Losing Weight, Can You Do It? an article I wrote back in 2011

http://voices.yahoo.com/losing-weight-7926650.html?cat=5




Losing Weight, Can You Do It?



So you've decided now is the time to really get serious about losing weight. However, can you do it well yes, as a matter of fact you can. How long this may take is another story entirely.



Your first step to lose weight is to take an assessment of your medical condition. If you are on medications, or a doctor's care you will want to proceed with care. If you have limitations in physical activities or food allergies, then you will also want to be more careful, than someone who has no other known health problems other than obesity.



After you have taken inventory of your medical condition, you will next need to decide if you are really serious, and also decide if you are really willing to do all that it takes to lose weight.



If you have a medical condition that helps you to maintain obesity, making weight-loss difficult, you may want to ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist. You will need to work closely with your doctor also if you are on medications, because weight-loss can affect your medications.




It is very important if you happen to be under medical care to keep your medical team informed of what you may be doing to lose weight.



Also it is never, I repeat never ever; wise to go on a crash diet of any kind. A crash diet may well help you to lose several pounds rather rapidly; however, what you are losing is not fat but water. Your body is made up of roughly 70 percent water. Your body needs water, to flush fat, to keep your joints lubricated, to help your kidney's work well. Your body needs water to digest your food well.
Also your body needs water to lose weight.



Water is something that is very, very important for your health, and also for weight-loss.
So the very next thing after you have decided you really do want to lose weight is this you will need to learn to drink water if you have not been in the habit of doing so previously. If you have been drinking water, you may need to increase your water consumption.



The next thing besides increasing your water intake is to also increase your movement. You can begin this by pacing the floors in your home, walking around your yard, or walking up and down the steps in your apartment. You may also look around and find walking tracks near your home.


 
Many YMCA's have indoor walking tracks. The more you are able to move around the more calories that you will burn. The more calories you burn the more weight you will work provided you are not upping your intake of calories.



Besides increasing your water intake, and your activity levels you will need to also decrease your calorie intake. You can do this either by eating smaller portions of the foods you normally eat, or you can completely change what you eat, to lower calorie foods, and also eat smaller portions.



Buying smaller plates, cups, and serving dishes may provide helpful for you. Also remember only to eat one serving at mealtimes. You are not starving, and most likely you will have another meal in the very near future.



Space your meals out so that you are not eating all of your meals close together. Five or six hours between meals, allows your body time to digest the food from one meal, before having more food pushed down into the stomach.



Last remember to drink plenty of water between meals. If you will abide by these tips then you will lose weight, it will not be a rapid weight-loss, but a slow and gradual weight-loss. The same way you put the weight on, is the same way you need to take it off. You will have less health risk if you will remember "slow and steady wins the race."