The biggest problem facing American is obesity, nearly a half of the popular is overweight with a third classified as obese. Obesity has been linked to nearly 300,000 deaths each year. Statistics also show that obesity is on the rise even though millions of Americans try diets throughout the year. Over thirty million is spent each year on weight loss products like diet foods and drinks.
First you need to understand what obesity really is. The Institute of Medicine defines obesity as a man who has more than twenty-five percent body fat and a woman who has more than thirty percent body fat. If you are overweight or obese you are at risk for many diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Reducing your body weight by as little as five to ten percent can reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol levels greatly. The best way to achieve weight loss success is by relying on help from health care providers including doctors, dieticians and therapists.
You need to do more than just diet in order to lose weight. You need to make a lifestyle change and to do this you need to find a program that meets your lifestyle needs such as proper nutrients and exercise. If you want to lose your desired weight then you need to be able to live with these changes. However, for seniors this can be even more difficult. Not only have you been doing certain habits all your life which can be difficult to break, but there is also the added limitations that your age and health can place on performing certain exercise routines necessary to have successful weight loss.
In order to have success with a long-term weight loss plan you need to focus more on eating healthy and exercising regularly rather than just dieting. This is why many fad diets don’t work; because they only focus on providing quick results and can actually result in major damage for your body. It is also important that you have good goals. If you are dieting simply to get into your bathing suit for the summer then you probably aren’t going to be happy with the results you get. On the other hand if your goal is to be healthy rather than looking good you will be happy with the results you get from your weight loss plan. Consider the following tips to have successful weight management as a part of a senior weight loss plan.
Take the time to plan a list of foods before you go shopping and stick with it. Avoid beverages that have high calories such as sodas, juices, smoothies and blended coffee drinks. Eat as much fiber as possible such as fruits and vegetables. If you use salad dressing try diluting it with plain vinegar or lemon juice and always order it on the side at a restaurant. Half your plate should always be steamed or raw vegetables while the other half has equal parts of protein and starch that doesn’t contain fat. For dessert consider fruit. Doing these simple things can really help your weight loss goals.
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