The cold hard truths about weight loss.
1.) YOUR BODY WORKS AGAINST YOU. It’s not your imagination. When you try to lose weight, you’re not only fighting your cravings, but also your own body. When you lose body fat, you decrease the hormone leptin, which signals your brain that you’re full, and you increase the hormone gherlin, which stimulates hunger, Australian researchers found. The bad news is that this hormone imbalance continues long after dieters succeed at weight loss, making it even harder for them to keep the pounds off. But if you try to cut too many calories for weight loss, your body will go into hibernation mode so that you don’t starve, and your metabolism will slow, Sarah Dolven, MD, an endocrinologist in Charleston, S.C. explains. It’s also important to realize that once you reach your weight-loss goal and start eating a little more again, the pounds can come back pretty quickly, so it’s smart to increase your calories gradually.
2.) THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES. Wishing you were 30 pounds lighter in time for your high school reunion next month will not make it so, and there are no magic pills or miracle cures that can make it happen. “When you’re trying to lose weight, it’s hard to be patient,” says Mark Pettus, MD, chief of medicine at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, N.Y., who also developed and teaches the Healthy Living program at the Western Massachusetts Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Stockbridge. But you have to be patient because quick starvation diets can wreak havoc on your metabolism, damaging your weight-loss efforts for the long term. As you start your diet, remember that slow and steady weight loss is the easiest to maintain, Pettus says, and aim for one to two pounds of fat loss each week.
3.) EXERCISE CAN’T CONQUER ALL. Yes, exercise helps you lose weight and keep it off — the National Weight Control Registry reports that people who maintain their weight loss exercise for at least 60 minutes most days — but it’s nearly impossible to lose weight from exercise alone, Pettus says. Just do the math: A 135-pound person biking 60 minutes at 12 miles an hour will burn 369 calories. You can put all that back on with just a post-workout protein bar. To lose a pound of fat, you have to burn 3,500 calories more than you consume, so you can see how hard it is to exercise your way through a poor diet. Instead, you have to watch what you eat and exercise, Pettus says. If there’s any “magic” to dieting, it’s in that combination.
4.) DIET SUPPLEMENTS DON’T WORK. Those little pills that claim to supercharge your metabolism are tempting, but there’s little evidence that they work. After a review of thousands of dieters, researchers at Beth Israwl Deaconess Medical Center in Boston found that liquid diets, fad diets, and over-the-counter supplement were not linked to weight loss. So what worked? Portion control, regular exercise, and group support. As Dolven says, “nothing replaces a low-calorie diet and exercise for weight loss.”
5.) FAD DIETS DON’T WORK. Grapefruit. Maple syrup. Cabbage. Apple-cider vinegar. Juice. All these “miracle” diets are supposed to help you melt pounds and trigger fat burning. The hard fact: Not only is it hard to lose weight on fad diets, but also they can be so restrictive that they’re almost impossible to follow, and they can damage your metabolism. When it comes to weight loss, Dolven warns that if it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Not to belabor the point, she says, “but the key to weight loss is to be diligent about eating quality calories and staying physically active.”
6.) ONE DIET DOESN’T FIT ALL. Every body is unique, so the diet that works for your friend, your co-worker, your mother, or your sister might not work for you. When looking at how best to lose weight, consider your health and family history, your metabolism, your activity level, your age, your gender, and your likes and dislikes. When you’re dieting, it’s important to allow yourself some foods that you enjoy, Dolven says, or else you’ll feel deprived and be less likely to stick with an overall healthy eating plan. For weight-loss success, tailor your diet to your body and accept that one diet won’t work for everyone.
7.) BUILDING MUSCLE IS HARD. Because a pound of muscle burns more calories at rest than a pound of fat, an increased muscle mass is the key to a revved metabolism — plus it helps you look more sleek and svelte. Unfortunately, many dieters skip strength training when in reality, it’s one of the most important components of your weight-loss plan. Schedule it into your routine two to three times a week, along with at least three 30-minute cardio sessions.
8.) HE CAN EAT MORE THAN SHE CAN. It doesn’t seem fair, but men can eat more than women and still lose weight. That’s because men tend to naturally burn more calories than woman, thanks to their larger size, muscle mass, and elevated levels of the hormone testosterone, which promotes muscle growth. Plus, the male body is genetically designed for more muscle and less fat than the female body because men do not have to store the energy required to bear children. Once you come to terms with this fact and start eating less than your male partner or friends, the scale will thank you.
9.) IT’S NOT A DIET, IT’S A LIFESTYLE CHANGE. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to change your behavior not just until you reach your goal weight, but for the months and years to follow. That’s because as soon as you stop your “diet,” you’re likely to gain back the pounds you worked so hard to shed. To be successful at weight loss, you need to make lifestyle changes, healthy food choices at most every meal, and exercise almost every day for a minimum of 30 minutes a session (60 is even better). Getting to your healthy weight and staying there really has to be a way of life for the long haul, Dolven says.
**Information retrieved from Everyday Health. This information was too spot on to not share! Enjoy, and head on over to Everyday Health for more tips! :)
![thehealthywarrior:
skinnyandgorgeous-:
losing-every-extra-pound:
The Tumblr Guide to Healthy Livinga compilation of resources to help you eat right, exercise, and be happy!How to Start a Healthier Lifestyle
Nutrition Eating Clean PrinciplesNon-Dieters DietYour Flat Belly Day 1 meal plan by Women’s Health MagazineYour Flat Belly Day 2 meal plan by Women’s Health MagazineYour Flat Belly Day 2 Meal Plan by Women’s Health MagazineEating Low CarbWhat is PaleoPortion Size GuideGet lean grocery list80 Healthiest Foods100 Foods that Dr.Oz wants on your Shopping ListShirataki NoodlesTips to Snack Better10-Calorie Sweet and Crunch SnacksWhy Eat Raw Foods?10 Commandments of DietingTips for Staying Healthy in SchoolThe Happier way to Diet MenuFood that makes You PrettierLook Better Naked One Week Meal Plan Part 1Look Better Naked One Week Meal Plan Part 2PortionsDr.Poon DietThe Best New Superfoods12 Best Foods for your AbsClear Skin DietFoods that Melt Flab AwayRaw Food for the Rest of UsQuick Combos5 Ingredient Eating Clean RecipesHerbs that HealWhat to Eat When You’re Craving…Eating Clean vs. Junk examplesTransition to Healthy LivingEating Clean Video
RecipesEating Clean RecipesHealthy Meal Ideas for Breakfast, Lunch & DinnerBefore and After Workout Snack IdeasSuper 8-Step Salad WrapsNot-Quite-Unnecessary Raving about Broccoli SlawGrocery List Foods that Cause BloatingEat Breakfast, Here’s WhyMaking Conscious Health Choices: Who Decides?Not eating enough…but not hungry either?Sunshine Oatmeal RecipeOatmeal from The Pea PodChocolate Oatmeal Cookie-In-A-BowlAn Overwhelming Amount of Oatmeal RecipesMore RecipesStarbucks Drinks Under 200 CaloriesSnack AttackSmoothies
Healthy DessertsHealthy Dessert BlogBanana BitesGrapefruit & Strawberry Popsicles (make them without alcohol)Peanut Butter & Banana SandwichesFrozen Yogurt BlackberriesSkinny Coconut CupcakeNutella Fudge PopsBanana Split Cheesecake BitesFrozen Fruit PopsWatermelon TartHealthy Banana Almond Chocolate Ice CreamBanana Split Cheesecake BitesFruit Ice CubesBanana Ice CreamFrozen Yogurt StrawberriesPeanut Butter Chocolate Ice CreamMore Frozen Banana BitesApple CupcakesRaw Tropical Ice CreamCucumber Melon PopsiclesChocolate Covered BananasJello SkiesApple Peanut Butter SlicesFrozen Banana PopsiclesBanana Berry Soft ServeVolume Ice Cream
Cleanse/Detox3 Day DetoxThe Look Better Naked 2 Day CleanseJillian Michaels DetoxDetox RecipesDetox EssentialsLean Green SmoothieDetox Smoothie
Veganism/Vegetarianism Free Vegetarian Starter Kit by PetaVegetarian 101Making the TransitionRecipes by PetaShopping guide by PetaEasy Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers with AvocadoShirataki NoodlesOnehappyveganVeganYumYumTheVeganStoner
Weight LossHow to Determine Your Ideal WeightHow to Overcome A PlateauBeat a Weight Loss PlateauWhy You Aren’t Losing Weight How to Burn Fat FastestMetabolism Boosters5 Metabolism BoostersHow to Conquer Cravings20 Secrets of Very Fit PeopleFighting Belly FatHow Do I Lose WeightThinking of Giving Up?The 2 Minute VisualizationHow to Keep Yourself Full for LongerLose Weight without DietingFlat Tummy TipsCommit to Fit10 Ways to Get Your Diet Back On TrackConstructing A Plan
CalculatorsBody Type/Frame Size CalculatorCalorie CalculatorIdeal Weight CalculatorHow Much Weight You Can Lose By Prom/Summer/Your Wedding/This Thursday/Tonight
EBooksWinning by Losing - Jillian Michaels
ExerciseLift Weights to Help You Lose WeightHow to Start Running [Couch to 5k]How to Tone Any Area of Your BodyBuilding Lean Muscle vs. Bulky MuscleBut I Don’t Want to Get Bulky!Abdominal Exercises for BeginnersRunning for Weight LossGym Cheat SheetThe Lazy Girl’s Guide to Interval TrainingArchive of Online Work OutsTop 30 Free YouTube Work Out Channels 100 Best Workout SongsWorkout BasicsInsanity Workout Videos and CalenderTone Every InchTop 10 Calorie Burning CardioMore Links to Online WorkoutsWorkout FinderVictoria Secret Angel’s Workouts30 Day Shred Printable Chart and VideosBodyRock inspired WorkoutsYoga: The Basics and How to Get Started77 Reasons To Do YogaYouTube Yoga for BeginnersYouTube Yoga RoutineYouTube by Body PartBye Bye Arm JiggleThe Workout MovesLunge 101Lean Thighs - No LungesTarget WorkoutsYes, You Can Yoga!
MindFeeling good10 Ways to be HappyHow to be ConfidentGandhi’s Top 10 FundamentalsFocusHappiness Manifesto3 Simple Rules in LifeZen Flow ChartKarma CleanseYou Don’t Have to Be a Size 0 to Be BeautifulFine BauerMaryChristina HendricksLexi PlacourakisKasia PilewiczMore beautiful girls
Battling Eating DisordersThe Minnesota Starvation StudyWhy Starving Seems to Work Stop the ED HateHow Bulimia Affects Your Body“The Binge” and Why You Should Eat When You’re HungryWhat to do After a Binge by MatchStickMolly What is Intuitive Eating? After a BingeTips to Control BingingHelp with Eating DisordersNational Eating Disorders Dealing with Eating DisordersNational Center for Eating Disorders UK
Inspirationpeople that have changed their lives and have lost a ton of weight! soldiering-on tillicanseemylovelybonesfuneralformyfatroserevitalizedanotherdreamanotherlovepeacefulserenityxhealthylifemore inspirationand some morejessicablossominghopetogether-staytogether130 lbs Lost!amazing transformationtheysayanythingispossiblea tumblr dedicated to before and aftersnoexcusesgetfitnow88jazzie-onamission
this is the best thing i’ve ever seen on tumblr oh my god
holy shit love of god.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3vx9rEOog1r9w8k1o1_500.jpg)
