So, you want to lose weight – yes. But more than that, you want to maintain the new body shape you have worked so hard to get in the first place. If you are not after just another fitness post, but a life-changing solution to your ongoing weight loss problem this will be of interest to you.
Your body shape is a direct result of your lifestyle
First of all, you should truly understand what your body is trying to tell you. Your current body shape is determined directly by your past/current lifestyle and eating habits. This is a very important realization because it means that in order to change your body shape, you must change your lifestyle and/or diet. If you continue supplying your body with excess calories, it will keep on storing it as fat. That’s just how our body works and there is nothing you can do to change that. The only way to win the body of your dream is work with your body according to its rules rather than against it.
The weight loss equation
The rules of the body are simple.
X calories in – X calories burn = net 0
X calories in – 0 calories burn = X calories stored
This system has been working like this ever since ancient ancestors struggled to find food and it allowed them to survive in the times of less abundant seasons.
So what can you do now with all that unwanted fat which is accumulated in your body? – You are normally given two options: Diet or Exercise. The first option is usually eating less. This will prompt your organism to burn the excess fat tissue as it’s not getting enough calories to sustain the current weight. In other words, you are starving yourself.
The second option is to keep your diet as it is and do more physical activity to burn the excess fat. Both of these options don’t generally seem appealing because let’s face it, who wants to starve or to exert themselves? Many try these approaches in various degree but often fail. This is because they give up very early on in the process. But there is a way to avoid this – keep on reading.
Muscle vs Fat
The difference between muscle and fat tissues is a very interesting concept to learn and remember while losing on weight. A muscle tissue is much more dense than the fat tissue and takes up less space in your body. This means that while you are trying to lose on weight by having regular workouts, you may be actually putting on weight due to the growing muscles. It is important not to get discouraged when that happens and wait for the pleasing results of your hard work.
Strategic eating habits
Dieting is hard, there is no doubts about that. However, if you approach setting up your eating habits with a conscious (and willing) mindset, you will realize success can be achieved. The main idea behind the strategic eating habits is the ability to distinguish between your body’s needs and its cravings. This isn’t easy to do at first but gets easier with time.
Your body needs nutritious food with a correct balance of carbohydrates protein and micro nutrients. And no, it does not need that extra chocolate bar just before bed. Being strategic with your diet means to use your common sense. Having less to minimum food in the evenings means that your body will not store those calories as extra fat. Eat more in the morning to have energy to go about your daily chores.
Active lifestyle
Does your job involve being sat at a computer desk for 8 hours a day every day? Why not explore ways to be more active in your daily life? Joining the gym is just one of many alternatives. If you don’t like the monotonous workouts, you can explore fitness classes. If you rather do something outdoors, go running or join a sports club. You can also explore the abundant free workouts online to do at home. Be reasonable here. Take on something you can manage to keep up and don’t get discouraged by the tough beginnings!
Changing your habits for good
The bottom line is that if you want your body shape to improve permanently, you’ve got to change your lifestyle including eating habits for ever. You will not benefit much from a month of healthy eating when you follow that with a month of sweets and soda drinks. In order for you to truly transform your life you are recommended to make slow, step wise changes to your diet and physical activity.
This should ensure a smooth transition and allow you to adjust not only your body but also your mind to the habitual changes of your new lifestyle. Be conscious about the changes you are making. How do those changes make you feel on a daily basis? Do you feel stronger or weaker, less or more alert? Note all these changes along with your weight and measurements in a diary. It will serve as the best motivation assistant. If you would like to know more details about how to maintain a healthy body, check out our next article.
Remember to contact your physician to gain personalized advice on weight loss.
