What an excellent topic! The statistics for the US alone is incredible for people over weight now a days. You could blame many things such as the type of food that is edible (how it's cooked, prepared), lack of excersize because it's an information age and computers are number one pasttime, and the fact that we just live with all the conveinences that dont require us to get up and get busy as it used to. But when it all comes down to it, like this person mentioned:
but then there's self control
Self control, aside from chemical imbalances or even if it is heriditary, is a HUGE factor in weight gaining. I used to be 126 lbs up until 3 years ago. I am 5'7" so that was a tiny size. I was always little and was called stickly, but yet I could eat anything and any amount of it, and wouldn't gain a pound. I was alot more active too with little one's. I now weigh 145 lbs. My average weight should be 10 lbs lighter, and considering the fact that I have a hip replacement, weight is an issue for me at this point in my life.
Before surgery --In March-- I had a lipids test done as part of a series of tests done to clear me for surgery, and low and behold, my cholestorol was a smidgen over the line. Enough so that the doctor advised me to get myself on a low fat diet and more excersize. Well, the excersize was out for alteast 2 months, just basic physical therapy. Now the physical therapy is increasing, which will be good, but at the same time, that was my wake up call to start now!!
I have for the past few months changed the little things such as, I purchase fat free milk, low fat everything else I can buy. Leaner meats, a lot of fresh fruits and veggies (with out the dips) and I now bake or grill alot more than fry. There are simple little things that we can do to change our eating habits, and still be able to enjoy the taste of food. Self control plays a huge part in this, and the only way to get self control is to give control over to God first.
You may think I am silly, or just plain retarded for thinking so, but Im now starting to ask God to make the food taste as though it did for the Isrealites once they indulged after complaining to God about manna this manna that, --gimme some meat!! --LOL-- I want to only enjoy the measure enough to sustain nutrition, but not overindulge. Cookies and cheesecake are my weakness. I could make a batch and eat them all or be stingy with a whole cheesecake to myself in two days -POOF- it's gone!
God can and will help us get our eating and excersizing under control... He wouldn't tell us to keep our temples clean without providing a way for us to do so. We just have to be the one who educates ourselves and keeps our eyes on the prize. We have to be realistic as well.
I hope these simple suggestions will be a good start for those who are reading this.
1-Dont set goals way too high --like me, i am sometimes an over acheiver and set myself up for failure alot-- but set them at obtainable limits. How you approach this, will determine how far you can go.
****We also have to do research because what works for me doesn't work for someone else and vise versa.
2-Diligently search on healthy eating habits at home or eating out and dont fall for the lose weight fast with this pill or this pill... Purchase low fat or no fat items in place of the others. This includes snacks too!! It is fairly inexpensive and easy to make a fresh fruit smoothie every morning, take your vitamins, drink alot of water. Cut out soda's! (or pop, fizzy drinks --not sure how everyone says it) Even Diet drinks are not good for you. :shade:
3-Surround yourself with people who respect your goals and will help lift you up and encourage you to eat properly or go for a walk with you to excersize.
4-Right after you eat a meal, DONT GO TO SLEEP or sit down for a long period of time! Go out and do something in your yard, go for a walk around the block or two, go to the mall, go change your car oil, but dont allow yourself to be inactive. ALSO--Don't eat atleast 3 hours before bed. No late night ice cream, or scanning the fridge or cupboards right before LA-LA Land! >me guilty *DOH<:shock:
5-Snack inbetween meals with healthy stuff. Not a candy bar.
6-Watch what you eat. Look at the packages ingredients, carbs, fats, etc.. because becoming aware will help you limit your intake. Think about it, if you really know what you are putting into your body, you may think twice about it!
Those are good to start. I have lost 3 lbs now that I am down to one crutch and moving around alot more. I was even out edging the yard last weekend! :thumbs_up
