Variety of Fresh Vegetables

A good healthy diet is just one of the keys to permanent weight loss and better overall health.

Every year tens of thousands of people resolve to lose weight, but do they? Not many lose anything significant and keep it off. I saw a poll on CNN this morning asking people if they planned to lose weight in 2012. Wow, I just went back to check the figure and it is already down, however, it was either 73 or 76% of people replied in the affirmative. That means that approximately 75% of the public should lose weight this year. But will they, that is the question.

Statistically most people who lose any weight gain it back within 5 years. They also usually gain back more weight than they originally lost. What are the factors that lead to this yo-yo cycle?

My personal belief is that the individual losing weight does not see it as a lifestyle change. They have in mind to diet for a period of time and then return to their original lifestyle. How do they expect to keep a lean healthy body by going back to the lifestyle that created the weight gain problem in the first place?

This has always been puzzling to me.

Jogging is Good Exercise

Finding an exercise program that works for you is another key.

Just so you don’t think that I’m someone who’s always been trim, when I was 10 years old I was put on a diet, because my mother was afraid I was following in the footsteps of my grossly obese father. If she hadn’t done that I just might have. I absolutely hated being on the diet and decided in that moment I was never going to allow myself to be fat ever again, because I NEVER wanted anyone to tell me what I could and couldn’t eat, ever again. That was a profound and instant lifestyle change.

I’ve only been a little overweight twice in my adult life. First, when I went through a divorce. I gained 20 pounds. Second time was when my hormones started to shift for menopause. Again I gained 20 pounds. In both instances I lost the weight by permanent lifestyle and dietary changes. The emphasis is on the permanent part of it.

In order to have a healthy lifestyle you have to be willing to make permanent changes. Obviously if you have any health issues the way you’re living is a major problem and it needs to be addressed. It’s not just your diet either. It’s your whole lifestyle. It’s what you eat, what you do, what you think, your emotions, your stress level, everything.

Smiling Really Can Keep You Healthy

A happy outlook on life and ways to reduce stress is key, too.

In order to live a healthy life you need to do a major makeover in your lifestyle. However, it doesn’t have to be done in a day. It has to be done in manageable steps. Only if you’re in a life threatening state does it have to be immediate and dramatic. Otherwise you can do it over time and you’ll see the results accumulate and build as you make more and more changes.

For most people, making a dramatic permanent change is very difficult, but if it is broken down into a number of smaller steps that are easily assimilated in a very short period of time you will have made a lot of changes without feeling like you’ve put a lot of effort into it.

I’m reminded of my friend who ran her first marathon last year. She started with walking to the corner and back, from there she added more and more distance, made changes to her diet to help get her excess weight off and then stunned herself by entering and finishing a marathon.

What I help people do is make those baby steps in the right order, so they don’t fall down or trip over themselves. Each person needs to know what’s right for them. For some people it’s as gentle as a hug, for others, you have to shake them vigorously several times. So, whether you need a hug or a shake, I can help you develop a lifestyle that you enjoy and that restores your weight and health on all levels. However, unless you’re willing to change, permanently, there’s nothing that will work permanently for you.