There are many approaches people take to weight loss. Some diet, while others exercise. Some look for the quick and easy solutions such as magic pills that burn fat while you sleep. In fact the number of related commercials and infomercials is nearly jaw dropping. “In just 20 minutes a day you too can have tight attractive abs!” Don’t want to take 20 minutes a day, simply take a pill or two. It’s all quite ridiculous, yet thousands of people fall for it every day.
Of course, if you can pause the TV (and have HD) you can catch all the disclaimers, such as “when combined with a healthy diet” and “results not typical.” In fact I saw an ad recently for a diet pill that claimed you could lose 1lb. a month, 78% being fat. In the fine print was “Loss of 1lb. a month is typical when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.” Anyone should be able to lose 1lb. a month with a healthy diet and exercise! Also, have you ever read the list of “possible” side affects? Have you ever experienced “anal leakage?” It’s not fun, I promise!
The bottom line is that there is no safe magic pill for weight loss. Now there are some medical procedures that can help get rid of the weight, but I won’t go into those here. Besides, once the weight is gone, you need a healthy diet and exercise to keep it off.
This brings me to my point. How do you lose weight? It’s simple you burn more calories than you take in. I’ve seen research that claims the average individual will lose 1 lb. per week when they have a daily calorie deficit of 500. Meaning that they burn 500 calories more than they eat.
So, how do you create such a deficit? Well, you can cut 500 calories from your diet. You could also increase your amount of daily exercise by 500 calories. Both could be hard to achieve. How about this, reduce 250 calories from your diet and increase your daily exercise by 250 calories? Seems a lot more achievable, doesn’t it?
This has always been my approach to weight loss. But, there’s more to it than just losing weight. Losing weight in itself can go a long way towards making a person healthier, but losing weight by extreme dieting can also be unhealthy. In fact there are many diets that are flat out bad for the body. This is why I always try to take a balanced approach of diet and exercise and stay away from diet “fads.” There are also many health benefits that come with exercise. Things like a stronger heart, more efficient processing of oxygen, additional strength, and even higher energy levels.
At this point people that know me may be laughing out loud. What’s that you say about a “healthy” diet? Hahaha! I admit it, I have never been one to eat a “healthy” diet, but I have been known to change my diet to be healthier. Smaller portions is always the first step that I take, I have also reduced the amount of fat that I take in to a reasonable level, but more on all that later…
I'm on a lifelong quest to find the perfect balance between strawberry smoothies and pizza slices. A self-proclaimed gym enthusiast who believes rest days are just as crucial as leg days—especially if they involve NASCAR racing. I lift weights, but only so I can justify my love for chocolate cake. When I'm not at the gym, you’ll find me riding dirt bikes or capturing the thrill of motorsport through my camera lens. Join me as I navigate the highs and lows of fitness, where progress is measured in reps, and cheat meals are a form of self-care.
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