It would stand to reason that if diets worked, then the 80% percent of overweight Americans, who are on a diet at any given time, wouldn't need to go on a new one next year. However, they usually do! Don't become a serial dieter. Learn the basics and keep the weight off permanently!
So you want to lose weight? Well, you are not the only one. Are you aware that the latest statistics show us that more than half the United States population are overweight, and about Eighty percent of these people are on a diet at any one time? It would stand to reason that if diets worked and eighty percent of the overweight people in the USA are on a diet at any given time, then the percentage would begin to fall. However, it does not! There is still fifty percent of Americans overweight, and this percentage is rising every year.
Unfortunately, the statistics also show us that most people who lose weight after following a diet regain all the weight quickly. These people do not get the basics correct before they start their weight loss plan. Therefore, if you plan to begin a weight loss diet, you must ensure that you get the basics right, so you do not become just another statistic! In this New Age of Information Technology, there are all kinds of diets, pills. Potions and plans at your fingertips which you can easily access with the click of a mouse button. Due to the vast array of choices, combined with so many different opinions, it can become overwhelming and seem impossible to decide which one is the best for you. Therefore, it is essential that before you begin investigating methods for losing weight, you take some initial steps. Here are several valuable tips for starting your journey. Start by consulting a professional who specializes in weight loss. This does not mean someone who runs weight-watchers or your next-door neighbor who lost 20 lbs. in 2 weeks! Begin your search for such a person by contacting your doctor. Although your doctor will probably not specialize in weight loss or nutrition, he or she is a highly trained professional who has a thorough working knowledge of the human body. Also, he will very likely recommend a more specialized practitioner and give you contact information. Next - watch your fat intake and the fat content of the foods you are buying. People often launch into a diet and watch every tiny calorie they consume but fail to read the fat content on the label of their food products. Calories do count, but fat is a much more critical consideration. Fat is a huge factor in weight gain, and by eliminating as much of it from your diet, you can lose weight without it overly adversely affecting the amount of food you eat. By reducing your fat intake, you will see a dramatic effect on your overall weight loss and health! Try to keep a food diary outlining what you eat and how you feel about your food. Health and nutritional professionals strongly advise this as a first and decisive step in your weight management. Keeping a diary of your food intake, your feelings around food, and your exercise routines is a powerful way to analyze your eating habits. Being disciplined enough to keep a diary will allow you to see if there are any emotional reasons, like stress, loneliness, or boredom, contributing to your eating patterns. Research a few weight loss plans and pick one that you think you could stick with or perhaps even enjoy. Look into the history of the weight loss plan. Read other people’s comments about it to find out which one has the highest permanent positive gains. Look at what food is allowed on a diet and which foods are not. Does it incorporate some fitness program? What amount of exercise is required? Will you have enough time and motivation to cook all those strange dishes?
There is absolutely no point launching in starting a diet or weight loss plan if you know you will find it extremely difficult and get discouraged at the very beginning. Use your food diary to plan. Once you have chosen your desired plan, show it to your doctor or health care professional and make sure they approve of it! Many diets and weight loss plans can be hazardous and health-threatening. Ensure your plan is followed to the letter as you may be doing damage that you are unaware of if you do not. For example, a deficient calorie diet within the recommended calorie-intake level can cause long-lasting harmful effects to your body if you start skipping meals! Once you begin, make sure you write all your positive gains into your food diary. Do not berate yourself if you fall short of your goals. Be sure to give yourself the appropriate positive approval when you do succeed. Praise yourself for reaching each goal; even if you didn’t lose the weight you wanted, congratulate yourself when you follow your plan – you are proving to yourself that you have the will-power to do it! Don’t allow yourself to become too discouraged if you miss a target. You are still going in the right direction by staying focused and disciplined. Spoil yourself a little when you succeed. Buy yourself some new clothes for your new body and enjoy the fact that you have done your best. Positive reinforcement and will help you maintain your dietary plan and weight in the long term.