Weight Loss Can Be Healthy
Make Weight Loss and Health Synonymous for YOU!
Each year as the holiday season passes, countless
Americans vow to lose weight. The reasons for wanting to
lose weight are many. To feel better, to look better, to
have more energy, and to be healthier. The problem is that
weight loss does not always equate to health in the short or
long term. Some people choose methods that promote weight
loss, but do not promote health and many times have
considerable risks.
The good news is that there are ways to lose weight, be
healthy during the process, and keep it off healthfully for
good. According to the Partnership for Healthy Weight
Management, there are several factors that determine what we
weigh:
- How much and what kinds of food we eat
- Whether or not we exercise regularly
- Whether or not we use food to respond to stress and
other situations in life
- Our physiologic and genetic make-up
- Our age and health status
How to Choose a Healthy Weight Loss Method that
Works for YOU.
Successful weight loss and overall weight management
should address all of the factors that determine your
current weight. For instance, if you are overweight, but you
exercise, and are just prone to eating poorly during times
of stress, your plan should have a stress-management
component AND a balanced meal plan. Studies show that an
integrative approach to weight loss is most successful.
Weight loss is significant when people are offered
encouragement, accountability and emotional support, in
combination with a balanced nutritional plan, an exercise
plan and stress management tools.
- Follow a calorie reduced, balanced meal plan. This
generally means fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, whole
grains, fish, beans, lean poultry and meats, dairy and
healthy oils.
- Make time daily for physical activity. Daily
exercise can increase metabolism by up to 15%.
Practice relaxation. A crucial relationship exists
between relaxation and hormones that control weight.
- Seek Support. Encouragement and accountability have
been shown to improve success for weight loss.
For many who are overweight, long term and healthy weight
management requires realistic goals and a commitment to make
real changes in lifestyle to improve health.
-Julie Kokinakes Anderson, RD, Healthy Inspirations