Saturday, February 22, 2020
With approximately two-thirds of U.S. residents either overweight or obese, weight loss has become almost a national priority in terms of health care and wellness. Employers, insurance companies, and health care providers are eager to support weight loss efforts by those who need to shed extra pounds. Just as everyone’s calorie needs and ideal weight levels differ, options for weight loss vary as well. Here are four strategies that may help to trim unnecessary pounds.
1. Cut Calories
One of the most common ways to lose weight is to eat less. However, this option should be approved by your doctor and follow a nutritional eating plan. Doctors and nutritionists often recommend a specific diet plan like the one used by the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association. Some diets are low-salt while others are high protein, and there are many others as well. The eating plans that are often successful tend to emphasize a plant-based diet that is balanced with all the necessary nutrients a person needs to sustain good health. Medical professionals often recommend a daily diet plan that includes a certain number of calories.
2. Exercise Routinely
Getting regular aerobic exercise is another time-proven weight loss solution. Although many people do not lose weight just from exercise, burning calories in a safe and healthy way several times per week can help a person to lose weight, improve metabolism, firm up muscle tone, and provide a number of health-related benefits that work hand-in-hand with nutritional management.
3. Fast Occasionally
Fasting should only be carried out with your doctor’s authorization and supervision. However, even short-term fasts of a few hours can help the body to work more efficiently and to process food more effectively. Intermittent fasting can be practiced in several ways, from eating during an eight-hour period per day up to twelve hours a day and then not eating the remainder of a twenty-hour-hour period. It is important to stay hydrated with non-caffeinated beverages during the non-eating period. Your doctor can prescribe the best type of fasting for you, depending on your health status.
4. Keep a Journal
Some weight loss experts believe that writing in a journal several days each week about your weight loss experience can be beneficial. Some people count calories or record their exercise time, frequency, and distance, etc. Any type of writing about your weight management journey can help to engage you even more fully in the process, which may help to keep you focused on your plan.
Eliminating extra pounds is almost a universal experience. Some people are more successful than others. Discuss with your doctor the best plan for you to try to get rid of unwanted weight.