Commitment is
the key factor
By Anup Deb
Nath
MANY people who want to lose
weight are often heard complaining about exercise not
doing a thing for them. In their case it seems impossible
to lose weight and no matter how hard they try nothing
happens. This is not a problem that is restricted to a
few, isolated people, but surprisingly effects a large
number of us. There are many reasons for a problem such
as these ones, and where there is a problem there most
certainly has to be a cure.
The ability to fool oneself into,
believing that we are doing everything and more that is
required and that none of the
dont-listed figure in our routines, is
the basic reason for many a persons downfall. It is
very important to look at everything exactly as it is and
not try to pretend, at least not to ourselves. This way
we would really be able to evaluate what we should be
doing and what we are doing in reality. Then remedying
the situation is much easier and reaching our goals just
a matter of time.
Many of us are eating
far more than we really should in the day. Here a large
number of people actually believe that they are existing
on next-to-nothing and continue to eat more than they
should. A realistic view of what we eat and a rough idea
of the calories it involves will help in cutting down the
extra eating and ultimately the fat.
A majority of the people
who dont lose weight easily are actually
under-exercising. Here again the tendency is to tell
yourself that you are exercising a lot when in fact you
are not achieving as much as you should. Many of us will
drop our exercise programme at the slightest excuse, a
friends birthday, an aunt visiting etc. In order to
see any positive results we need to work-out 5-6 days a
week for 35-40 minutes each time. For people who are not
trying to lose but simply maintain their weight, three to
four times a week will also suffice.
Very drastic crash diets
will actually do exactly the opposite of what you think
they are going to do. Crash diets or skipping meals will
actually force your body into slowing down its
metabolic rate, which, in turn, will mean that you will
burn less calories and in fact store most. It is better
to eat sensibly and less than not eating at all for
entire meals. Alcohol and even beer is do nothing good
for those trying to lose weight. In fact it is an
accepted fact that alcohol actually stimulates the
appetite, and is high on calories. There are studies that
show that alcohol in fact slows down the metabolic rate
as well.
Eat the right food. It
is better to fill up with properly cooked vegetables and
fruit rather than feeding yourself all the junk food
around. Burgers, colas, chips, packed and processed foods
are not really going to give your body any nutritional
benefits. All they will do is fill you up and give your
body calories it could do without. Supplement all the bad
eating with healthy food and you will see the scales
tipping in your favour.
Food supplements like
artificial sweeteners actually make your body react in
exactly the same way that sugar does by releasing
insulin. Excess insulin is the culprit, which makes your
body store fat and doesnt let the body burn this
fat. It is better to restrict sugar in all forms.
Eating meals till you
are full is also not a very good idea. It is always best
when you are trying to lose weight to leave the dining
table a little hungry. Dont eat till you are full
but try to finish when you are three-fourths full.
It is important to
weight-train along with whatever other exercise you are
doing. In a number of cases where they are trying to lose
weight but are not doing weight training along side, in
the end they lose their muscle mass instead. Also, often
your basal metabolic rate also decreases and this results
in your body burning fewer calories in the day.
The last but perhaps the
most important point of all is commitment. Most people
who are unsuccessful in their weight loss programme are
unable to stick to their routine in other words
they lack commitment. It is very important to remember
that no one can pinpoint the exact number of days, weeks
or even months that it will take you to lose what you
need to lose. Yet the most frequently asked question by
many new members is: "How long will be it before I
lose weight?" The amount of weight you lose, the
speed you lose it at and keeping it off all vary from
person to person, from metabolism to metabolism but can
be speeded up by controlling certain factors. Duration of
exercise, intensity of exercise, frequency of exercise,
diet followed and the commitment to exercise will all
ultimately help you speed up your way to the goal you
want.
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