Weight Loss is a big industry in the United States. It seems like every time you log onto social media, someone is trying to convince you to try this new diet, pill, tea, or other miracle item to help you lose weight. If you are really wanting to trim down, you shouldn’t be focusing on your diet, but on your lifestyle.
When we hear the word diet, we think of a temporary modification of what you are eating in order to reduce calories as much as possible to shed weight, or fad diets where you cut out one food group in order to force your body into one state or another. These diets seem great but are often unsustainable long term. This is problematic for a number of reasons, but one of the big problems with it is that you aren’t setting yourself up for keeping the weight off. This leads to a yo-yo effect of restrictive dieting and regaining weight that keeps your body in constant confusion and can lead to ongoing health problems over time. Good news is, there is a much better solution.
Instead of focusing on dieting for weight loss, focus on making healthier lifestyle choices. This doesn’t just include what you eat either. It is a holistic approach to leading a healthier, more active life.
What you eat
The first part of leading a healthy lifestyle is understanding what is in the food you are eating. Don’t just cut carbs or only eat meat. Talk to a nutritionist if you can and find out what your body needs, and also what you enjoy. If you plan your meals around food you don’t like, the changes won’t stick. If you have guidelines however that help you choose healthier options, you can find food you like and not feel like you are leaving behind all the good things in life.
What you do
If you enjoy or have the time to spend hours in the gym every day, that is great. For most people however, exercise is a chore because they haven’t found something that they like to do. If you like to run, great! Hit the treadmill and get an exercise program that helps you improve your form, endurance, and speed. If you like to dance, then set aside time to dance every day. The important part here is that you are finding ways to add movement into your life that doesn’t feel like a chore so you can stick with it.
Stress management
An often overlooked part of a healthy lifestyle is managing your stress. Find ways to unwind every day and step away from your busy schedule. Stress can make it harder to lose weight, gain muscle, get the sleep we need, and even impact our heart health. Some people find that their exercise of choice, like yoga or swimming, can be the thing that helps them manage stress, while other people find talking to a therapist or taking time to sit down with friends to be a great way to relieve stress.
How you sleep
Lastly, you need to make sure you are getting enough sleep. Sleep is how our bodies and our minds heal. When we aren’t getting enough sleep, our bodies can’t live up to their full potential and will have trouble shedding extra pounds or healing after a strenuous workout. In fact, if you have to take away from sleep to accomplish one of the other items on this list, you need to evaluate the choice carefully. Not having enough sleep can negate all the other efforts you are making to live a healthier lifestyle.
We believe that our patients get the best results when we understand their lifestyle and help them to make long lasting, healthier choices. We want to provide holistic care and understand what you are going through and how we can help you achieve your goals. That is why we offer so many choices for connecting with our clients through custom programming, in person sessions, our M3 Group, and pre-made programs. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you reach your fitness goals.