subject: Change Your Life, Change Your Body [print this page] Our society has a peculiar approach to beauty, weight, and fitness. While consumerism constantly pushes forward the delights of fast food, dining out, and indulging in favorite goodies, we are simultaneously expected to maintain the ideal figure and maximum health. Limitless articles and news pieces overflow with tips about diet and exercise, though the factors that contribute to weight are terribly complex.
So if you're struggling with your weight, and hitting the gym and making changes to your nutritional intake hasn't made a significant difference, then you need to bring out the big guns. Let me explain some the resources available to you and the measures you can take to increase your chances of success.
First, it is extremely important to your progress to get your family--if you live with parents, siblings, or a spouse and/or children--on board with the vital changes you need to make. Forming healthier eating habits often requires you to purge junk food from the house, but your family will likely resist if they have neglected their nutrition over the years.
Changing your family's habits may even require a few sessions with a counselor. There is no shame in that, but remember how important it is to drop the excess weight for your own long-term (and perhaps short-term!) survival.
Next, you need to talk to your doctor about receiving a recommendation to a weight loss clinic in your area. While your general practitioner will certainly be a great help to you during your quest for a healthier life, a weight loss clinic can offer your more comprehensive services in one centralized location, including nutritionists, fitness consultants, and surgical experts that will discuss all of your medical options in detail.
A weight loss clinic in Utah, my home state, has helped me get back on track after I put on weight due to an illness, so I can attest to the effectiveness of having a team of helpers on your side.
As you put forth all your efforts into attaining a healthier body and a healthier lifestyle, you need to pay attention to how you feel over how you look. Would it be nice if every individual felt perfectly confident baring their bod poolside? Absolutely, but it is more important for you to feel fit and to minimize your risk of serious diseases that frequently accompany obesity.
You should also recognize how you feel after you eat. If you find yourself feeling guilty, then you should work hard to correct that in the future. It may be helpful to keep a journal for precisely this purpose.
