Over 100 million Americans were overweight or obese in 1999. Obesity continues to be a serious problem and is predicted to reach epidemic levels by the year 2020. One way to prevent this scenario is to make people aware of the risks of being overweight or obese.
Here are some diseases and conditions that can be attributed to obesity . Heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, arthritis and hypertension. This of course is not a definitive list but only an example Losing weight helps to prevent and control these diseases. The quick weight loss methods which have spread like fire these days do not provide lasting results. More often than not, dieting methods which involve dietary drinks, foods and supplement or pills do not work. If they do, the results are just temporary. It is better to rely on a healthy weight loss option which will provide lifetime results. You have to set realistic goals and not expect to lose a lot of pounds in a short span of time. Here are some tips on how you can lose those unwanted pounds the healthy way:
1. Do not starve your self. The key to a healthier way of losing weight is: Do not diet. You may seem happy and feel that you are losing those unwanted flabs on your belly and thighs by skipping meals but this is not the case your body quickly compensates and in fact your metabolism drops so you burn less calories.
2. Start your day right. It is true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Have a healthy meal in the morning to kick start your metabolism.Your food intake after you wake up will be used to burn fat all day long.
3. Eat small, healthy meals frequently. Five small serving snacks per day is better than three hearty meals. Eating more frequently, and in small servings, can prevent over-eating. This will also increase your metabolism and make calories burn faster.
4. Decide on how much weight you want to lose. It is virtually impossible for you to lose 40 pounds in 2 weeks. Have a mindset that you want to eat healthy to stay healthy for the rest of your life. Once you have decided on a weight loss plan or program, stick to it and make sure that you follow your own set of dieting rules.
5. Drink lots of water. Your body needs sufficient water to burn fat and keep your cells hydrated and healthy. Feeling hungry can actually be a sign of dehydration and instead of drinking more you eat more.
6. Avoid too much sugar. Plan your meals around lots of fruits and vegetables, some bread, rice or pasta for that carbo fix that you need, plus lean meat and protein rich-foods. Sweets, sugary drinks and pastries should be treats on the odd occasion.
7. Watch your fat intake. Fat is not the culprit to being overweight. You need this to keep your weight at the proper level. Not all fats are unhealthy. Tuna, salmon and mackerel have omega-3 fats which is good for the heart.
8. Exercise. Leave your car if you are only going a few blocks from home, take the stairs instead of the elevator, jog, cycle or skate. Use these activites and other home chores if you are too lazy to go to the gym and take exercise classes. Make sure that you do this regularly and you will not even notice that you are already shedding pounds with these mundane activities. Eat healthy, drink lots of water, get plenty sleep and exercise. This will improve your chances of losing weight and aid your health, which could result to a new, healthier you.