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There you are, the skinny little kid playing with your friends in the neighborhood. And there you are the high school athlete, in shape, with endless energy. And again, there you are, the college student participating in a competitive sport, staying up all night studying for an exam, then coming in first place the next day, not a problem. And now, here you are, 10-15 years later, a career, marriage, a couple kids and 25 extra pounds. Where did it come from, you weren’t on a weight loss program then, were you? You write it off to stress, responsibilities, just life in general.
But now you want to change that. Your life has settled into a pattern that allows you some extra time to address those extra 25 pounds. Where do you start? What do you do?
What you don’t do is start a diet. Diets are temporary and the typical result of a diet is to gain what you lost during the diet back plus more. So now you have 30 extra pounds to deal with. You have to decide to change your habits with a solid weight loss program. Bad habits are what got you into this situation, good habits will help get out of it and is the fastest way to lose weight, the right way.
The fastest way to lose weight, the right way, is to reduce your food intake and start moving your body. That means your weight loss program should have two parts: eating right and starting an exercise program. If you have been extremely sedentary for the past 10-15 years, or if you have any medical issues, be sure to check with your health professional before starting any rigorous exercise or weight loss program.
Your weight loss program should start with eating only what you need to sustain life. Typically it means smaller portions. Do you really need two hot dogs at the ball game? Do you have to order the “king cut” at the restaurant? For that matter, just because you can afford it, do you have to eat out so often? Ordering a salad isn’t the end of the world. What about the idea of leaving something on your plate at the end of the meal? Most restaurants will allow you to order half portions. Try it a few times; you’ll be surprised that you are just as satisfied at the end of the meal than if you would have eaten twice that amount.
Look at what you choose to eat during the day. Do you need a sugar drink when water will do? Just because it’s Jim’s 50th birthday at work doesn’t mean you have to have cake to help him celebrate the event. Do you really need those chips at 3 PM or are you just trying to stay awake and a quick walk around the building would be much more beneficial? Which ideas sound like they could be part of your weight loss program?
Your weight loss program should also include an exercise program, even if it only means doing some basic stretching exercises on the family room floor while watching the morning news. You had a decent body in high school and college because you were involved in sports; maybe it’s time to join a basketball or baseball league for adults. Maybe start biking, swimming or running. Even evening walks with your spouse is a start. From there you can build on your exercise program so that it is just another part of your daily life and your weight loss program.
Travelling, whether for business or pleasure, is not an excuse to abandon your weight loss program and overeat and not exercise. Pick when you eat and what you eat carefully. Work in your exercise routine to the events of the day. Rather than going for drinks at the end of the day with your fellow travelers, find a local park to walk through, you’ll be happy you did when you see how much better you feel the next day.
The fastest way to lose weight, the right way, is to reduce your food intake and start moving your body. Change your bad habits into good habits through a weight loss program and you’ll be surprised at how effortlessly and quickly those pounds go away.
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