9 Secrets of Weight Loss
for Baby Boomers
What do you mean when you say you want
to lose weight?
When people say they want to
lose weight they usually mean (even if they don’t always know it at the time)
the following:
I need more energy (for
myself, my family)
I want to be healthier (lower
blood pressure, lower cholesterol, etc,)
I want to feel better about
myself
I want to live healthier and
age gracefully
I want to be independent
I want to wear my favorite
pair of jeans, again!
I want to play with my grandkids
(and not get winded)
What usually happens is you
“diet” so you can lose a few quick pounds.
You lose weight alright, but if you’re only dieting (especially if not a
healthy diet) you actually lose lean muscle mass versus fat. Who cares, you say? You just want to lose a few pounds, what
difference does it make. The big
difference is, you want to keep it off!
What you really want is to lose fat, not muscle and you want to manage
your weight thereafter.
It’s really a matter of
choices; lifestyle choices. You can hire
a personal trainer and a personal chef like many of the celebrities do BUT even
they relapse so to speak without making the everyday little decisions that can
make a big difference.
Here are small simple and
sensible choices you can start to make towards a healthier lifestyle:
- Drink water – whenever you’re thirsty go for the water first. When you sit down at a restaurant ask
for water first. If you feel
hungry, drink water first.
- Get up 15 minutes earlier – use those fifteen minutes to
stretch. Get your body used to
moving.
- Take the stairs – seriously, not just when the elevator is broken,
not when the escalator is too full, just take the stairs. If you have to go many levels, take the
stairs a couple of flights, then hitch a ride on the elevator the rest of
the way.
- Do not use ANY store bought salad dressing. Make your own. All you need is olive oil, lemon, any
kind of vinegar and your favorite spices.
If you want to substitute oil for lemon flavor fish oil (Omega 3 bonus)
you can skip the olive oil and lemon.
- Dance….whenever, wherever and however long you can! No one has to see you and you don’t even
need music. Just dance!
- Take your dog for a walk.
If you don’t have a dog, take your neighbor’s dog or go with your
neighbor.
- Try anything new---challenge your brain to learn something you
always wanted to do. Dig into those
memory banks, what did you always wanted to do when you were little and
never got to try. Many local
community centers offer affordable classes on an array of subjects both
physical and mental.
- Get plenty of sleep – since you’re getting up fifteen minutes
earlier, and moving throughout the day, you can go to bed 15 minutes
earlier and get at least 7 – 8 hours of sleep.
- The better you feel, the more you can do to enjoy your family and
any free time you have in this generally hectic world!
© 2009This article is
compliments of MaryAnn Molloy of Healthy Body, Fit Mind www.HealthyBodyFitMind.com
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