It seems like every day there’s some new diet out there, or some crazy new way to control your weight.
How do you know which ones really work, and which ones don’t? For years, scientists have known the only effective, safe ways to control your weight, and none of them have anything to do with Adkins or South Beach.
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Climb the Pyramid
A lot of us find it confusing, what exactly we’re supposed to eat, and how much. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has put together a great interactive website at mypyramid.gov that will tell you what you’re supposed to eat every day, and what to avoid. The site will help you tailor a program just for you, along with meal planners and other helpful tools to help you control your weight.
Count Your Calories
Counting calories is a great way to help you see where you can cut out the extras that make it harder to control your weight.
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Watch the Fats
This kind of goes hand in hand with the calorie-counting. Remember, one gram of fat equals nine calories. To help put that in perspective, one gram of protein or one gram of carbs in only FOUR calories.
Get Your Exercise
Exercise is key to controlling your weight! There are lots of easy ways to work exercise into your routine, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and going for a walk each night after dinner.
Stick to It
You’ll be tempted to go back to your old eating and non-exercising habits, especially the first few weeks, but it will get easier, especially once you start seeing the results!
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Moderation is Key
Controlling your weight is not about giving up everything you love to eat. You can still have the foods and drinks you love, just in moderation.
Get Support
It’s always a great idea to have a friend or two to support you, or better yet, to be dieting or exercising with you. You can encourage eachother, and keep eachother motivated when it gets tough!
Talk to Your Doc
Before you start any sort of diet or exercise regimen, consult your doctor to make sure you’re healthy enough first.
Drink Plenty of Water
Adults are supposed to get 64 ounces of water each day. That’s eight of the small glasses, or four of the large glasses. Drinking water will give you a healthy glow, and help you control your weight!
Look at Your Mother
Chances are, you’ll carry your extra weight in the same place as your mother. Is she heavy in the tummy or hips? You might be later on, too. So start focusing on those areas now!
Look at Your Genes
It’s not just your mother. Genetically, you may have a tendency to gain or lose weight easier than most.
Beware of “low-fat” Foods
There are low-fat versions of almost every prepared foot on the market. They clutter the shelves at grocery stores. But are they really low-fat? In most cases, the answer is NO. Scientists have shown that a lot of the food that’s labeled as low-fat actually is not.
Check the Labels
Learn how to read labels on the foods you eat. You’ll see that anything that comes in a can or a box (like Hamburger Helper or Chef Boyardee or even Campbell’s) is NOT GOOD FOR YOU and will sabotage your weight control plans. To keep it tasting fresh on the shelf for so long, it’s loaded with fat and sodium. Yuck!
Avoid Fast Foods
Fast foods are also dangerous when you’re trying to control your weight. Even Subway can be loaded with calories and fat, so be careful!
Avoid the Scale
Pounds aren’t the only thing you need to be paying attention to when you’re trying to control your weight. Don’t weight yourself every day. Aim for once every two weeks, so you don’t get discouraged.
See? It’s not so confusing. These are very simple ways to control your weight and to live a healthier lifestyle in general.
Ladies, how do you keep fit and control your weight? Do you have some ideas or tips to share?
Photo Credit: flickr.com
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