Go after changing your lifestyle instead of dieting.
Some people will tell you that in order to lose weight, you need to go on a diet. You have to count your calories, watch your carb intake, and eat more fruits and vegetables. Others say cut out salt, sugar, fructose corn syrup, white grains, dairy, and anything processed or refined. No more cookies, cakes, or ice creams. Nuts are okay, but only certain kinds and they can’t be salted! No this, no that...the list goes on. Meal planning, juicing, and drinking water always seems to be in. Except, some say drinking a lot of water is helpful, and other so-called experts say it actually isn’t necessary. This can be extremely confusing and frustrating, especially when it sounds like the only choices you have to consume are spinach, celery, or kale. And if losing weight wasn’t hard enough, every year there’s a new and different fad diet to try, promising to be better than the last. There is the Atkins Diet, Vegan Diet, South Beach Diet, and nowadays, it’s the Ketogenic Diet.
Then, you’re told to exercise, at least three days a week. Exercise entails cardio, stretching, strength training, weight lifting, and more. You can use the stair-stepper, treadmill, or elliptical machine. Gym memberships are great, but running outside is better, they say. You can even turn your home into a fitness center. There are helpful videos and fitness gurus on YouTube, or you watch workout DVDs like Jillian Michaels or P90X and do them from the comfort of your own home. Don’t forget that Zumba, Cycling, Yoga, Pilates, or even Pole-dancing classes are an option. If you’d like, you can even hire a personal trainer. You have many options to lose weight, they’re practically limitless.
So, which one is better?
Can you lose weight by just dieting, or do you need a combination of both? What if you have health conditions, don’t live near a gym, or don’t have money for a personal trainer? Is meal planning necessary? Where does one start?
Here are a few suggestions to get you ready. First off, you should consider losing weight more of a lifestyle change, rather than a quick fix. Next, it’s important for you to check with your doctor and make sure you are cleared to exercise. Get a physical done and identify any restrictions you may have. Once you’ve been cleared, you can begin. A mixture of both diet and exercise will give you the best outcome. Eating right is good, but it’s also important to get your body moving and blood pumping.
For beginners, start with small, measurable, and achievable changes/goals, then work your way up. This could be, drinking more water, gradually eliminating sweets, or going for walks. Then, you can begin incorporating weights, eating more vegetables, and drinking less soda. Overall, you will begin to feel better. Don’t set unrealistic goals; you want the changes to last. You want to be doing things that you will continue doing, not just stop doing as soon as you get to that desired number on the scale. Remember that the number on the scale isn’t the end all. Muscles weighs more than fat. Don’t starve yourself. Do something that works with your lifestyle. Getting healthy shouldn’t be confusing or frustrating, but it will require effort and work. You may need to wake up earlier and remove things from your schedule to make time for working out. Everyone is different. They have different goals, body shapes, schedules, and metabolisms; there is no one size fits all. So, it’s best to find something that works for you. Make sure it’s something that you can commit to, that is reasonable and realistic.