Millions of Americans are overweight, and many are obese.
If you are one of those who is overweight or obese, weight has probably been a struggle for you for most of your life.
You start diets, only to get discouraged because you are not losing weight as quickly as you would like, so you go off the diets, binge, and gain even more weight.
Dieting and losing weight is a vicious circle that just keeps going around and around.
Why is this? Because millions of us do not diet the right way, and we never actually learn what it takes to be healthy and fit.
It really doesn't take all that much to get into great shape.
And if you put your mind to it, you can do it in a few short months, depending on how much weight you need to lose.
So, you're probably thinking, "Okay, I'll start my diet on Monday.
" Getting in shape is not just about dieting, and if you are really serious about becoming healthier, why would you want to wait until Monday? Why not start right now? It's not as difficult as you might think to lose weight and get in shape.
It really just involves a few simple lifestyle and dietary changes, and if you really want to get in shape, you won't mind making these changes.
It does take a little bit of willpower and dedication at first, but in no time at all, you will be so used to the changes that they will just be a part of your normal life, and you will notice that you are losing weight and feeling and looking much better.
What's the First Step? The first change that needs to be made is to your diet.
Sometimes, dietary changes are actually quite insignificant, unless of course you have a really terrible diet.
It's time to start cutting out the greasy foods and tasty snacks.
Don't worry, if you begin following a healthy, well-balanced diet, it will be no problem for you to enjoy your favorite treats once in a while.
You may be wondering what a healthy diet is.
There are so many different diet plans out there.
It can become really confusing to figure out which diet is the right one for you.
There is a diet that is right for everyone.
It is called eating healthy, and really, this is nothing but plain old common sense.
You don't need to go out and buy special diet foods, or foods that are labeled "diet" or "low calorie.
" Instead, start buying fresh foods that are good for you.
Fruits and vegetables are very important for a healthy diet, as well as lean red meats, fish, poultry, dairy products (low-fat, of course), and eggs.
These are not the only foods you can incorporate into your healthy diet.
There are all kinds of delicious foods that you can eat that will help promote weight loss and still give you the nutrients you need.
If you have a sweet tooth, you can enjoy raisins, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate chips in small amounts.
The fruits are loaded with vitamins and the dark chocolate is full of anti-oxidants.
If crunchy treats are your vice, unsalted nut mixtures with seeds and dried fruits are always a healthy option, and because they are loaded with protein, they will provide you with energy for working out, which is also important when it comes to getting in shape.
Instead of trying one of the fad diets, which don't usually work anyway, eating healthy is the way to go if you want to lose weight and keep it off.
A healthy diet plan should consist of about 50% good carbohydrates (complex carbohydrates), 15% good fats (polyunsaturated or monounsaturated), and 35% protein.
This is a diet that is recommended by a number of health organizations and promotes good health and weight loss.
You Need to Exercise, Too We all need to get a certain amount of exercise every day, and for those of us who want to lose weight and get in shape, a bit more exercise may be required.
Exercise is what keeps our muscles strong and healthy, and without the right amount of exercise, we can actually lose the use of our muscles, and our joints don't work as well as they once did, causing aches and pains that many of us try to pass off as aging.
If you are extremely overweight and have not done much exercise in some time, you will have to start out slowly.
If you have chosen walking as your form of exercise, start off by only taking five to ten minute walks at a slow pace.
As your body gets used to the exercise, you can increase the length of your walks, as well as the intensity.
Remember, no matter what kind of shape you are in, before doing any type of exercise, it is important to do stretches and other warm-up exercises, which will help to keep you from getting any muscle injuries.
A lot of us do not have the motivation to get out and exercise every day, especially if we have to do it by ourselves.
For many of us, it is a good idea to join a gym or health club, where there will be all kinds of other people that have the same goals that we do.
Often, working out in a group setting is a great way to get motivated and if you have a workout buddy, all the better.
The two of you can encourage each other to reach your weight loss goals together.
Adding Supplements for Good Nutrition Depending on how much weight you need to lose, you may be on a very restricted, low calorie diet, and you may need alternative sources of nutrition.
This is where protein supplements can come in really handy.
They also make great snacks for dieters.
Remember, before starting any type of weight loss diet, or using protein supplements, it is important to discuss it with your physician first, especially if you have any health conditions that require certain things in your diet.
Your doctor will be able to help you create a weight loss plan that is right for you, and you will soon see the weight starting to fall off.
If you are one of those who is overweight or obese, weight has probably been a struggle for you for most of your life.
You start diets, only to get discouraged because you are not losing weight as quickly as you would like, so you go off the diets, binge, and gain even more weight.
Dieting and losing weight is a vicious circle that just keeps going around and around.
Why is this? Because millions of us do not diet the right way, and we never actually learn what it takes to be healthy and fit.
It really doesn't take all that much to get into great shape.
And if you put your mind to it, you can do it in a few short months, depending on how much weight you need to lose.
So, you're probably thinking, "Okay, I'll start my diet on Monday.
" Getting in shape is not just about dieting, and if you are really serious about becoming healthier, why would you want to wait until Monday? Why not start right now? It's not as difficult as you might think to lose weight and get in shape.
It really just involves a few simple lifestyle and dietary changes, and if you really want to get in shape, you won't mind making these changes.
It does take a little bit of willpower and dedication at first, but in no time at all, you will be so used to the changes that they will just be a part of your normal life, and you will notice that you are losing weight and feeling and looking much better.
What's the First Step? The first change that needs to be made is to your diet.
Sometimes, dietary changes are actually quite insignificant, unless of course you have a really terrible diet.
It's time to start cutting out the greasy foods and tasty snacks.
Don't worry, if you begin following a healthy, well-balanced diet, it will be no problem for you to enjoy your favorite treats once in a while.
You may be wondering what a healthy diet is.
There are so many different diet plans out there.
It can become really confusing to figure out which diet is the right one for you.
There is a diet that is right for everyone.
It is called eating healthy, and really, this is nothing but plain old common sense.
You don't need to go out and buy special diet foods, or foods that are labeled "diet" or "low calorie.
" Instead, start buying fresh foods that are good for you.
Fruits and vegetables are very important for a healthy diet, as well as lean red meats, fish, poultry, dairy products (low-fat, of course), and eggs.
These are not the only foods you can incorporate into your healthy diet.
There are all kinds of delicious foods that you can eat that will help promote weight loss and still give you the nutrients you need.
If you have a sweet tooth, you can enjoy raisins, dried cranberries, and dark chocolate chips in small amounts.
The fruits are loaded with vitamins and the dark chocolate is full of anti-oxidants.
If crunchy treats are your vice, unsalted nut mixtures with seeds and dried fruits are always a healthy option, and because they are loaded with protein, they will provide you with energy for working out, which is also important when it comes to getting in shape.
Instead of trying one of the fad diets, which don't usually work anyway, eating healthy is the way to go if you want to lose weight and keep it off.
A healthy diet plan should consist of about 50% good carbohydrates (complex carbohydrates), 15% good fats (polyunsaturated or monounsaturated), and 35% protein.
This is a diet that is recommended by a number of health organizations and promotes good health and weight loss.
You Need to Exercise, Too We all need to get a certain amount of exercise every day, and for those of us who want to lose weight and get in shape, a bit more exercise may be required.
Exercise is what keeps our muscles strong and healthy, and without the right amount of exercise, we can actually lose the use of our muscles, and our joints don't work as well as they once did, causing aches and pains that many of us try to pass off as aging.
If you are extremely overweight and have not done much exercise in some time, you will have to start out slowly.
If you have chosen walking as your form of exercise, start off by only taking five to ten minute walks at a slow pace.
As your body gets used to the exercise, you can increase the length of your walks, as well as the intensity.
Remember, no matter what kind of shape you are in, before doing any type of exercise, it is important to do stretches and other warm-up exercises, which will help to keep you from getting any muscle injuries.
A lot of us do not have the motivation to get out and exercise every day, especially if we have to do it by ourselves.
For many of us, it is a good idea to join a gym or health club, where there will be all kinds of other people that have the same goals that we do.
Often, working out in a group setting is a great way to get motivated and if you have a workout buddy, all the better.
The two of you can encourage each other to reach your weight loss goals together.
Adding Supplements for Good Nutrition Depending on how much weight you need to lose, you may be on a very restricted, low calorie diet, and you may need alternative sources of nutrition.
This is where protein supplements can come in really handy.
They also make great snacks for dieters.
Remember, before starting any type of weight loss diet, or using protein supplements, it is important to discuss it with your physician first, especially if you have any health conditions that require certain things in your diet.
Your doctor will be able to help you create a weight loss plan that is right for you, and you will soon see the weight starting to fall off.
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