Weight loss is a daunting proposition, and the more significant the amount to lose, the harder it will be. There are a lot of “diets” out there, and many articles and books on the topic. In the supplement section of many stores are dozens of products claiming they are the perfect thing for your program. Here are some examples of things you may want to look in to.
Support: This is an absolute necessity. If you have family around you, get them involved if possible. If that’s not something you can do, join a group. There are several that can offer what you need; positive reinforcement and encouragement.
There are several reasons I say that. First, being overweight can really drain your self esteem. You may look at the challenge ahead and feel incapable of doing it. Having someone rooting for you is a big help.
Another reason is for those occasions when you backslide and gain a pound or two, as well as for those annoying plateaus that come up. Your support group can help you get back on track without making you feel guilty.
Your Doctor: The doctor is vital to your plan, especially if there are underlying medical conditions. The doc can help you come up with a plan, which is essential to the undertaking. You’ll want guidance in which exercises to do and how long to do them.
You may be referred to a nutritionist to work on a good diet program. While having a deficit of calories burned is needed for weight loss, too great a deficit can have the opposite effect.
Supplements: There are some supplements that might be right for you, depending on your overall health. There are also some that probably won’t be such a good idea. If in doubt, your doctor or pharmacist can help you in this department.
One supplement that I suspect works is hoodia. There are two cautions that go with its use, however. It not only suppresses hunger, it suppresses thirst. Combine that with the fact that most of us in the U.S. are chronically dehydrated and exercise programs that will cause a lot of sweating and you have a potential disaster.
The other caution is to use care when choosing a hoodia product. More “hoodia” is sold in the U.S. than actually arrives here, meaning some venders could be shorting the costumer.
When looking at supplements, beware of those containing caffeine. There are a number of interactions with this tannic acid. Medications for depression and anxiety are two. It can also make you jittery, blur your vision and raise heart rate/blood pressure.
Diets: There are a lot of diets out there, and not all of them are good for you. Of those that are, some may not be right for your particular circumstances. It’s a good idea to look at these diets with caution. Ask yourself the following questions:
1) Do they provide enough nutrients? A balanced diet is important, especially when you’re trying to lose weight.
2) Do they provide enough calories? If not, you may find yourself gaining weight. Try to keep a ten percent difference in calories burned and calories ingested.
3) What happens at the end of the diet? If it doesn’t help you make a permanent change in your food choices, the weight will come back when the diet is over.
4) Is it sustainable? Extreme restrictions on what you can eat may not be something you can do for a long period of time. The diet should call for a wide variety of foods.
5) Does it meet your specific needs? A diabetic may do fairly well on a diet lower in carbs, but not so well on a fruit based diet. A person with kidney disease can’t handle the proteins in a low carb diet.
Deciding to lose excess weight is one of the best things you can choose to do. It’s worth the effort and the above tips may help you in that quest.
I've studied herbal remedies since 1981 and have been a Master Herbalist since 2004. I've written five eBooks on various herbs and the conditions they can help, including one on gout.
Visit this link for more information on healing home remedies and home remedies for it. There are articles and posts on a variety of topics including stress, headaches, back pain and cholesterol.
While there, you can also download my free report, the Top Ten Herbs. This discusses the uses, side effects, precautions and side effects of these popular products.
If you wish to contact me, you can e-mail: mary@healing-home-remedies.com.
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