There are many reasons why one would be motivated to drop a few trouser or dress sizes, and appearance is certainly among these. However, while our bodies surely change when we begin taking steps to get fitter, losing weight should be more than just about squeezing back into clothes from our college days. It should be about getting healthy.
What you weigh matters
Scientists have long explored the links between weight and health, and the general consensus is that many illnesses are linked to excess body weight. For example, a recent study found that heavier people were five times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Additionally, other research has found causal links between obesity and heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, sleep apnoea, and even psychological issues.
Granted, obesity is a complex issue, and there are some individuals who have no control over their weight. Yet the medical evidence appears to be unanimous on one thing — the key to achieving good health is in managing your weight.
Easy does it
First things first. Getting to one’s optimum weight isn’t easy. Anyone who’s ever tried to drop the pounds can readily attest to how often they’ve felt like giving up. But while that’s true, the good news is that even modest weight loss of 5-10% of one’s total body weight has been found to result in significant health benefits, like improving blood pressure and cholesterol.
So, take it slow, be patient and remember that maintaining good health is a marathon, not a sprint. What you want to aim for is consistency.
Get the energy balance right
As a general rule, one’s weight gets out of balance when energy or calorie intakes from food and drink are more than the energy expended on things like breathing and performing daily physical tasks. The objective, thus, is to make sure you burn enough of the calories you consume, and that’s achievable by simply adding exercise to your daily schedule.
If you’re just starting out trying to get your weight right, you’d want to begin slowly – with walking, for example. And for those of us who have been active, you might want to consider adjusting your fitness routines slightly.
For example, both aerobic exercise and working with weights can help you get fitter. According to one study, cardio workouts burn more calories and result in more weight and fat loss than resistance training. However, there are other studies that show weight training benefits you by continuing to burn calories more optimally after your workout.
So, what’s the lesson here? Simply that there isn’t a right or wrong exercise to pick. Just choose what you enjoy doing the most because the important thing is to get, and stay, active.
You are what you eat and drink
Monitoring what you eat and drink is crucial to managing weight. And if all those complex diet plans scare you, here’s a really simple guide: Ensure you’re getting enough protein while cutting back on sugar, starch and refined carbs. Also, pro tip: leafy greens are packed with nutrients, and most people can generally consume a lot without worrying about calories. Additionally, all weight loss plans benefit from adequate liquid intake, so drink up!
Water is, of course, ideal to help remove waste and burn fat from our bodies. Without water, the body cannot properly metabolize stored fat or carbohydrates. But there are also teas that can aid the processes. Belite 123, for example, is a natural weight loss plan supplement that is designed to stimulate your metabolism and put you on track to great health.
Each of the three Belite teas, which form the complete plan, have different healing benefits. Yet, all of the natural herbs and active ingredients — like chrysanthemum flowers, kaffir lime leaves, and African mango extract. These work together to safely and effectively fight fat, curb appetite and detoxify the body of harmful stuff. And the best part is, skipping meals isn’t required.
