There are about a million weight loss plans out there, and you've
probably heard them all - and maybe even tried a few: The grapefruit
diet. The drugs. Those space suits that are supposed to help you sweat
off the pounds.
The truth is that some of these may even work, crazy as they may sound,
and you might be able to drop a few pounds. Who knows? Maybe you could
lose more than a few. But do you really want to spend the rest of your
life eating grapefruit while wearing a space suit all the time? As many
options as there are for diet plans, the one thing that's clear is that
losing weight and keeping it off is going to take some work.
Here's one tried and true way to look at it: as a math problem. One
pound equals 3500 calories. So in order to lose a pound, you need to
either take in 3500 calories, burn an additional 3500 calories through
some form of physical activity, or use a combination of the two. You'll
have to choose the approach that works best for you, your personality,
and your lifestyle. Here are a few things to consider:
Talk to your doctor
before starting any diet or exercise plan. He or she can help you come
up with a plan to tackle any health issues you might be facing, and
will let you know if you need to adjust your weight loss plan
accordingly. It can also be helpful to have a knowledgeable partner in
a process like this. Doctors are generally eager to support you in your
lifestyle changes, because they probably see many more patients looking
for a quick fix than a long term solution. A good relationship with
your doctor can go a long way toward helping you reach your health and
fitness goals.
Regardless of how much weight you want to lose, it's not all going to come off in a day or
a week. 3500 calories may seem like a lot all at once, but
divide that number by 7 days, and you're looking at 500 calories a day
in order to lose 1 pound per week. That's a lot more manageable, and breaking up goals into smaller chunks
is a good way to approach goals that might otherwise seem overwhelming.
Take a realistic look at your
lifestyle and your personality as they relate to both diet and
exercise. Are you an on-the-go working mom who rarely has time to sit
still? Then the best approach for you is probably not going to include
an elaborate sit-down dinner every night. Do you absolutely hate going
to the gym? If so, walking outside several days a week could be a great
alternative when it comes to choosing the best way for you to exercise.
Finally, and this is probably the most important thing to think
about: who are you doing this for?
If you want to lose weight because you have a high school reunion
coming up, that's not necessarily a bad thing. But what happens when
the reunion is over? What will your motivation to lose weight be then?
You may be getting pressure from a family member or friend who is
worried about your health and wants you to lose weight. They probably
mean well, but if you go on a diet because someone else thinks you
should, there's a pretty good chance you'll resent that person as you
try to make changes to your body and life. Ultimately the choice to
lose weight - to change your life by making substantial changes to your
diet and lifestyle - has to be yours and no one else's. The best way to ensure that you'll be able
to stick with these changes is to be certain that this is something you
want for yourself. When you reach your goals, you will be able
to celebrate fully knowing you lost weight because you wanted to do it
for you. And that's the best gift you can give yourself: a new,
healthier version of you.