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Weight Loss Can Be Natural I get so frustrated watching other people go through the pangs of attempted and failed weight loss. They try crazy diets and crazier drugs. They make themselves miserable and won’t listen when I tell them they’re going about it the wrong way. I’m not saying that there’s one fail-proof solution to weight loss. Obviously, everybody has slightly different body chemistry, and a lot of factors can go into the ability to lose weight, or not-not least among these factors are gender, age, and genetics. But I do believe that if everyone listened to nature a little more, they would all be better off. The Carb Problem – Take my parents. They both had a lot of initial success with the Atkins diet about ten years ago, when they were in their early forties. Sure, they looked great. But obviously you can’t live on meat, eggs, and cheese forever. So they gradually worked carbs back in-but either no one ever told them they needed the good carbs, or they just didn’t listen. By good carbs I mean whole grains, mostly – Like brown rice instead of white rice. If you need sugar, use brown sugar, raw sugar, or honey. Maybe it’s easier for me; even as a kid I liked wheat bread better than white. Maybe my parents were already too set in their ways. But I think the biggest problem was that that type of information wasn’t widely available to them and people like them, and neither was that type of food. Now, my dad is pretty severely overweight again, with high blood pressure and colonitis, not to mention a herniated disk in his back that mostly prohibits exercise. My mom is a little better off, but she’s just generally down on herself and her appearance, and that’s upsetting, too. Natural Isn’t Normal – Obtaining natural health food and information is a little better now, a decade or so later. Most major supermarkets do have either health food sections or healthy alternatives mixed in with their counterparts. Still, it can be discouraging. I went last summer with my aunt and cousins to a grocery store in small-town Oklahoma. My aunt had been told to start eating more fiber, so she needed high-fiber pancake mix. She knew that the name brand she usually bought made a high-fiber version, but we couldn’t find it. I suggested the lone box of whole grain pancake mix on the shelf, which of course had a brand name unknown to them. I assured them that this was naturally high in fiber, and whole grain pancakes are good. But my teenaged cousins were worried that it would taste funny-probably because to them, it looked funny. The sad truth is that we’ve built a world in which natural is not normal. My Natural Life – As for me, I drink copious amounts of green and oolong tea, with no sugar and definitely no artificial sweeteners. I take long walks with my dog. I eat whole foods. When I started living this way I lost weight as a natural side effect, and I’ll just say, it doesn’t seem to be coming back!

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Nutrition And Exercise: The Keys To Proper Weight Loss The two most important aspects of proper weight loss are eating healthily and exercising properly. Eating the proper foods in the proper amounts can help boost your metabolism and provide the building blocks your body needs to energize and repair itself. Add this to exercise and you have a weight loss system that can’t be beat! Why is Proper Nutrition Important? – There are a variety of different types of foods out there and all of them are necessary for the proper functioning of our bodies. For instance, foods with high fiber help keep us regular and keep cholesterol low. Proteins provide the material our bodies need to repair themselves. Some fats – like omega 3 fatty acids – are good for our hearts. A proper diet will feature a selection from all the different food groups. You can see a breakdown of the nutritional content for all foods by looking on the labels. If you need help deciphering the label or if you have special diet needs or allergies, you may want to consider speaking to your doctor or a nutritionist for advice. Eating for Proper Weight Loss – A proper weight loss regimen includes losing 1-2 pounds a week. And it includes eating . . . a lot. Some experts suggest eating 5-6 small meals a day in order to keep your metabolism working. When you do have your meals, try to add in more fruits and vegetables and reduce the serving sizes. There are times when people eat just because they are bored or because they are with people who are eating. Most of the time, the foods they reach for are unhealthy, such as high fat or high sugar treats. While occasional snacking on your favorite treats is okay, it can be detrimental to your health to only snack on them. Choosing a low fat alternative, like a carrot, apple or slice of watermelon is much better for you. Not only will you get the nutrients such snacks provide, but they will provide you with more energy. Add Exercise to Nutrition for Superior Weight Loss – The other important component to weight loss is exercise. Without exercise, your body will just store any extra calories you consume as fat. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean working yourself into the ground at the gym. In fact, doing that can be dangerous. Rather, you should stay active – at least thirty minutes of moderate exercise a day. This can include walking, running, biking, playing tennis or going to the gym, if that is what you prefer. Be sure to speak with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen. Some people have health issues that limit the type of exercise they can do. A doctor can advise you on how much and what type of exercise you should be getting. A proper weight loss regimen is not an easy task, but it is rewarding. Not only will you have more energy, but you will reduce the risk of certain health risks. Spend the time to get active and eat healthier for a more fulfilling lifestyle.