Tuesday 13 January 2009

4 Steps To A New Lifestyle For A Slimmer, Healthier, Happier YOU

So you want to lose weight to look better and feel better. You
are not alone. You have the same desire and need as millions of
others out there want to look better, feel better, live longer
and in general have a better lifestyle once you take off the
extra weight.

That said, if you are one of those who have lost weight, then
put it back on, perhaps a more important question is how to you
keep the weight off once you've lost it. You've tried all the
different diets. You've read all the books about losing 10
pounds before the big graduation, wedding or other big event
coming up this weekend. If you've been through that insanity
before, isn't it time for a change of your lifestyle rather than
another stretch of suffering through another diet and feeling
worse than you did when you started?

So, what are the keys to losing weight?

There are four main elements to losing weight and keeping it off.

1. Following an exercise program. 2. Increasing your metabolism
3. Changing your eating habits 4. Changing your lifestyle


1. Following an exercise program.


Starting a good exercise program is a great idea and one of the
best ways to start changing your health and the way you look.
You will gain three benefits from exercise.

1. You will burn calories during your work out. 2. You will
increase your metabolism to burn more calories even when you are
not working out. 3. You will build muscle that will make you
look taller, leaner and healthier. 4. You will build muscles
that will burn more calories than fat.

Your very first step should be to talk to your doctor about your
health and your goals. It might save your life. Your next step
should be to find a partner who will help you be more
responsible to show up for a work out and to complete the work
out. A work out partner should also make the work out more
enjoyable. If you are not able to find a partner and do not feel
you have the discipline to work out regularly, you may want to
start your exercise program by paying a person personal coach
for training and discipline. Most people need 21 days to make
working out a habit, so hire them for at least the first 21
days. Check with your local YMCA or other gym for partners and
coaches.

However, if you cannot afford to join a gym, don't let that slow
you down. You can still walk or run outside, or workout inside
using video tapes or walk on a treadmill. If you don't have
money for work out tapes, you can rent them from the library.
The bottom line is if you want to work out, you will find a way.
Finally, once you have your workout schedule working for you,
offer to help someone else become disciplined to work out.

Helping others always helps you feel better as well. Give it a
try!

2. Increasing your metabolism.

Plain and simple, exercising will increase your metabolism and
will help you lose weight at all hours of the day, even at night
when you are sleeping! Your metabolism is the amount of calories
you burn during the day. Conversely, your body also has a built
in system for self-survival in case of famine. If you don't eat
enough food, you can also reduce your metabolism and make it
harder to lose weight. We will talk more about that in just a
moment.

3. Changing your eating habits.

You're doing better now, but working out and increasing your
metabolism is only a part of the solution. You still must change
your eating habits. Have you found yourself doing this crazy?
Are you eating a Granola bar for breakfast, a salad for lunch
and then eating chocolate shakes and hamburgers from the drive
through late at night on the way home from the gym? That won't
work! You are starving yourself and lowering your metabolism in
the long run, and eating food late at night that will not get
burned off and only makes you feel more miserable the next day
when you look in the mirror or step on the scale.

Do you know that you are setting up yourself for failure? Your
body is smart... so smart that it knows if you are not giving it
enough food, that there may be a problem, and you start to burn
fewer calories. That will not help you look or feel better in
the long run, so don't try it in the short run.

4. Changing your lifestyle and your mindset.

The final way to change your body and the way you look and feel
is to become more active. Walk the stairs to your office instead
of taking the elevator. Park your car way from the rest of the
cars at the mall so you walk a few extra steps. Go for a walk
when you get home from school or work instead of turning on the
TV or the computer. Ask your friends to join you for a game of
horse in basketball. If that is not an option, take your
basketball to a local park, be brave and ask someone to play a
game of one on one there. They might have been feeling just like
you and will be thankful to have the opportunity to exercise and
perhaps make a new friend.

It's all about changing your attitude one-step and one day at a
time. Just remember you did not gain the weight in one day and
you cannot take it off in one day. It is a series of steps that
will lead to success. Another analogy is that it would be nice
to make one large jump over a mountain, but in reality it takes
many steps to get over the mountain, and it is possible. Most
importantly, you just have to take that first step, starting
right now, by reading this article again and then deciding to
"Just do it!"

Article Source: 4 Steps To A New Lifestyle For A Slimmer, Healthier, Happier
YOU!

38 comments:

  1. This is some sound advice and I think number 4 is the most important if you want to make a permanent change. Dieting and exercise can help you lose weight but only by adjusting your lifestyle will you be able to keep that weight from coming back!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great tips and great practical suggestions. With the right mindset, I should slash off several inches in my waistline. Wish me luck!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Totally agree - change is attitudinal and influences everything. To lose weight its simple - a healthy and varied diet with a bit of exercise. To me there is no 'get rich quick' scheme, its about small, consistent changes to your life.

    ReplyDelete
  4. These are some really great steps, it all starts with your attitude. If you have a positive attitude the rest will follow with some dedication.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gaining weight is very easy, especially when you enjoy eating. Losing weight means a lot of sacrifice and a long period of deprivation. I hope I can follow all your useful tips here. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Changing your eating habits and increasing your metabolism are the best ways to lose wieght. Of course, it doesn't hurt to work out.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for sharing this. Getting fit and healthier is a hard work. You need to have the right motivation. I think the most essential is to be able to follow the exercise program and be able to control diet

    ReplyDelete
  8. Small changes to your eating habits and excercise are the road to success. Substitute vegtables for rice and starch and eat fruit instead of snacks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree with Cleanse Rx. #4 is definitely the most crucial (and hardest) step. Without adjusting your lifestyle, you'll easily revert back to old habits and ruin your diet and exercise.

    ReplyDelete
  10. That is such a comprehensive article on health and fitness and because their is "change for life" compaign goin on in the UK, information like this will have real impact on the people who seriously want to lose weight and change their life.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Eating fruit is a good idea, highly recommended !!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. wow..your article is very interesting. My problem is i have a big tummy and i want to get it loosen.. I think it is because after eating,i always sit down.. what should i do to loosen it?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Losing fat on tummy takes time but it is not a mission impossible. You will need to follow an excercise program that is specially focused on losing fat on your tummy and thighs. Maybe we will do an article here next time that introduces special excercises for losing fat on difficult areas.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well, if it was so easy to do all these, there would be no overweighed people on the planet! I am struggling to lose the few pounds I put on during Christmas! However, I do thank you for the good piece of advice!

    ReplyDelete
  15. thanks for the information... best regard :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. @Juliette

    You may agree that there are many people on this planet who actually worked hard and lost their weight. It is all about determination and being consistent really.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Reductil, of course it is! But how many of us can be determined enough? I normally make mind my mind up and decide to lose weight, but a few days and I lose the enthusiasm :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Excellent advice. It's all about having the right attitude!

    ReplyDelete
  19. to have a healthy lifestyle you have to do proper exercise and eating habits. thanks for the tips!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks for the 4 steps have to try them out and see the results.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Interesting article .
    Still the best way is - " Small changes to your eating habits and excercise are the road to success."
    Try these............... :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Great points in this article. I think as people grow older they need to definitely change their eating habits, and also realizing that you dieting is a way of life, and not a chore. I'm glad you bought those up here.

    ReplyDelete
  23. I agree with the previous comment. I also would like to add that if you are just starting out doing exercises that you can combine with activities that distract you. For example riding an exercise bike combines with watching TV or reading a book. This mental edge can really help. Check out http://fitnessbikesplus.com for information about exercise bikes.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I totally agree: it it well known that combining a diet with practicing some sport leads to ... loosing weight. :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. I bought a Wii Fit, but it didn't really hold my interest for very long, which was sad. I'm still looking for that one thing to keep me interested in exercise! :(

    ReplyDelete
  26. I agree that changing your eating habits and beginning to exercise slowly are the key to good health.
    David Stillwagon

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great article, the title alone says it all. Losing weight and being healthy is definitely a lifestyle change, once people realize that they will be on the right track.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I have gained 25 kgs in last 5 years.
    Two weeks ago started walking every day at least one hour and alreay have dropped one size in jeans.Hopefully weather improves!
    Your article gives me extra motivation
    Dominic

    ReplyDelete
  29. I will again need to use these tips in a few years, I actually have trouble GAINING weight....hmmm I wish it was possible to trade ;)

    ReplyDelete
  30. It's been a week when I started to eat healthy food. I started to eat fruits and drink juices, I no longer eat meat. It's hard but as I said..If you want to be healthy and live long you need to sacrifice.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Eating healthier and adding some exercise should always be part of a weight loss plan. You can make healthy food taste good by being creative. Exercise doesn't have to be srenuous and should be a fun activity you can do then it will be easier to stick with it.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Haha, I have the opposite problem. I'm rather skinny and would love to put on a few pounds. But my motabolism is high, so I can eat what I want but never get any bigger.

    I too wish it was possible to trade with someone!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Nice guiding post..Many time people are just scared to follow such a strict program or they leave it in the middle.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I have started green tea as that apparently speeds up the metabolism. I have also been running for a few years now. It's cheaper than the gym but also gets me outside for some fresh air.

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is a great article about living a healthier lifestyle. It's useful to start with a clear vision of what you want your life to look like and moving towards that vision every day. Visualize exactly how much you want to weigh, how much muscle and how little fat you want, how great you feel, etc.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Great article. Mnay thanks for shring this information.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Thanks for the tips! It was a very helpful information.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Agree with your points completely. One needs to change his or her lifestyle and adopt healthier food and natural products to help prevent the diseases. In fact natural products are a much better for skin ailments and infections like MRSA Staph, Ringworm, Impetigo etc.

    ReplyDelete