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Weight loss is one of
the biggest industries in the world! And for those of us that need
to lose weight it is the biggest struggle of our lives! The
industry takes advantage of the fact that we don’t want to give up our
“little pleasures” by telling us we don’t have to. They also know
we don’t want to get all sweaty, out of breathe, and feeling
pain, so
they tell us we don’t have to exercise. “All you have to do is
take this pill every day and the pounds will melt away, as if by magic!”
they tell us. But, if you look at the small print they go on to
say, “diet and exercise will make it work even better.” But, come
on, when you really stop and think about it realistically, of course it
isn’t just going to happen by taking a pill. We have to put more
effort into it than that just because of physics and
gravity if for no
other reason. How is a pill going to make your body go against
gravity? It isn’t. It may help us burn fat, but the fat only
comes back if we keep eating the way we have been and if the pill burns
the new fats that we put into our bodies the old fat is still there.
And besides all that what side effects is the pill having that isn’t
good for us? And just look at all the money we spend to
lose
weight and then frustratingly it doesn’t happen and we could have spent
that money on a cruise!
Well-known mental health people tell us that being
overweight
begins with the way we feel about ourselves. For some that might
be a clue as to why they are overweight and give them a starting point.
And analyzing why we have low self
esteem is important, but, we could spend the rest of our lives on
that analyzation and still be
overweight! Wanting to lose
weight and being willing to do a few things
differently is the real starting point.
I think if we face this thing realistically,
we will realize that losing weight is going to take a
life change.
For some of us that is a really hard thing to face. Most of us
just want things to be the same. But here is something to think
about:; when things stay the same we do not grow, we become stagnant.
Personally, I desire to live forever and if that means changing my
life
style then I will attempt it. The very first thing we want
to keep in mind is that slow and steady is the way to do this.
To make a life change you will have to
prepare yourself and set up a new way to think. Understand that
this is NOT going to happen overnight! And that you are NOT going
to do everything at once. First of all do some self-talk. Just talk to yourself out loud.
Address your body as if it was another person. Keep everything you
say positive! Say, “Body,
I love you. You are a part of me and I want to take really good
care of you. I know if I do that you will make sure that you and I
feel good and look good. You are the part of me the whole world
sees and you reflect my thinking. This is what you and I are going
to do.”
Now, don't just jump in with
the latest fad diet because that won't work. I hate the word
diet
because to me it means, NO! So think of it as a
life change and
refer to it that way always. When you talk to others refer to it
as a life change. Tell your body why it is a
good life change for
you, what it is going to do for you, and how good it is going to make you
feel. Then each day praise your
body for not giving in to cravings. Tell your
body how well it is
doing, how nice it looks, how nice it feels! Self-talk is
something you can do throughout the day any time you are alone.
The best time is in the morning when you first wake up before your day
begins. Tell yourself what kind of day you want to have.
Tell yourself you are going to be happy and smile all day and have
pleasant thoughts. Tell your body you are going to
eat good food
that will give you energy throughout the day. List the things you
want to accomplish during the day.
Remember that you aren’t going to get skinny overnight.
But, you will feel better overnight! Make small changes at first
and then as time goes on you can make bigger ones. Set small
goals, medium goals, and long range goals. When you meet a goal,
celebrate, and then set a new goal! When I started out my
first change was to eat an apple, an egg and broccoli everyday, besides
the other foods. I also began drinking 64 ounces of water
throughout the day. Then I began to limit my intake of other
foods. I made sure I had plenty of vegetables and if I binged it
was on those. I let myself have candy and even soda but I cut way
back on the amount. So, I wasn't saying NO; I was saying "ok but
just a little". That way I didn't feel I was missing anything.
Exercise is VERY
important for burning fat, burning
calories, creating muscle,
toning the body, and goosing the
metabolism. Exercise
is something I hate! But, when you start out slow and for short
periods of time it isn't so bad. First I began with just a few
stretching exercises at different times throughout
the day. Then when the weather was nice I would go for short
walks. No power walking,
just steady walking at a comfortable pace. Then gradually you add
more exercises. As you lose
weight, gain muscle, and
tone you can add more exercises or do them at a
faster pace.
Everyday that you
accomplish this life change you will feel better. If you have a
day that didn’t go so well don’t be negative or stop talking to yourself
or beat yourself up over it. Admit to yourself that it was a
difficult day, and praise yourself for everything that did go right.
Then pick yourself up and get back to your life change.
The scales are not always your friend!
Many things can affect your actual weight.
If you retain water you will gain, and
putting on muscle will make you
weigh more. Muscle weighs more than
fat! I only weigh myself once a week.
Do it in the morning, naked after you have relieved yourself. Take
measurements once a month.
Inches are more important than pounds!
No matter what stay positive and on track.
As in any life change it is very good to
have support from others. Someone to encourage you and help you
keep going when it gets rough. Surround yourself with
positive people! Kristine Peterson
www.naturallivingbychoice.com |