Ask
Hollywood: There is no ugly in the United States of America that is
so hard to shake as being overweight. While Americans may be
intellectually aware that a bad pituitary gland can do this as easily
as being lazy, let's face it; there are at least as many lazy fat
people, as lazy thin people. Lazy people exist. The rest of the fat
people are expected to show a diligent identity by some means, and
any verbal explanation gets written off as a crutch, by the third
time you hear it.
So
let's do a reality check: Cameron, our football player may always be
“in a relationship,” but he will still face the age old question
“What have you done for me lately?” As a calorically empowered
Americans, we will face the same question, just more often. So,
whatever arena you choose to show diligence in, remember that resting
on our laurels is every bit as dangerous for a fat person, as for a
CEO. The Olympic Wreath is merely a garnishment at any time... never
give it time to wilt.
That
being said, it is not impossible to do something about it. First
off, look at a statistic. Without allowing for Christmastime gains,
and the “Freshman fifteen” in college, even the best looking of
us tend to gain a pound a year. From 20 years old to 50 years old,
that's thirty pounds. Looking at someone who started out weighing
180 (and needing to weigh 165.) Adding 30 pounds puts him/her at 210.
I'm suggesting that you make a determined decision to do better than
that, and don't lose sight of it. OK, now you've got those thin
people in your sights, let's talk about how that can be done.
- Consider hiring a nutritionist. This is a more sure way to count calories than any other mechanism. A diabetic diet is a very good way to lose weight, and a nutritionist will make sure your vitamins and phyto-chemicals (found in vegetables) are kept well rounded. If that is not an available solution, try keeping a food diary for at least a week. It will make you more thoroughly aware of exactly what you ARE consuming. The more detailed you are, the more benefit you will likely realize. The object of the exercise is to break any cycle of absentminded eating.
- Fight complacency: As you lose weight, there comes a point when you want to relax and say “I’ve done enough.” As such set achievable goals. At most weights, 10% of your body weight represents an achievable goal. If it is necessary to reward yourself (I know I want to,) make that weight the breakpoint at which you reward yourself with a non-food reward; new cloths are an excellent investment. They will keep you in line, too, by enforcing a good fit.
- Soda has more sugar in it than a sweet Iced Tea, and is usually sweetened with high fructose corn syrup. This has been accused of slowing the body’s metabolism in print, and so, can aggravate a weight problem. Don't hydrate with soda. If you are thirsty, drink water. Soda is a bad investment of your income; the money you save can ease a straitened budget. As you lose weight, you will be able to tell when you crave sugar. Your sugar intake elevates your metabolism slightly at the time, but also falls off sharply, based on what is called the Glycemic Index. Pure cane sugar is a 100 on the Glycemic Index scale. Sugars that enter your blood stream more slowly, have a lower Glycemic, and sugars that enter your bloodstream have a higher Glycemic Index. As such, you can learn to break a “sugar crashing cycle,” by using slower digesting sugars. In Closing: remember to hydrate with water. Many times when we think we are hungry, when we are only thirsty.
- If you are trying to lose weight, it makes sense to start your metabolism early in the day. That way, your body burns calories all day long. As such the time of day to exercise, is in the morning. Shift work is against the circadian rhythms, and requires special attention.
- The Cheapest food is also fattening food. A blessing we enjoy in this land of plenty is that Economy of Scale, and Comparative Advantage, have been employed to make rich foods cheap. Honey, Whole Milk, Hamburgers etc. are all available in such plenty, that our standard of living has rendered them cheap. The portions are accentuated to improve Economy of Scale, not nourish a healthy lifestyle. As such, delayed gratification is our best defense. When you buy a hamburger, smell the scent, and enjoy the anticipation of it. However, if you delay gratification by taking it home, or to a break room eat it, it defeats bias in choosing.
- Finally, we traditionally eat three times a day. When we try to lose weight, many of us cut that down. In fact, the reason we put on weight in the US of A in that our portions are too large. Snacking on fruit and fresh vegetables between meals, can keep your metabolism busy.
- Remember: even when we eat a perfectly balanced diet, we STILL have to keep our portions under control.
