your | | | | 2. Drink plenty of water to stay well hydrated, |
| lifestyle - quick lunches and processed meals with | | | | especially before and after exercise. Limit your |
| little nutritional content - you are probably | | | | intake of drinks which contain caffeine and artificial |
| consuming more calories than you are using in | | | | sweeteners. They can really affect your mood. |
| your daily activities. | | | | 3. Eat small smaller meals more often throughout |
| So, if you chose to go on a diet, you need to | | | | the day rather than the traditional '3 square meals' |
| make fundamental changes to your current food | | | | a day. Think more of grazing all day rather than |
| choices that will allow you to maintain these new | | | | overeating at meal times. |
| food choices long term. The reason why people | | | | 4. Snack on fruits and nuts. Avoid sugary snacks, |
| are always on and off diets is because they have | | | | rich deserts and pastries. The sugar rush will give |
| chosen a short term solution to a lifetime change. | | | | you a quick energy rush, but you will crash quickly |
| Losing weight and keeping if off is not a seven | | | | and feel drained of all energy. |
| day quick fix solution. You need to change the | | | | 5. Don't skip breakfast. Having a good start to the |
| habits that have so far contributed to your | | | | day is important and you're likely to make better |
| excess weight and replace them with better | | | | eating choices during the day. |
| choices, choices that can be sustained over a long | | | | 6. Enjoy eating! Take time to chew your food and |
| period of time. And most important, these | | | | absorb the taste rather than eating hurriedly. You'll |
| lifestyle changes, although hard at first, must fit | | | | find it takes longer to finish your meal and you |
| within your way of life. If not, it's going to be hard | | | | actually feel like you had something to eat. |