Health
The key to Starting a WeightLoss Programme
Chad Collins,B,Sc., R.D.
Obesity, or being overweight is one of themost prominent risk factors for disease plaguing us today. Theweight loss industry is a multi-billion dollar business whoseweight loss drugs and restrictive diets promise quick and easyweight loss, usually at a cost to our health.
So what is the weight loss answer? You oftenhear the typically touted answer of "eat a balanced dietand exercise"; well, this is only the start.
To lose weight you first need to know howmany calories you need to burn and how this equates into whatyou can eat. Your calorie needs depend on your age, sex, idealweight for your height, and daily activity.
Also, weight loss is easier if you knowhow your body works. Many people eat in ways that work againsttheir metabolism, actually causing them to gain more weight wheneating a calorie amount that could promote weight loss.
Understanding when to eat to maximize ourmetabolic rate, and how certain food combinations can promotea prolonged feeling of fullness and reduce calorie intakes areall key to effective and sustained weight loss. Also, knowinghow to schedule and perform exercises that burn more calorieswill not only make a more effective use of your exercise times,but will also allow you to lose weight faster.
The key to weight loss includes planningas well as understanding how the body works. For many people anindividualized nutritionally balanced mealplan will seem likeeating too much to lose weight, but typically results in losinga minimum of 1-2 pounds a week from fat and not water.
Also, when you lose body fat, you are ableto eat more calories or food and still maintain the same weight.This is because during the weight loss, we use our body's fatstores for energy, and once these are gone we must replace thisenergy source with extra calories from food to maintain our currentweight. This is a nice added bonus following weight loss, eatingmore.
To determine a plan that is right for you,contact a dietitian to help you. Don't make losing weight harderthan it has to be.
Chad Collins, RD,CNSD
Registered Dietitian
946-8749