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Finding a Diet Plan That Works for You
There are many reasons for people to be following a diet.
Perhaps it is a special, doctor-advised regimen meant to control
or prevent certain illnesses such as high blood pressure or
diabetes. Maybe a diet is required due to particular food
allergies like a gluten-free diet or for people who are lactose
intolerant. The option of a diet such as vegetarian or
macrobiotic might simply be a personal lifestyle choice.
However, most people who are dieting are doing so because they
are overweight.
According to the National Institutes of Health(NIH), in 1999,
almost 108 million adults in the United States were overweight
or obese--55 percent of the adult population. Being obese or
overweight substantially increases the risk of morbidity from
hypertension; type 2 diabetes; coronary heart disease; stroke;
gallbladder disease; osteoarthritis; sleep apnea; and breast,
prostate and colon cancers. In addition to the thousands of
lives that are cut short by obesity, the economic cost is
staggering. The total costs attributable to obesity-related
disease approaches $100 billion annually (NIH).
There are lots or reasons to lose weight. To be healthier. To
feel better. To look better. To have more energy. No matter what
the reason, successful weight loss and healthy weight management
depend on sensible goals and expectations. In fact, losing even
five to 10 percent of your present weight is the kind of goal
that can help improve your health. Experts suggest aiming for a
loss of 10 to 20 pounds which is very realistic and quite
doable. Did you know that 20 pounds equals 9,072 paper clips, or
1,599 quarters, 480 slices of uncooked bacon or 2.5 bowling
balls?
What you weigh is the result of several factors: how much and
what kind of food you eat; whether your lifestyle includes
regular physical activity; whether you use food to respond to
stress or loneliness; your psychological and genetic make-up;
your age and health status.
Successful weight loss and weight management programs should
address all of these factors. That's the reason to ignore
products or plans that promise quick and easy, permanent results
without permanent changes in your lifestyle. When it comes to
evaluating claims for weight loss products, the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) recommends a healthy portion of skepticism.
Before you spend money on programs or products that promise fast
and easy results, weigh the claims carefully. They probably will
not work, and the use of some products may not be safe.
Food specific diets rely on the myth that some foods have
special properties that can cause weight loss or gain. However,
no single food can. Many of the fad diets--like the infamous
Cabbage Soup Diet--can undermine your health, cause physical
discomfort (gas) and lead to disappointment when you regain the
weight soon after you lose it. There are no "superfoods." That's
why you should eat moderate amounts from all food groups, not
large amounts of a few special foods.
Doctors, dieticians, and other health experts agree that the
best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase
physical activity so you burn more energy. A reasonable goal is
to lose about a pound a week. For most people that means cutting
about 500 calories a day and exercising regularly.
Taking charge of your eating habits is one of the best ways to
stay healthy. Staying motivated is a large part of your success,
because most diets work--if you stick to them for the long term.
Most successful dieters tell researchers that they lost weight
and kept it off by doing their own thing. They devised a
personal plan of eating and exercise which they could stick
with. And you can do it too!
About the author:
Larry Denton is a retired history teacher having taught 33 years
at Hobson High in Hobson, Montana. He is currently Vice
President of Elfin Enterprises of Montana, Inc. a business
dedicated to providing information and resources on a variety of
topics. For more diet tips visit http://www.DietDoor.com
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