Weight loss is something with which millions of people struggle. As you know, your weight doesn’t just contribute to your physical appearance. Your weight and the amount of fat in your body can help or hurt your body by contributing to either a healthy physique or lead to medical issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Weight loss is not just about restricting calories, which is what most people try to do. Weight loss is really about correcting your nutrition, managing your stress, and for some, working with or around chronic diseases and medical conditions.
Managing your diet
What you eat is one of the most significant contributions to the success or failure of your weight loss journey. Calories are a measure of energy that you obtain from what you consume. Eating foods that are high in protein not only fill you up, but also give you the nutrition that you need to function throughout the day. While working to balance your nutrition and caloric intake, it is recommended that you avoid foods that are high in calories. Sugary drinks and foods that are high in processed fats are some of the biggest contributors to weight gain. Having a plan for your diet and nutrition is key to a successful weight loss journey. Despite popular belief, a healthy diet doesn’t have to mean consuming only bland foods. There are dozens of recipes for making tasty, flavorful meals that are good for you.
How exercise works
The other component of losing weight is exercise. To lose weight, you need to be in a calorie deficit. What this really means is that you need to burn more calories than you consume. Our bodies naturally burn calories throughout the day to provide us the energy we need to survive and thrive. Adding exercise to your routine helps burn extra calories and push your weight loss journey forward. Another benefit of exercising is that you build muscle. Building muscle while exercising is like doing double the work. As you exercise, you are burning calories and building muscle tissue, and the more muscle tissue that you build, the more calories your body will naturally burn. Finding a healthy balance in your diet, nutrition, and exercise is the best way to maximize your weight loss and help you become healthier.
For more information on weight loss or to request an appointment, give us a call at (435) 635-7771.