Everywhere you look there are temptations. Big meals are planned for the holidays. Christmas candy is abundant on store shelves.
For a person who is trying to lose weight or maintain weight, there is always a temptation within reach, said Janice Hermann, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension nutrition specialist.
“Not only are there high calorie temptations everywhere, consumers also are bombarded with advertisements claiming quick weight loss,” Hermann said. “Many people will buy into those claims because they want to lose weight before a holiday party or before visiting family they haven’t seen in a while. Keep in mind that the weight didn’t pile on overnight, so you won’t be able to lose it overnight.”
Only a small percentage of people manage to lose weight and keep it off. One reason is they believe the advertisements that they can lose large amounts of weight in just a short time. There is no substance to claims such as “melt fat while you sleep” or “eat all of your favorite foods and still lose weight.”
Hermann said for a person to lose weight and keep it off, he or she must make permanent lifestyle changes.
“There aren’t any pills, gadgets or magic potions that work in the long term,” she said. “Unfortunately, many people continue to believe in those claims of weight loss success.”
For years, health professionals have been telling the public that being overweight or obese can have serious health consequences, including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, gallstones and some forms of cancer.
Hermann said losing as little as 10 percent of your body weight can have a very positive effect on your health and reduce some of those health consequences.
Before starting any weight loss program, check with your physician first. He or she may have some recommendations for beneficial exercises and can suggest a healthful diet.
“The only sure way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you take in,” Hermann said. “Losing weight takes hard work and dedication, but the long-term effects are priceless.”
22. December 2009 at 3:38 pm
I certainly know about making lifestyle changes! It’s really hard especially for someone like me who has mood swings related to a psychological condition. But losing weight and becoming healthier is definitely worth the hard work.
-Denise