Managing your weight can be as easy as any other venture, as long as one understands that there are certain rules that should be followed. Below are some simple guidelines to follow that, when coupled with whatever guidance is offered by a clinician or dietician, can often lead to an effective weight control program.
• Get active. This may be one of the single most important steps one can take to begin losing weight. A couch potato, as it is often described, will never appreciate any weight loss. Becoming active will also help increase stamina, muscle tone, and it will also help one feel better. Again, be sure to check with your own family clinician if there are any history of heart or blood pressure problems before embarking upon an exercise program.
• Eat healthy. Eating a variety of foods, and not just from one group, will help the body handle the types of food being consumed. It should be understood that not all foods are absorbed the same way. A simple rule of thumb is to consume about 60 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent fats, and 10 percent protein, although this rule has undergone a great deal of scrutiny recently. Simply put, however, it is an excellent place to start until getting a chance to see and talk with a professional, such as a dietician. If diabetic, follow your physician's orders and not any other regimen.
• Set realistic goals. If you are a large-boned person, for example, the structure of your body will appear different than a person with a smaller bone structure. Some things, such as the bone mass, will not change. This does not mean, however, that one cannot alter his or her appearance and become healthy. If you now weigh over 200 pounds, setting a six week goal of losing a lot of weight is unrealistic. Try to lose a pound a week for the time being and in time, you will look and feel better and it will give you and your body a chance to change the way you think about and consume food.
• Forget about the magic answers to weight loss. There are no magic pills and there are no quick-schemes for weight control. The only real answer to the weight problem is to eat less and do more, but in the constraints established by your history, your abilities, and the guidelines established by your family clinician or dietician. Taking one or more of the dieting pills that are available over the counter can cause more problems later in your life; so stick to the idea that you will lose weight, but in time, and remain realistic.
