Permanent Weight Loss For Life

(Article first published as Lose Weight and Keep it Off on Technorati.)

Many people understand the basic mechanics of weight loss – reduce calories and increase physical activity. If the solution is that simple, why has the number of overweight and obese individuals swollen to nearly three-quarters of the US adult population? The answer is far from simple, but clearly our nutrient poor diet and sedentary lifestyle are having a significant impact on our health and inability to drop weight.

Permanent weight loss is achieved by controlling calories and increasing physical activity. While these steps are proven to work, only a very small percentage of dieters are able to keep the weight off for good. Those who have tried to lose weight and failed can benefit from a multi-step approach which targets the root cause of stubborn fat deposits.

Don’t Drink Your Calories

Sugared drinks are a significant source of empty calories, and many people don’t even realize that as much as 25% of their total calories each day come in liquid form. Diet sodas are not the answer either, as research indicates that artificial sweeteners can alter our metabolism, halting weight loss. The best choice is to drink plenty of water (filtered if from a municipal system) or tea. Drinking 3 to 5 cups of tea each day has been shown to help trigger the release of stored fat, as well as improving chemical biomarkers for heart disease risk.

No Diet Pills: Use Natural Supplements

Diet pills marketers have created a multi-billion dollar industry which rarely produces weight loss results, and can jeopardize your health. These products work by artificially increasing heart rate and metabolism. This can result in a small temporary weight loss which is quickly regained after stopping the program. DHA Omega 3 fats from fish oil have been shown to reduce levels of inflammation in fat cells, meaning digested fat is burned instead of being stored. CLA is another addition to your weight loss arsenal, as it is proven to convert stored fat into lean muscle mass.

Eat Only When Hungry

This may sound like common sense, but we eat huge quantities of food out of boredom and not hunger. Eat 3 to 5 small meals per day, being certain to monitor portion and total calories. You should not become hungry between meals. Frequently we mistake thirst for hunger. When you think you’re receiving a hunger signal outside of meal time, drink an 8 ounce glass of water or tea and wait 10 minutes. More often than not, the hunger sensation was a misinterpreted demand for fluids. Feed your thirst and the sensation will disappear, as you avoid the high calorie snack attack.

There’s no substitute for calorie restriction and regular exercise when trying to lose weight, and any suggestion that a fad diet or pill will cause permanent weight loss is not in your best interest. Compliment your weight loss efforts with the addition of these important steps which will help you to shed those pounds for good. You’ll find you can keep the weight off for good as you improve your overall health and quality of life.