| It is a well known fact that most people end up | | | | water. This will help with digestion, absorption, |
| gaining back any weight they lose during a "diet" | | | | circulation and waste excretion, so it is very |
| and often more besides. Research has shown | | | | important for optimum weight loss. It will also |
| that only approximately 20 per cent of | | | | stop you from getting fatigued, so you will have |
| overweight people successfully manage to sustain | | | | more energy to stick with your exercise routine. |
| their weight loss over a period of time. So it | | | | Why you need to cut the stress. |
| makes good sense to try losing weight naturally | | | | Stress and weight gain are very closely related. |
| rather than going for the latest "quick fix" diet | | | | Stress can cause your adrenal glands to release |
| trend if you want to keep off the weight in the | | | | cortisol and adrenaline into your bloodstream, |
| long-term. | | | | which in turn can cause the body to store fat. |
| A good approach to losing weight naturally is to | | | | Also if you are feeling stressed you are more |
| think of weight loss as a by-product of making | | | | likely to comfort eat. |
| important health choices rather than it being your | | | | To help reduce stress levels, you could try |
| primary goal, as you are then on your way to | | | | walking, meditation, yoga, tai chi, music, relaxing in |
| addressing the underlying causes of weight gain | | | | the bath or breathing exercises. |
| and not just the symptoms. | | | | Increase Your fitness levels. |
| There are three things that you need to do to | | | | In order to burn off calories you need to do |
| modify your lifestyle to make it more healthy and | | | | more exercise. You also need to exercise to keep |
| enable you to lose weight naturally - you need to | | | | your heart and other organs healthy as well as |
| eat healthy food, reduce stress and do more | | | | toning up your muscles and generally keeping your |
| exercise. | | | | body in good working order. For many overweight |
| How to eat healthily. | | | | people, starting an exercise program can be |
| Choose whole fresh foods as much as possible, | | | | pretty daunting, but by starting off slowly, you |
| rather than processed food products. Keep this | | | | can gradually build it up. Start off by walking, 15 |
| thought in mind: "If your great grandmother would | | | | minutes a day could improve your healthy |
| not recognise it - it is perhaps better not to eat | | | | significantly. Gradually increase the time and the |
| it!" The greater the amount of whole and | | | | pace you walk at or use a pedometer and slowly |
| unmodified food you eat, the more healthy and | | | | build up so that eventually you are walking up to |
| satisfying your diet will be. | | | | 10,000 steps a day. Swimming is also a good |
| You also need to cut down your portion sizes. | | | | beginner exercise as your weight is supported by |
| Most of us eat far more than we really need, so | | | | the water so it takes the strain off your joints. |
| try substituting quality for quantity. You will find | | | | Try and incorporate some sort of physical activity |
| that by choosing whole foods, you will need to | | | | into your daily life, either on your own or with a |
| eat less to feel satisfied. Vegetables should make | | | | friend and try to find something that you enjoy |
| up the largest part of your diet. Vegetables are | | | | doing so that it does not become a chore. |
| low in carbohydrates and also full of antioxidants | | | | By losing weight naturally and introducing |
| which can have a powerful effect on the free | | | | long-term and lasting changes to your lifestyle |
| radicals in our bodies. Try and include as many | | | | instead of just unsustainable ones, you may lose |
| different colours and varieties of fruit and | | | | weight more slowly, but the more gradual the |
| vegetables in your diet as possible. | | | | weight loss the more likely that the weight will |
| Make sure you stay hydrated by drinking enough | | | | stay off for good. |