Take it easy
Start an exercise regime that fits in with your lifestyle. Don’t kill yourself to start with, you will only end up aching, suffering, injured and disheartened. Any increase in physical activity will have an effect so start gently and allow your body time to adjust to the new you. Give your muscles a healthy period to adapt and grow stronger.
- If you drive a mile to the shops – WALK
- Ditch that elevator – USE THE STAIRS (even if it’s only for a few of the floors)
- Get on your bike an ride – CYCLE TO WORK, CYCLE WITH YOUR FAMILY
- Take to the water – SWIMMING IS ONE OF THE BEST FORMS OF EXERCISE
Whatever you choose, start off slow and gradually increase as you feel yourself becoming stronger, leaner and fitter. Don’t slack off and lose interest, but don’t rush in headstrong and spend the next 2 weeks recovering from strains.
Think of driving a car – Slowly apply the gas, gently accelerate and when ready, change up a gear.
Starvation is not the answer
The best healthy diet is a nutritionally balanced diet.
You should look to reduce the amount of bad trans fats you eat, but you do need some fat in your daily diet, just make it the healthy type. Try to reduce your calorie intake but do it slowly, don’t go crazy – give your body time to adjust.
If you try to lose weight too quickly, you are just fighting against your body. Rob the body of much needed calories and it will store all it can from what little you then give it and your weight loss will crawl to a halt. You may initially lose some weight using a crash diet but the weight loss will suddenly stop and unless you’re willing to starve yourself to dangerous proportions, that is where it will stay – until you start to eat like an adult again, and then the weight will come back quicker than ever.
Slow weight loss is the key
This is achieved by gently reducing your calorie intake and eating a healthier diet.
Why does slow weight loss work?
Simple – it allows your body time to adjust to its new weight level. By gently and slowly dieting, your body does not think it is in danger of starvation and so will not store calories. If you starve yourself you are more likely to break the diet and snack and low calorie diets leave you tired and miserable.
Another great advantage is that as your body gets used to its new weight level it will be far more forgiving if you have a bit of a slip up and put the diet aside for a day or two.
Don’t beat yourself up
Everyone has off days – don’t abandon all hope, it’s not the end of the world. You do not need to double up your efforts the following day, this is counter-productive. If you are dieting and exercising correctly, sensibly and steadily, your body will let you off should you err from the healthy lifestyle path for a brief moment!
Allow yourself a weekend off if you want, have that treat if you are feeling a bit down, go for that drink if it has been a terrible day. Just don’t make it a habit, don’t give up and don’t stress yourself out.
Stress is the arch enemy of the healthy lifestyle.
Enjoy yourself and you will see how easy a healthy lifestyle can be.
