Last post, I used a banking balance sheet and related it to attaining and maintaining healthy weight. In the case of weight loss it is basically calories in verses calories out. More calories in than out mean weight gain. More calories out than eaten means weight loss.

The amount of calories that you consume on a daily basis will determine whether you gain or lose weight. There are many diet eating plans out there. Choose one that you can live with for life.

Studies have been taken where overweight people believed they were eating no more food than other people they associated with who were considerably thinner. The studies have shown that when people who are over weight record everything they eat, they where actually  consuming more calories than their  thinner friends.

We tend to blame our heaviness on metabolism. Metabolism gets a bad rap. Yes our metabolism slows down as we age. The problem is that our intake hasn’t decreased. Look at the typical American diet. No breakfast or fast food for breakfast, fast food for lunch, lots of coffee (usually with the fixins), snacks from the machine and whatever you can get for dinner. And when you by fast foods they usually try to up-sell you with “would you like fries with that?” or “would you like to super size you meal for 39 cents?”

So you are getting unhealthy fats, too much fat and salt and calories. And we wonder why America is so overweight!  It is hard to “fix” American obesity. Let’s focus on ourself. I can fix me and you can fix you. If there are enought “you’s” out there that lose weight, America will no longer be fat.

The deal is that you only need to make a small change on a daily basis to have a substantial effect on your weight in a years time. If you can cut back 100 calories per day and you keep your same activity level, you can loose up to 10 pounds per year.

You can easily find 100 calories to give up. That is a manageable goal for everybody. If you look at weight loss programs, most of them cut many more calories out. It makes it very difficult to stay with the eating plan. You get hungry, feeling deprived and the diet goes out the window.

If you want to succeed in you new eating plan, you have to have a balanced diet. You need good whole foods, organic and local if possible.

You may need supplements. Our foods typically do not contain all the nutrients we need. This is do to poor farming practices. This is why you need local, organic foods and free range meats, eggs and dairy as they have more nutrients. Have you heard the adage: “You get what you pay for.” ? In supplements that is true. You need whole food supplements from a reputable company.

You are responsible for your weight and health. If you have missed the mark, so what. Learn what you need to learn and change your eating style. If you don’t know how to eat well, grab your free report on Tips for Successful Weight Loss. You will get a 6 page report to jump start your healthy weight goals. You will also get  a series of weight loss tips to help you and a link to purchase my book “Healthy Weight Loss for Baby Boomer Women.”

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Blessings, Mary Pat

Mary Pat FitzGibbons RN MS writes on weight loss and other health issues facing Baby Boomer Women today.