Lose Weight for Health, Not Vanity

Let's go over a few pertinent facts in regards to obesity. Many people think that if someone is over weight they may have a metabolic disorder such as a thyroid disorder. However, in most cases this is not true. There are some cases where this is true - see a doctor to rule this out. but the sad facts are that most obese and/or over weight people are simply eating too much for their nutritional needs.

On the other hand, there are people who naturally burn more fat. They have a great metabolism. Sounds pretty unfair, I know, but it is the truth. People with this genetic ability simply burn off calories as fast as they consume them, but it is more common to simply store excess calories as fat. This characteristic does have a genetic base.

Fad diets may cause an initial weight loss, but the problem begins when one attempts to maintain their weight. In most cases when one finishes a fad diet, they will put the weight back on. When this occurs you have begun a process that is very detrimental to your weight loss efforts. You will lose lean muscle mass as you lose weight, but when you regain the weight, you will replace the lost muscle mass with fat thereby decreasing your calorie burning ability even more so. Muscle burns fat around the clock. Another reason to avoid fad diets is they can be very restrictive and one can easily become bored with it.

To incorporate better eating habits, there are some general rules you can follow to help in your weight loss efforts. The first thing you need to accept in your quest to lose weight is that the best way is slowly. You need to focus on eating in such a way that in time the improved eating habits will allow you the ability to reach a desirable weight that can be maintained indefinitely.

Some of the things you can do to improve your diet are as follows:

1. Increase exercise. Not always easy, but necessary if you are to be successful at losing weight in a healthy and manageable manner.
2. Avoid what is commonly known as "empty" calories such as excess sugar and alcohol.
3. Try to watch your portion size. Slowly reduce it and train yourself to think twice before taking that second helping.
4. Try to focus more on low calorie foods such as vegetables, salads and fruits.
5. Support. It can be so beneficial to join either a support group, or have a family member be there for you to support and encourage your efforts and whom you can talk to when you blunder or are having difficulties.
6. Include a large variety of foods in your diet. This will help prevent the monotony of eating the same foods, which can become very discouraging in time.
7. Do your best to give up fried foods. This is this the only thing I would ever suggest one give up permanently because of the dangers to your health. Fried foods can dramatically be coined as a killer to your health and to your weight loss efforts.
8. When beginning a new diet please seek your doctor's advice and approval. If you give the above suggestions credence and practice them faithfully but still are having difficulty losing weight, you may need nutritional intervention. A doctor can often give you some dietary counsel.

America and Western Europe have a ridiculous and harmful preoccupation with body image and an obsession with being slim. A hundred years ago a plump woman was considered the more attractive, as was a portly man. Today the tables have been turned and frankly, the attitude one hundred years ago was realistic and much healthier mentally and physically.

Keep in mind that we come in all different shapes and sizes. Do not focus on a stick thin model as what you think you should look like. More often than not these stick thin people are not healthy and may very well suffer consequences later in life due to starving themselves. Strive to look like no one but you.