New Year’s Weight Loss Reservations
Posted on 1/6/2004
Are you planning to lose weight for the new year? You may have noticed that diet fads and diet trends are highly promoted around the new year, and millions of people focus their attention on weight loss. If your New Year’s resolution is to drop a few pounds, then it is important to know as much as possible about the diet plan you choose. Make sure you are aware of how certain diet trends, such as the low-carbohydrate diet, can affect your body. The key to weight loss is to follow a sensible and healthy diet plan, and have reasonable expectations.
One of the current diet trends is based on lowering the intake of carbohydrates. Low-carb diets have resulted in hundreds and thousands of success stories. However, if not followed properly, such a diet will not work. Carbohydrates are the body’s preferred source of energy, so it is essential not to eliminate all carbohydrates or the body will not function properly. Also remember that low-carbohydrate foods are usually high in fat. Diets high in fat have been linked to high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Carbohydrates also contain fiber. Fiber is another essential nutrient to keep the body functioning properly. Fiber helps lower cholesterol and helps prevent colon cancer. Not only that, but fiber helps maintain a healthy body weight.
Some people following a low-carb diet may experience fatigue. This lack of energy is because dieters are depriving their bodies of carbohydrates which serve as the body’s main source of energy. Lower energy leads to lower activity, which in turn slows the body’s metabolism. A slow metabolism means the body is burning fewer calories daily, requiring dieters to eat even less food to lose weight.
Weight loss requires a change in eating behavior over an extended period of time. To maintain a certain weight, eating habits require constant monitoring. Studies show that a large number of people that lose weight on a low-carb diet will gain most, if not all, of the weight back within six months of losing it. There are several reasons for this. One reason is due to the fact that it takes a lot of discipline to go without carbohydrates. Our bodies crave high-carb foods making it hard to follow a diet plan.
To aid in losing and maintaining weight, a weight loss program should also include a supplemental exercise plan. If possible, join a gym. Designate time for exercise. Take the stairs when there is an option. Park in a spot farthest away from work. Take the grocery cart back to the store after using it to load the car! There are endless ways to get extra steps into the day.
Over and over it has been proven that a smart diet and exercise plan will result in the healthiest weight loss. Diet fads and diet trends constantly change, and different ones work for different people. Results will vary for each individual, but just remember that slow and steady wins the race.