Why a healthy total weight loss program works

As obesity reaches epidemic proportions, weight loss plans with promises of the best diet pill are flooding the market. After all, it is easier to pop a magic pill than to follow a weight loss program comprised of healthy eating choices. The problem with the magic diet pill is that once you reach your optimum weight and discontinue use, weight gain is inevitable which may then lead to yo yo dieting.

After years of battling weight loss, you decide to come to terms with your self image and say good bye to weight management; but weight loss is not just about improving body image, it is about staying healthy. If you are overweight you are at a higher risk of the following diseases.

Cancer – Cancers associated with overweight in women are uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast and colon; in men, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.

Diabetes – Type 2 diabetes not only reduces your body’s ability to control sugar, it also puts you at high risk of blindness, heart disease and stroke, as well as early death.

Gallbladder and liver disease – Productivity and excretion of cholesterol by the liver increases as your weight increases, resulting in gallstones rich in cholesterol.

Gout – Obesity reportedly raises the level of uric acid in your blood which is known to cause severe joint pain, as well as kidney stones and chronic kidney disease.

Heart disease and stroke – Being overweight puts you at a risk of high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, a leading cause of death and disability in the United States.

Osteoarthritis – Extra weight puts more pressure on the knees, hips, and lower back, wearing away the cartilage that cushions and protects the joints commonly affected by osteoarthritis.

Sleep apnea – Associated with overweight, sleep apnea is a serious breathing condition that may cause a person to snore heavily and even stop breathing for short periods during sleep. It may also result in daytime sleepiness and even heart failure.

No matter how well aware we are of these risk, getting on a diet and weight loss program may still be a daunting task, especially when looking at the ultimate weight loss goal. Another and less daunting approach may be to take it one day at a time, looking at change in small increments. It is easier to create one good eating habit or lifestyle change at a time than a multitude all at once.

For example, to incorporate walking into your daily routine, begin parking your car at the farthest end of the parking lot. When walking from the parking lot becomes routine, create another walking or exercise opportunity. If your salad weakness is a creamy rich salad dressing, find a substitute low fat dressing. Keep in mind, 3,500 calories is equal to one pound. So if you reduce 175 calories a day from your diet, it will take you 20 days to lose one pound (175 x 20 = 3,500), 350 calories, 20 days. With 365 days in a year, at 350 calories per day, it would take one year to take off 36 pounds. Add a good fat burning exercise into the equation and your weight will come off even faster. When you practice a weight loss program that focuses on exercise and healthy eating habits, it becomes easier not only to lose weight but to keep it off.

If a diet pill makes promise of fast weight loss, remember, if it sounds too good to be true it is. It has been proven that the faster you lose weight the faster you put it back on. The best weight loss program is one that creates healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

Consult a physician or health-care provider before introducing any exercise or food into your diet if you have any health questions or concerns.