There are probably more products and programs for weight loss than Carter has liver pills. It's no wonder that the weight loss industry profits are in the billions of dollars each year. The stats alone will make you cringe, such as the fact that 55% of the people in the United States alone are overweight according to standards and 23% of them are considered obese. So it's no wonder that many overweight people are in panic mode to lose the weight. Unfortunately, there is healthy weight loss and not so healthy weight loss. Hopefully, this article will give you some healthy guidelines to follow so that your weight loss progress doesn't lead to more serious problems.
So, what exactly is healthy weight loss? Not to sound like a smart aleck, but healthy weight loss is weight loss that doesn't end up making you sick. This relates to not only how much weight you lose but how quickly you lose the weight, as well as what means you use to lose the weight. Let's start with how much weight you want to lose.
Unfortunately, many people who are not really overweight, tend to see themselves as such and as a result end up losing more weight than they really needed to. A good part of the blame falls on our looks conscious society and the paper thin models we see on the TV and in magazines each day. Contrary to popular opinion, many of these models are terribly underweight and not at all healthy. So the first thing you want to do is get out a chart to figure what you should weigh for your height, frame and age, and make a firm commitment to stick to losing ONLY the pounds needed to reach that weight, regardless of what YOU think you should weigh. Unless you are a doctor, I seriously doubt you know what's best for you.
Next you want to concentrate on how quickly you lose the weight. In most cases of weight loss, the initial weight you lose is water weight and this tends to come off quicker than the weight that comes next. So as a result, after most people lose the first few pounds, they find that their weight loss begins to slow and they get discouraged. This is okay. Ideally, you should only lose one pound for each week of dieting. So if you are 30 pounds overweight, it should take you about 30 weeks, or 7 months to lose the weight. Losing weight too quickly is not healthy.
Finally, there are the means by which you lose the weight. This is, unfortunately, the most dangerous part of all. Many diets, especially quick weight loss diets, are very dangerous. Also, many diets that rely on taking diet pills are not healthy because of the side effects of the pills. You want to make sure that you choose a diet that has been thoroughly tested through time and has mostly positive feedback on it.
Being overweight is certainly not healthy, but losing weight can be just as unhealthy if you lose too much weight, lose it too quickly or use methods that are questionable at best.
A common trap people fall into is eating without being consciously aware of how much food they are eating. Have you ever been preparing dinner and tasted a little of everything you were preparing? Do you help your kids finish their meal so no food goes to waste? Have you ever grabbed a handful of chips or nuts to tide you over to your next meal? These are a few common ways you can add hundreds of extra calories to your day without even realizing you have eaten. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that when people write down what they ate in a journal, they realized they have been underestimating their food consumption by an average of 1,053 calories per day.
If you have gained weight for no apparent reason, you may want to consider keeping a journal to accurately calculate how much food you are consuming. You may be amazed at how many calories you are actually eating. To accurately monitor your food consumption, consider keeping a food journal. This is especially important for people starting a new dietary routine. When keeping a food journal remember to write down everything you drink and eat, including any small bites. You may want to keep your journal with you at all times so you don't forget to record your entire food and beverage intake for the day. If you wait until the evening, you will probably forget some of what you ate or not do it at all. If possible, weigh, count and/or measure your food to accurately record your food intake.
In your journal, it is helpful to record your mood and how you are feeling before and after eating. This will help you realize if there are certain triggers that cause you to overeat or indulge in high fat, high calorie foods. The more aware you are of your food choices and why you make them, the easier it will become to control your food intake and make healthier choices. Journaling will allow you to write down your feelings and release them instead of stuffing your feelings down with food. Over time as you reflect back on your journal you will be able to pick out eating patterns and thought patterns that do not serve you. This will allow you to replace those eating and thought patterns with healthier choices. Through journaling you will gain control over your eating and consciously make healthy choices which will allow your body to release weight.
Both Andrew Poole & Lynnsmith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Andrew Poole has sinced written about articles on various topics from Lose Weight, Health and Computers and The Internet. Andrew Poole is a Qualified Coach, specializing in weight-loss and is the creator of the successful New-Slimmer-You weight-loss support program. Andrew offers a Free Bonus to new members at. Andrew Poole's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.
Lynnsmith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Weight Loss Pills and Fitness. Lynn Smith is a health and wellness coach with Health Coach Team. Get your "10 Energy Zappers and How to Eliminate Them" at http://www.healthcoachteam.com. Lynnsmith's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.