Keys to Weight Management
While it is generally accepted knowledge that eating less and exercising more will facilitate weight loss, what they fail to mention is that it is a lot easier said than done. I believe two important aspects have been left out, which are accountability and therapy of the mind. I have done the following to incorporate both in my efforts to lose weight.
Exercise: I have joined a gym and started working with their personal trainer. While not cheap, it is worth it to know I am getting a workout that makes me feel good. I have felt the difference when I go horseback riding. I also try and ride my horse 2- 3 times a week.
Nutrition: I have started working with a registered dietitian who can better guide me in getting a handle on my eating habits, such as how to handle the vast amounts of food served at restaurants these days. After looking over a food journal which I had kept for two days, she showed me where I was fine, and where I needed to make improvements. She suggested fresh fruit at every meal, or for a snack, or even a quarter cup of unsalted nuts or low fat string cheese.
She gave me suggestions on how to make food better without making it fatter, such as using a few sprays of “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter” spray instead of a few pats of regular butter or margarine. There are many recipes available online that go towards high taste and few calories. The chefs will walk you through these cooking videos as if they were there with you. There are many different varieties, from vegetarian, to chicken, beef and seafood.
Therapy: Those of us with a serious weight problem overeat for a variety of psychological reasons. In that regard, I have done a number of things to correct what I believe is the crux of the weight issue. I have journalized, read books, and seen a therapist who specialized in that area. What I am reading right now to get a handle on why I overeat is a book called “Reprogramming the Overweight Mind” by Kelly Burris. It talks about how our eating habits are subconscious, much like the ability to brush our teeth or drive a car. Until we change the mental pictures that generate the reaction, we will continue to fail at our weight loss efforts.
This is what is working for me. Something will work for the next person. But I believe that if we endeavor to be accountable in our eating and exercise, and venture to find what is driving our need to overeat, we will be successful in our quest for weight loss.