If you struggle with your weight, you know
that it is a seemingly impossible battle. Fad diets, conflicting information
from experts, busy schedules, and waning motivation are just a few of the
hurdles standing in your path to losing weight. Now that the focus is shifting
from dieting to living a healthy lifestyle centered on wellness-focused
activities, you may find it easier to win the battle against obesity once and
for all.
1. Make Working Out Fun
If you lead a sedentary lifestyle, it is
difficult to break your habits and exercise regularly. If you avoid working out
because you don’t want to join a gym, you are not alone. Fortunately, you can
start moving more and begin looking forward to working out if you find a
workout routine that is enjoyable.
One way to begin is to go walking with a
friend. You’ll feel less like you’re working out and more like you’re getting
time to catch up when you turn your walk into an hour of talking and laughing.
It’s also better to work out with someone who will help you stay accountable.
This accountability partner should be someone you trust and enjoy spending time
with; choose someone who will not judge you while keeping you on track.
Another way to find an enjoyable workout
routine is to try out various YouTube exercise videos. With a quick search, you
can find free workout routines for beginners. You also can search by the type
of exercise you think you’d like to do, from yoga to indoor walking. If you
want to skip the search, check out this list of best YouTube workout videos
from Thrillist.
You also can schedule times to do online
workouts with your accountability partner – consider video chatting during the
workout to motivate one another. The best part about using online workout
videos – other than saving tons of money on a gym membership – is that you can
try out as many as you’d like until you find the one that you enjoy the most.
2. Get
Plenty of Rest
It seems counterintuitive to think of resting
when you’re trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, but getting plenty of sleep is
a key component of wellness. Sleep and rest help you learn, process memories,
restore your energy, and repair muscles. Strive to get seven to eight hours of
sleep per night and take steps to improve the quality of your sleep.
Wind down before bedtime instead of exercising
right before bed. Also, put away your electronics about an hour before you hit
the sheets. Dim bedroom lights and declutter so that you can relax and drift
off to sleep more quickly.
3. Eat
a Balanced Diet
The only diet you should think about when
fighting obesity is a balanced one. Take a new approach to eating by taking the
word “diet” out of your vocabulary. Choose whole foods and grains, water, and
lean proteins. Watch your portion sizes and avoid rewarding yourself for
working out with food.
Have healthy snacks like almonds, carrot
sticks, and celery on hand and fill up by drinking enough water each day. Share
healthy recipes with your accountability partner and plan meals together on the
weekend so you are set for the week ahead and don’t find yourself at a
drive-thru on a busy night.
If you have tried everything to fight obesity
but aren’t successful, talk to your doctor about bariatric surgery. This option
especially is recommended for people with a body mass index (BMI) greater than
40, but people with a lower BMI coupled with health concerns also are eligible.
For more information on bariatric surgery click here.
Keep in mind that bariatric surgery reduces
the size of your stomach and physically limits the amount of food you can
consume. Patients often see rapid, significant weight loss, but you will need a
brief hospital stay and have the potential for long-term vitamin deficiencies
if you don’t maintain a proper diet.
You can fight obesity if you focus on wellness
activities. Find an enjoyable workout routine, get plenty of rest, and eat a
balanced diet. If you continue to struggle, talk to a doctor about bariatric
surgery.
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