Before starting a healthy weight loss program, it is important to do a thorough self assessment.
This will identify the changes that need to be made to an individual's lifestyle that will result in healthy weight loss.
The first step in this assessment is the tracking of food choices.
Keeping a food diary is a great way to get started.
The diary should not be limited to the foods consumed.
It is also important to record the time of day foods are eaten, and to note any emotional triggers that may have resulted in that food choice.
After a few days the dieter will be able to identify areas for improvement.
Increasing activity levels is an important part of any weight loss program.
An examination of current activity levels is a good place to start.
This will increase the individual's ability to set realistic goals.
Running five miles each day is a great fitness choice.
However, it is not a realistic or obtainable choice for someone who is almost completely inactive.
Once the assessment has been completed, the next step is planning healthier food choices.
Simply replacing some of the foods in the food diary with healthier alternatives is a good place to start.
A snack of buttery crackers and full fat cheese can be replaced with whole grain crackers and low fat cheese.
A piece of fruit or some raw vegetables and low fat hummus can add nutrients to the snack without adding too many calories.
If the food diary indicates that a lot of junk food is consumed during the day, eating a high protein breakfast is often a good solution.
A healthy diet is only one part of a healthy weight loss program.
Activity levels must increase.
Exercise not only burns calories, it also raises metabolism, and increases muscle growth.
Increasing muscle mass helps the body burn more fat naturally.
Joining a gym or blocking out hours of time each week is not always the best choice.
Many find success when they incorporate exercise into their daily routine.
This includes taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking to the store instead of driving, and taking short five to ten minute exercise breaks several times a day.
Running in place, stretching, toe touches, wall push ups, or simply taking a walk are some ways in which these breaks can be utilized.
Finally, a health weight loss program will include a good support system.
In ideal cases this support will come from friends and family members.
If this is not possible there are many weight loss support groups available.
Joining these groups is usually very inexpensive.
In some cases there is no cost at all.
This will identify the changes that need to be made to an individual's lifestyle that will result in healthy weight loss.
The first step in this assessment is the tracking of food choices.
Keeping a food diary is a great way to get started.
The diary should not be limited to the foods consumed.
It is also important to record the time of day foods are eaten, and to note any emotional triggers that may have resulted in that food choice.
After a few days the dieter will be able to identify areas for improvement.
Increasing activity levels is an important part of any weight loss program.
An examination of current activity levels is a good place to start.
This will increase the individual's ability to set realistic goals.
Running five miles each day is a great fitness choice.
However, it is not a realistic or obtainable choice for someone who is almost completely inactive.
Once the assessment has been completed, the next step is planning healthier food choices.
Simply replacing some of the foods in the food diary with healthier alternatives is a good place to start.
A snack of buttery crackers and full fat cheese can be replaced with whole grain crackers and low fat cheese.
A piece of fruit or some raw vegetables and low fat hummus can add nutrients to the snack without adding too many calories.
If the food diary indicates that a lot of junk food is consumed during the day, eating a high protein breakfast is often a good solution.
A healthy diet is only one part of a healthy weight loss program.
Activity levels must increase.
Exercise not only burns calories, it also raises metabolism, and increases muscle growth.
Increasing muscle mass helps the body burn more fat naturally.
Joining a gym or blocking out hours of time each week is not always the best choice.
Many find success when they incorporate exercise into their daily routine.
This includes taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking to the store instead of driving, and taking short five to ten minute exercise breaks several times a day.
Running in place, stretching, toe touches, wall push ups, or simply taking a walk are some ways in which these breaks can be utilized.
Finally, a health weight loss program will include a good support system.
In ideal cases this support will come from friends and family members.
If this is not possible there are many weight loss support groups available.
Joining these groups is usually very inexpensive.
In some cases there is no cost at all.
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