Simple changes, not extreme measures for weight loss
By Thea Shoemaker 05/07/2009
I know I’ve written about this before, but it seems that no matter what, people want a quick fix when it comes to weight loss!
I can honestly tell you that after 15 years of working as a personal trainer, maybe 20 percent of the people I worked with actually lost weight, kept it off, and continued to live healthy lives. Don’t get me wrong; the majority of my clients lost weight on my programs — they just weren’t able to change their lifestyles to keep their new, fit bodies.
Why? Unfortunately, these people weren’t ready to change the way they ate and how much they ate. I often see people overindulge, then want to lose in three weeks the weight that took them six months to put on! Currently, we are in an economic crisis, due in large part to overextending, overindulging and poor management! These same excesses have caused America’s obesity issue: We overeat, overextend ourselves and our schedules, and poorly manage our lives.
Recently, a former client told me that if she can’t get a handle on her weight, she is going to get the “lap band” procedure. All I could think was that the band was going to literally make her sick in order to keep her weight down: Once you have the lap band procedure, if you don’t eat and drink less, you will puke! There’s a much easier way to do this. It’s much more affordable, and it does not involve throwing up:
Eat less, move more!
It’s the easiest weight loss program in the world. If you eat less than you do now, and move (aka exercise) more than you do now, you will lose weight and can maintain your health. The lap band procedure, along with many other major diet programs, restricts caloric intake. If you focus on how #much# you are eating and stick to a plan to eat less, you will do the same job for free! That’s why programs that provide meals work well (for a while), because you are only eating what they give you, and it’s a heck of a lot less than what you were eating before. But the downside to that is, once you stop the provided meals, you eventually go right back to your old habits because you haven’t disciplined yourself into forming new, healthy ones.
So how do you stop this eating madness? Take a hard look at what you are currently doing — assess the mistakes, eliminate the problems or barriers, and make a plan to change.
Sounds simple, right? It is, if you start with one thing at time. For example, if you eat fast food every day for lunch, start packing a lunch most days of the week. Do you skip breakfast? Try grabbing a yogurt with granola on your way out the door. Think Energy Bars and many other nutrition bars are a great way to eat something when you are on the run. If portion control is your weakness, use a smaller plate. Wherever you can, make small changes and you will see big results.
I’d like to reiterate that extreme measures like lap band procedures are just that: extreme. While some may still choose this option, most of us will benefit by making small changes and sticking with them for the rest of our lives. Remember: you’re worth it!
Thea Shoemaker, CPT, has provided in-home personal training in Ventura County since 1996. You can reach her at thea@tsfitnesssystems.com or (805) 985-7867. Or visit her Web site at www.TSFitnessSystems.com.
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