Three Ways to Begin Losing Weight Today

Category: Diet and Nutrition

Obesity will soon take over smoking as the leading cause of death in the United States. Two thirds of Americans are now overweight or obese and the trend is growing. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that people who are overweight are attracted to each other and this condition is then passed on to their children. Diet and exercise is the only way to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. However there are simple steps that can be included in your healthy weight program.

1. Eat Breakfast!!!! As many people have heard, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and research shows this may be true. People who eat breakfast have a lower average body weight than those who do not, even when they have the same caloric intake throughout the day. In the morning, a balanced breakfast, rich in protein and fiber, should be eaten within 30 minutes of waking. This approach seems to jumpstart metabolism.

2. Eat Smaller, But More Frequent Meals. Eating 5-6 smaller meals separated by no more than 3 hours will help shed pounds. After 3 hours, the body begins to switch to storing mode to hold on to energy as if you were starving. By eating 3 balanced meals and 2-3 snacks, this process can be altered. Of course, if you eat 5-6 large meals you will certainly gain weight. But by breaking up your daily caloric intake into 5-6 meals, you will fare better than if you eat only 2 or 3 meals per day. An added benefit is you will feel less hungry.

3. Get Moving and Exercise!! The more muscle you have, the more calories your body will burn. Basic body metabolism is that muscle burns more energy than fat, so when you work out and include physical activity in your daily routine, not only do you burn calories, but your basal metabolic rate increases over time. This means that when you are not moving at all, you will burn more calories.

Posted by Brad Chase on November 26, 2013 10:00 AM