Almost 108 million Americans were overweight or obese in 1999. Even today, obesity is still a very serious problem and is expected to approach epidemic levels by the year 2020. One way to avoid this occurring is to enlighten people about the dangers of being obese. Here are some illnesses that you are subjecting yourself at risk to, if you are grossly overweight: 1. heart disease; 2. stroke; 3. diabetes; 4. cancer; 5. arthritis; 6. high blood pressure.
Losing weight helps to prevent and control these illnesses. The quick weight loss programs which have spread like wildfire recently do not provide sustainable results. Usually, dieting methods which involve dietary drinks, foods and supplements or pills do not necessarily work. If they do, the results are only temporary. It is better to rely on a healthy weight loss option which will provide lifetime results. You have to set realistic goals and not expect to lose a lot of pounds in a short span of time. Here are some tips on how you can lose those unwanted pounds in a healthy way:
1. Do not starve your self. The key to a healthier way of losing weight is: Do not diet. You may be happy that you are losing those excess pounds on your stomach and thighs by skipping meals. But remember that this can not last long. Your body cannot tolerate having insufficient sustenance to provide the energy that you use up everyday. If you try missing one or two meals a day, your body will go into starvation mode, meaning that when you do eat, it will go straight to your thighs, buttocks and hips.
2. Start your day correctly. Mothers always used to say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and they were correct. Have a healthy meal when you get up to kick-start your metabolism. For example, a traditional breakfast of bacon, eggs etc. will keep your stomach busy all day, reducing your cravings.
3. Eat smaller, healthy meals often. Five small snacks a day is far better than three large meals. Eating more often, and in smaller servings, can help avoid over-eating. This will also speed up your metabolism and encourage your body to burn more calories faster.
4. Decide on how much weight you want to lose. Keep your goals realistic. In the long run, it is almost impossible for you to lose 40 pounds in two weeks. Have a mindset that you want to eat healthy to remain healthy for the rest of your life. Once you have decided on a weight loss plan or program, stick to it and make certain that you follow your own set of dieting rules.
5. Drink plenty of water. Your body needs sufficient water to burn fat and keep your cells hydrated and healthy.
6. Avoid too much sugar. Plan your meals around lots of fruits and vegetables, some bread, rice or pasta for that carbo fix that you need, plus lean meat and protein rich-foods. Sweets, sodas and pastries should be every now and again indulgences only.
7. Watch your fat intake. Fat is not the culprit for being overweight. You must have fat to hold your weight at the correct level. There is such a thing as a healthy fat. Olive, peanuts and canola oil have them. Tuna, salmon and mackerel have omega-3 fats which are great for the heart.
8. Exercise.
Leave your car where it is, if you are only travelling a few hundred yards from home, take the staircase instead of the lift, jog, cycle or skate. Use these activities and other home chores if you are too busy to go to the gym and go to exercise classes. Make certain that you do this frequently and you will not even notice that you are already shedding pounds with these day-to-day activities.
It does not matter how many kilos you plan or have to to shed. What is important is that you have achievable goals for yourself. Go slowly. If you have already lost 5-6 pounds, give yourself a break then try to lose the next five pounds. Eat healthy, drink lots of water, have plenty of sleep and exercise. This will give you a higher chance of losing weight and improving your health, which would result in a new, healthier you.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on a variety of subjects, but is at present concerned with Recipes to Lower Your High Blood Pressure. If you want to know more, go to our website at Gourmet Recipes and Good Health.