A healthy, balanced, low-calorie diet that includes good-tasting and filling foods, a moderate and consistent exercise plan, and a mental attitude that this lifestyle is permanent is absolutely necessary.
It all boils down to reconnecting with the body, becoming aware of what foods and activities nourish and improve the organism rather than bringing it down, and allowing that awareness to guide you.
Although it is possible to do it alone, to construct yourself a meal plan, to design an exercise plan, to continually motivate yourself…it sure isn’t optimal.
It is hard doing things all by yourself, and making and sticking to the decision to care for your body is a huge undertaking.
Obesity is a growing plague in this modern society that is so sedentary and reliant on low-nutrition yet high-calorie foods.
Ask your neighbor or your relative or your co-worker to start walking with you, or working out daily.
Food is fuel to nourish the body, but it is also important mentally and emotionally.
Food should taste good and be nutritious and be appealing to all the senses.
If you slash your fat content to zero, you will find your hair getting dry and falling out, your nails become soft, and you start feeling fuzzy-headed: your brain needs lipids and cholesterol to function properly.
Spend time over your food, enjoy it, taste it, rest between bites, so you don’t outsmart your own stomach into thinking it isn’t full yet.
Try new things, don’t allow yourself to fall into a food rut of turkey-on-whole wheat-and-salad-every-day.
It’s crucial to get yourself up and moving, even if it’s in small increments at first.
It’s as much mental as it is physical, getting “Into the groove” of daily exercise.
Exercising with weights is great even for women, building muscle mass while reducing hunger and increasing strength.
The essential is to work in a least 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 times a week, with daily strength-and-endurance work daily if possible.
Even during the holidays, when it can be so hard to resist temptation and becomes so easy to slip out of your routine, you need to stay on target.
Don’t place yourself in temptation’s way: if you know the taco cart on the corner is irresistible, take another way to the office.
Make yourself get some exercise in, even if it’s just a few minutes at a time, to keep yourself in the mindset of being active.
If you do fall “Off the wagon” pick yourself up and start again, because this is a lifestyle, not a short-term thing.
Treat yourself a little when you can, but not with food: buy a nice new outfit, a book, get a spa treatment, or something of that nature.
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