Tuesday, June 20, 2006
GET PERSONAL WITH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS PLAN
GET PERSONAL WITH YOUR WEIGHT LOSS PLAN
Although many people look to diets for weight loss, nutrition experts say it's possible and even preferable to create your own eating plan.
You need only remember to aim for good health, not simply weight loss; take small steps and be patient, said Lori Jones, an instructor and registered dietitian at St. Louis University.
“There are common principles in all of the healthy diets — exercise, more fruits and vegetables, cut back on the fats — regardless of who's preparing foods,” she said
That way you avoid a one-size-fits-all regimen. Those are destined to fail, because they don't fit individual needs. Here's how:
KNOW THE ABSOLUTES
The biggest factor in weight loss is the least popular: Eat less food than your body uses.
That's it. There's no other magic. There are no pills, no super sports drink, no chant or herb or spice that will burn fat without exercise.
Here's the math: Once you eat 3,500 calories more than you need, you gain a pound; eat 3,500 calories less than you need and you lose a pound.
The other choice, says Jones, is to burn more calories through exercise.
How did Mariah Carey get back her killer figure? By doing a variety of exercises in the pool and eating mini meals.
"Everyone said I was fat, so I did something about it," Carey told Life & Style.
The 36-year-old singer lost more than 30 pounds by working out in a pool and developing a diet she enjoyed.
"Basically, you can have a tiny bit of everything you want -- but it has to be less than a forkful."
Although many people look to diets for weight loss, nutrition experts say it's possible and even preferable to create your own eating plan.
You need only remember to aim for good health, not simply weight loss; take small steps and be patient, said Lori Jones, an instructor and registered dietitian at St. Louis University.
“There are common principles in all of the healthy diets — exercise, more fruits and vegetables, cut back on the fats — regardless of who's preparing foods,” she said
That way you avoid a one-size-fits-all regimen. Those are destined to fail, because they don't fit individual needs. Here's how:
KNOW THE ABSOLUTES
The biggest factor in weight loss is the least popular: Eat less food than your body uses.
That's it. There's no other magic. There are no pills, no super sports drink, no chant or herb or spice that will burn fat without exercise.
Here's the math: Once you eat 3,500 calories more than you need, you gain a pound; eat 3,500 calories less than you need and you lose a pound.
The other choice, says Jones, is to burn more calories through exercise.
How did Mariah Carey get back her killer figure? By doing a variety of exercises in the pool and eating mini meals.
"Everyone said I was fat, so I did something about it," Carey told Life & Style.
The 36-year-old singer lost more than 30 pounds by working out in a pool and developing a diet she enjoyed.
"Basically, you can have a tiny bit of everything you want -- but it has to be less than a forkful."
