Simple Ways to Losing Weight and How to Keep It Off into Old Age

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail." 

~Ralph Waldo Emerson


Losing weight is one thing, keeping it off, is a whole other ball-game. Today, there seem to be thousands upon thousands of weight loss programs, solutions, tips, and empty promises. People now more than ever are struggling with obesity. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 300,000 American deaths per year are associated with overweight and obesity.
More than 9 million children between ages 6 to 16 are considered overweight.

Disgusting, but we already know the facts. We read about them everyday in the newspapers and magazines and hear the reporters on the news talk about it as they broadcast obese people's rear-ends on national television. America is fat, we know that. The question is, what is really going to help the average, overweight American shed the pounds and keep them off for life?
Find what it is you believe in.
"A survey of over 1,000 physicians asked questions about how religion impacts health and health care. The findings are surprising in showing how widespread the belief that religion can alter the course of illness is among physicians. More than half (54%) of the doctors said that God sometimes acts to affect a person’s health, and 33% said that spirituality and religion can help prevent heart attacks, infections and other specific medical problems. Only 1% thought religion was negative, and 2% thought is was neutral." http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongrelationships/a/religion_doctor.htm. These are just some facts showing how believing in something, whatever it is, can aid in not only helping your mental health, but also your physical well- being, as well. I believe those two things come hand in hand. Your mind-set is essential to not just losing weight, but in keeping it off forever! Believing in something, whether it be a God, a religion, a book, a person, people, yourself, whatever you choose to believe in, is going to help pave a very smooth path of a lifelong journey in staying healthy and maintaining a healthy weight and lifestyle. So, number one, find something to believe in that can keep you motivated and positive for the long-term.


Get in touch with a counselor or therapist. "Oh now, wait just a minute here! Me? Go see a shrink? Pff! What does a shrink have anything to do with this issue??" Actually, a lot. Some common causes of obesity and weight gain can be directly due to past hurtful experiences, neglect, abuse, low self- esteem, depression, drug-use, and addictions. So don't be so quick to write off the shrink. He or she can help you with the deep-rooted, underlying, forgotten about issues that need to come to surface first before any success with losing weight and keeping it off can even occur. This may be a hard step for some people, but I can guarantee you, it will be one well-worth your while! And if finances are an issue, maybe you can instead try taking out some literature at your local library regarding self-help, etc, whatever it is that lies beneath you that is too hard to face. THAT needs to be dealt with first! Whether it be by taking out some self-help books at the library or ordering some off of Amazon.com, find out how to repair anything that is broken emotionally inside of you and work hard to mend it. Otherwise, you may never see the real change you are so badly wanting. Be a student in life and always be learning what you can do to improve not just your physical being, but everything else that goes along with the making of who you are, as well. Losing weight is not just a one-fold deal. You might be surprised to know that it has much more to do with your mental health, your emotional health and your spiritual health than anything else.


Start your new you. You know what to do. Like I mentioned earlier, we already know the facts, now its time to put them into practice. Start eating healthier and in smaller portions.You usually have an 8 oz. piece of steak every Friday night at your local ma and pa restaurant. When you go back, get a 6 oz. steak. You usually drink a large soda pop every day with lunch. When you have lunch tomorrow, get a small soda pop. Start making changes in the portion sizes right away. The portion sizes we are given in our average American restaurants are, what I like to refer to as, and what Will Ferrell would say in the movie, "Elf", "gynormous"! We are blessed with abundance in this country. If you go out of the U.S. you will see that for yourself. Cut the portions in half. Simple. Skip the sugar and caffeine. At least for me, this is a really tough one. After one week of being sugar-free and caffeine-free, your body will begin to learn that it doesn't needthese things to thrive. If sugar is not that meaningful for you in your life, good! You probably won't struggle with it as much as the "sweet tooth's" out there, like myself. You will begin seeing a difference in your waist line in a small amount of time with cutting sugar and caffeine completely out of your diet, I promise you! If you like coffee, try drinking de-caf instead! Drink 64 ounces or more of water, daily. Drinking plenty of water is imperative in losing weight. I call water the "secret potion" of losing weight. Think of it like that and you will score, big-time! Yes, you will be making more stops to the bathroom, but by increasing your intake of water you will also be getting rid of that extra water retention that is more a culprit for women than men. Get on an exercise routine. If your not on one now, get on one, NOW. Exercise will help you to make better food choices, but it doesn't necessarily mean it will help you lose weight. Really, eating healthier and in smaller portions is going to be the main factorto you losing weight and keeping it off even into old age! Lots of cardio is going to help you shed fat and gain muscle, so don't be alarmed if at first you hop on the scale and your weight is still around the same, because keep in mind, muscle weighs more than fat. Go by how your jeans fit, rather than going by a number off the scale. While cardio will help you shed fat and gain muscle, strength training will help you maintain that muscle. In following these simple steps, you are basically on your way to re-training your metabolism.


Focus and discipline yourself. Last, but not least, discipline, discipline, discipline! Now, it doesn't mean you can't enjoy a homemade cookie someone made for you at the dinner party, just don't overindulge! That is where disciplining yourself comes into play. Know when to say enough. Don't make the mistake of allowing yourself more than enough. Know when to allow yourself a small treat, drink some water down to fill you up a little, and move! Move, move, move on! Don't make the mistake of being the one hovering over the treats talking. And if you happen to make that bad decision, which we often times do, don't feel too terrible about it. Just don't think you can just go and sit on the couch afterwards and veg out. Get on that treadmill, take a brisk walk around the mall, jump start the cardio and start shedding unnecessary fat that you put into your body. Also, don't forget to increase the intake of water straight away! If you break down and lose it, it's okay. Don't stress whatever you do! Stress adds on extra fat in the belly. Just take a deep breath and allow your internal "drill sergeant" to speak to you, and then get moving! Whatever you do, don't ever give up!



I can promise you, it will not always be easy. In fact, in the beginning, it will be tough. Challenge yourself. If you fall down, pick yourself back up. It's sort of like boot camp in the beginning. You sweat, you cry, you pound your fists to the ground kicking and screaming. But only YOU are going to make the difference you want to see in yourself. No one else is going to do it for you. I can promise you this, though, once you get yourself on a consistent routine, (and sometimes that can take up to six months to form a routine), you will find yourself feeling ten times better, being full of energy, and happiness will follow you into a lifetime. But YOU have to be the one to make this happen. It takes time to get into ruts, to fall into depression, to become an addict, to be anxiety-driven, and to also become over-weight. It is going to take time to get your life back and start forming a better, more abundant and fulfilling lifestyle for yourself. Remember the words I have said. I have experienced this all first-hand. I know it works if you follow these guidelines. All you have to do now is make a decision to do it! So get out there! Get moving! And as the traditional Italian toast goes, "Saloot a chin don"! Health for 100 Years!