Nov 13, 2010 Ashley Rachel
A Healthy Sandwich - remind
It's never as easy to lose weight as it is to gain it. No one has to teach us how to eat too much and not exercise. That comes naturally. Besides, it's much easier to eat and be inactive. It takes effort and determination to monitor portion size and engage in physical activity. With the right knowledge, losing weight is definitely possible, and you don't need a "lose weight quick" pill or a losing weight for dummies type book. It starts with a good foundation: increasing metabolism, exercising, and keeping a food journal.
Metabolism---Eat, Eat, Eat.
Our body hates us when we try to starve ourselves. That's why when we go too long without a meal or a snack (like seven or eight hours), our metabolism begins to slow down, causing us to burn fewer calories. The body doesn't know when its next meal is coming, so it panics and stores fat. Similar to the way we stock up on food before a huge snow storm because we don't know when we'll be able to leave the house again.
Think of your body as a machine. Food is the fuel that keeps it running. Consuming too much fuel, however, is dangerous. Where is that extra fuel going to go? To your thighs (but, of course, you knew that). Moderation is key. A meal or snack every two and a half to three hours is best. Think of it this way: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. Six small meals a day is ideal.
Exercise---Move it, move it
The other key to losing weight is exercise! It's the thing most people hate to do, but the good news is: a little goes a long way. Just 20 minutes a day of walking, light jogging, squats, or lunges will do wonders for your cardiovascular system over time. Staying active also increases your metabolism because it allows your body to be able to burn more calories. Weight-training, in particular, will turn you into a calorie-burning machine. Muscle burns fat quickly. Ever wonder how those fit, muscular athletes can seem to eat just about anything and not gain a pound? It's the muscles.
Write it down...lest you forget and eat a donut
Not only does keeping track of what you eat allow you to monitor calories (3,500 calories equals a pound), it also allows you to pat yourself on the back every once in a while. If you look through your food journal for the week and see that you've been eating great the last four or five days, it can motivate you to keep up the good work. It can also help you reduce sugar cravings, simply because you write down what you eat. Even the freshest, sharpest minds can develop amnesia when it comes to food.
Remember, you only get one body. Be kind to it, and it will be kind to you.
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