Do you have a healthy weight loss plan? How is it working for you? Are you getting the results you want? If the answer is "yes", then do not change a thing! Way to go! Kudos to you! Keep up the good work!
On the other hand, do you feel you should be having better results? Or are you aware of the The Schwarzbein Principle and want a more holistic approach to weight loss? Let's take a look at some other possibilities.
First of all we need to recognize that weight loss, long term or short term, depends on three factors:
1) How many calories you take in your body.
2) How many calories your body burns.
3) How efficiently your body burns the calories.
Do not let number 3 scare you off. Please stay with me. While it is true that your genetics and body composition do affect how efficiently your body burns calories, you still have a lot of control over how efficiently your body burns the calories.
How do you improve number 3 above? Exercise. Yup, exercise.
Remember, exercise is not a four-letter word. It should be fun. It should be pleasant. It should be consistent. Daily is best. Five days a week is good. Three days a week is bare minimum.
How much time should commit daily to your exercise program? I shoot for a one-hour walk five days a week. Sometimes more frequently, sometimes less often.
I find walking to be cheap, relaxing, and enjoyable. By the time I arrive back home, my respiration has increased and I have perspired – all of this occurs in the now cool, cloudy days we have here in the Northwest in springtime.
What will work for you? That's the critical question.
Please consider it carefully. Remember this is for you. Not your spouse. Not your sibling. Not your kids or grand kids. For you.
The Centers for Disease Control says that in order to lose two pounds a week, you need to burn 1,000 calories a day more than you eat for a period of seven days. In other words, if you create a 1,000 calorie daily deficit for seven days, you will lose two pounds a week.
There are just three ways to do this:
1) Eat less.
2) Exercise more.
3) Do both of the above.
Simple. Right?
Notice please, that all three parts are necessary. Sorry, trying to lose weight by incorporating only two of the three above components will in all probability not work at all.
If you are reducing your caloric consumption by even a 1,000 calories a day and still spending the day sitting on the couch, do not look for a significant change in your weight. You will have to wait a long time for a change in your weight. (Sorry. Couldn't resist!)
Hey, I did not make the rules! That's just reality!
It might have worked when you were a few decades younger and your metabolism was working at a faster rate than it is now, but that was then and this is now. Sorry.
Back to healthy weight loss plans. Happily there are many of them. And they are infinitely variable in personal applications! This one (click for details) offers a unique, safe and holistic approach.
All we have to do as we create our healthy weight loss plan is to keep in mind the three principles stated above:
1) Eat less.
2) Exercise more.
3) Do both of the above.
Let’s start by asking a simple question.
What kind of activities to you enjoy? Watching TV doesn’t count! Neither does reading. Painting? Nope. Drawing? Nope. Eating? Nice try but no there too! Sorry.
Are you looking to make your program a social event or do you prefer solo? Indoors or out?
Remember, you must find the exercise regimen to be enjoyable so that you can maintain it for a long period of time. If it's no fun, you'll soon stop. Not a good thing.
Hopefully, this information has helped you understand the principles you need to consider in forming your own, personalized, exercise program. If you understand the principles, you are good to go.
So please, give it some serious consideration. It's your life we'm talking about. And you're definitely worth the effort!
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