subject: Why is it so hard to lose weight? [print this page] Why is it so hard to lose weight? Why is it so hard to lose weight?
Losing weight is hard, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise, unless you are one of those lucky creatures we all hate, who can eat whatever they like and stay skinny. If we do not have genetics on our side and gain weight when we see a chocolate cake, we have our work cut out for us. There are simple ways to lose weight, but they have nothing to do with calorie counting or exercise programs, the reason losing weight and keeping it down is so hard has to do with our way of life and life-long habits that are hard to change.
We want everything now; instant gratification is part of our culture. We expect any diet or weight loss program to work right away, and if it does not, we give up, or take up another diet. Dieting has to do with changing body chemistry, and it takes time for any diet to start working, if your diet includes cutting calories and increasing exercise, it will eventually work, but you have to be persistent.
We eat too much, look at the portions in restaurants; nobody needs that much food, except maybe farmers or construction workers. Whenever possible eat at home, where you can control portions. If you have to eat in a restaurant, order child portion, or an appetizer instead of full meal. We eat for fun, not because we are hungry, eating is one of great pleasures of our lives, but not the only one, its real purpose is to replenish energy.
The solution is to eat only when you are hungry and your stomach is growling, if you are feeling low, do not go for a box of chocolate, get yourself a 'feel good' movie, or a comedy, go for a long walk, or go see a friend you have not seen in a long time. When you have had really bad day, get a pair of shoes, not a cheese cake.
Make sure you know what you are eating; most of ready-made meals contain things called 'food products', not food, and have nothing to do with nutrition. Try to make your meals yourself, that way you will be sure what is in it: meat, vegetables, grains, pasta, spices, nothing with long chemical names. Most people are too tired to set up the table for a meal after a long day at work. So, we grab a bowl of whatever is in the fridge, or nuke a box of something frozen, and sit in front of the TV.
Solution: make each meal an event, set up the table with a tablecloth, nice dishes, silverware, and the works. Enjoy your food, feel the taste, smell it, look at the colors and texture, eat slowly, chew your food and enjoy every bite. You will feel full and satisfied with a very small amount of food.
Fast food is all around us, it is easy, and cheap, to grab a burger or a slice of pizza. To avoid temptation when you get hungry and are out of the house is to carry something healthy in your bag, like a granola bar, an apple, or a juice. We do not walk anywhere any more, we use elevators, escalators, cars, even for smallest distances, and then we pay large amount of money for a gym membership.
Regular gym exercises are fine, but it is much more effective to walk whenever you can. Climbing one floor up to your office will add half hour to your exercise regime, washing your windows, walking the dog, picking weeds in the garden will add far more. Most overweight people have overweight children, and pass our bad habits to the entire family.
Solution: Do things with your family, insist on eating together around the table, with TV off, do not allow any fatty snacks in the house, and load your fridge and cupboards with healthy but tasty snacks. Do something together once a week, like walking to the park, to the zoo or to the bowling alley.
Start with one change at the time, like getting good, healthy cereals for your family breakfast instead of sugary stuff. If your family resists added vegetables with their food, add a bit of grated cheese, or some crushed peppers for flavor. Once a week, treat everyone, yourself included, with something everyone loves, like ice cream.
