Diet and exercise is a bit like a balance sheet for you body with diet accounting for calories coming in and exercise for those going out. For a healthy weight loss, you must eat fewer calories than your body uses. Eat more than it requires and the extras will be stored as excess body fat.
Because one pound of fat is about 3,500 calories, it takes one week of eating 500 fewer calories per day (500 x 7 = 3,500) to lose that pound. Alternatively it can be shed by "burning off" an extra 3,500 calories through increased exercise and activity.
The best way to lose and keep off weight is by combining increased activity with lower calorie consumption. Cutting 250 from your daily diet and burning off another 250 through exercise adds up to the daily target required to achieve that pound per week weight loss goal.
How to make the diet and exercise partnership work for you:
Learn to love the right foods: Instead of getting your enjoyment from desserts, fry-ups, fast foods and the like, learn to enjoy healthy meals that are low in sugar and fat but high in taste and nutrition. Pick your top five favourites and always have them available as part of your healthy weight loss diet.
Set achievable goals: Because healthy weight loss takes time it can sometimes be tough to stick with your weight loss programme. Setting and achieving small goals is a great way to keep motivated. Start with a modest target of losing a few pounds each week or month. When you hit these, your confidence will rocket and you’ll be ready for the next challenge. Before you know it, you’ll reach your ideal weight.
Get excited about exercise: Make it easier to stick with your weight loss programme by choosing an exercise you enjoy. Set yourself targets. If you’re a swimmer, push for those extra lengths. If you walk or run, use a smart phone app to track your progress. If you’re struggling for motivation, consider exercising with a friend or in a group.
Enjoy the occasional treat: Don’t depress yourself with the thought that you can never again eat a favourite food such as pizza, chocolate or chips. Learn to enjoy them in moderation and you won’t need to completely give them up. Through regular exercise and a nutritious weight loss diet, your body’s balance sheet should soon be healthy enough for you to afford it. So celebrate special occasions with a favourite treat. Just don’t make a habit of it!
Change your lifestyle: If you take the attitude that a weight loss diet and exercise plan are only required until such time as you reach your ideal weight, it’s likely you will eventually pile the pounds on again. But if you learn to enjoy exercise and good food as part your new lifestyle routine, and overcome the emotional eating habits at the root of your previous behaviour, you will soon accomplish your goals far more easily than you ever thought possible.
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