Losing weight is not just about looking good; it's also about keeping healthy. With all the media hype on being thin, it is easy to get carried away with losing weight, often leading to unhealthy results. Probably the best time to lose weight is if you are suffering from obesity.
About obesity
Obesity is a disease that affects as much as 150 million Americans, or 65% of the population. This number is continuously increasing every year, and even children are being inflicted with the disease.
Obesity results from the accumulation of excess body fat. It is measured through the body mass index (BMI), which determines the proportion of one's height to his weight. A BMI of over 25 means that you are overweight; over 30 means you are obese and at risk for serious health complications. A severe form of obesity, morbid obesity, strikes those who are over 100 lbs. overweight and with a BMI of over 40. If left untreated, obesity can lead to serious complications like heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Looking for the solution
Because of the threats posed by obesity, Americans are hard-pressed to find a solution to the problem. According to reports, Americans spend as much as $56 billion every year on weight loss programs and products, such as entering a diet and weight loss clinic. However, there is no sufficient research to prove that they are effective, especially in the long run.
Weight loss clinics
A diet and weight loss clinic is one of the places people go to if they want to lose weight. A diet and weight loss clinic offers a variety of services to individuals, including weight loss programs, diet, and even surgery.
Several weight loss clinics are claiming to provide the most effective solution in losing and maintaining weight. However, before entering a diet and weight loss clinic, several things should be considered.
A diet and weight loss clinic may help you lose weight and the excess pounds, but it may not help you lose the unhealthy lifestyle. Several weight loss clinics are offering strict diet programs and menus for you to follow. However, once you have lost the weight, there is no assurance that you will not gain it back. Some people, because of the lack of discipline and maintenance, tend to return to their old eating habits, and gaining the weight they worked so hard to lose.
Also, a diet and weight loss clinic may overcharge its patients. There is a diet and weight loss clinic that charges hundreds of dollars on an calorie bar it is selling. A diet and weight loss clinic endorsed by a celebrity is definitely more expensive. But there is no guarantee that the clinic is actually effective or not. Before entering a weight loss clinic, it is always important to get expert advice. Talk to your doctor or nutritionist and determine your current weight and what steps you should take. Your doctor may advice you to not enter a weight loss clinic and instead lose the excess pounds on your own. Whatever the case, an expert advice will definitely help you in your decision-making.
Also, it is better to consult a doctor that is not involves in the weight loss clinic. Because chances are, if the doctor is working for that weight loss clinic, he may give you biased point of view.
Next, if you should enter a weight loss clinic, learn everything you can about the clinic you are planning to enter. Talk to everyone you know who is (or was) enrolled in the clinic. Ask for the rates and compare them with other clinics.
Strategies in losing weight
A weight loss clinic may help you lose weight, but in the end, it is always up to you. Below are some strategies in losing weight which you can do on your own:
o Get Active and stay active - a brisk 30-minute walk everyday can do wonders for your weight and your body. You do not have to enroll to a gym to exercise, you can do everyday physical activities that can definitely help you lose weight.
o Eat less - eat a diet that is low in both calories and fat
o Don't skip breakfast - eating breakfast helps speed up your metabolism, helping you burn more calories during the day.
o Hit the scales - weigh yourself regularly to monitor your weight loss (or gain)
o Maintain a consistent eating pattern - eat less and be consistent with it.
o Catch 'slips' before they turn into bigger problems - monitor your overall lifestyle and closely check if you are gaining pounds.
In the end, losing weight involves time, patience, and determination.
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