Losing weight is an extremely difficult task. People turn to quick diets and become discouraged when they don't have long term success. I believe you must use the Life Style Change method to be successful.
What exactly is a Life Style Change?
Defined by Webster dictionary-
Life style-"Persons particular way of living"
Change-"Make different: alter. Replace by another: substitute. Become different. Pass from one condition or state to another.
Noun: Alteration; modification; transformation.
I define it as: When you are willing to do things that are in your best interest; something that may be out of your comfort zone. Doing something differently because it is better for your mind, body and soul versus doing only what you want to do...i.e.
o If you are use to eating dessert after every meal and now you may only have it once a month-that is a Life Style Change.
o If you use to go out to eat and eat everything on your plate and now you eat half and take half home for another meal-that is a Life Style Change.
o If you use to define a healthy breakfast as bacon, eggs, hashbrowns, toast(jelly), large glass of orange juice but now you define it with, fruit, oatmeal, water -that is a Life Style Change
o If you take the stairs or walk every opportunity you can versus taking the elevator and driving every where that is also a Life Style Change.
o If you exercise 4-5 days a week and enjoy it! That is really a life style change.
I am an advocate of a healthy life style as a means to losing weight.
You can become overweight or obese when you eat more calories (KAL-oh-rees) than you use. A calorie is a unit of energy in the food you eat. Your body needs this energy to function and to be active. But if you take in more energy than your body uses, you will gain weight.
Consequently you must either decrease your daily calorie intake or burn those units of energy that you consume through rigorous exercise.
There really is no quick fix to losing weight. As one of my clients told me one day; "it took me 12 years to gain this weight and I know I won't lose it all over night." That is the best attitude to have about your weight loss experience.
Her starting weight was 115 pounds and she is now 160 pounds. Which was approximately 3.75 pounds per year. Doesn't sound like much but it shows you how weight sneaks up on you throughout the years.
Losing weight the healthy way is a journey and you will see a difference only once you make up your mind that you will be committed to go on this journey. And no matter what, you won't quit.
Experience has shown that the most successful weight loss stories come from those individuals who practice their life style change for the long haul. Instead of trying to drop pounds quickly it may take them years to reach their goals.
I have another client who started her journey in June of one year and reported to me later that she lost 57 lbs. and still losing. It took her 16 months to drop that weight and she plans to lose at least 25 more pounds. So looking at her time table in approximately 8 more months she will meet her goals. During that period of time which is 2 years she will have accomplished what I am advocating, a total Life Style Change.
Be committed, stick with a good eating plan and exercise plan and do it for the long haul and you will see a difference in the way you look and feel.
Remember it is a Life Style Change.
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