I have had health problems most of my adult life, and the medications that I have received to help improve my health has had weight gain as a side effect. A few years ago, I was around 350 lbs and had had enough! I felt awful and looked worse! I decided that a change was necessary, but I also recognised that I could not lose the weight alone. So here are the steps that I took which has helped me to lose over 80 lbs to date, and I'm still losing!
1) I got in contact with my drs. I told them that I was not happy with my health and that I needed help to lose the weight. One switched some of the medications around that I had been on, which helped some, the other contacted an endocrinologist when test results were showing that I was borderline diabetic, and I had other hormonal problems which were effecting me as well. SO ALWAYS, go to the Dr and get the assistance that you need.
2) Recognize that the weight did not get onto your body overnight, and it will not come off over night either! Remember that losing weight takes time and discipline.
3) Eat BREAKFAST!!! If you do not eat something healthy within the first 30 minutes of getting up, it will eventually slow your metabolism down and cause you to gain weight! It effects your mood, your energy levels and will tell your body to store food because your body doesn't believe it will be nourished for a while. I am not a big breakfast eater, but I do my best to east a piece of cheese toast on wheat bread before I rush off to work. Something, anything is better than nothing at all!
4) Stay away from simple carbohydrates! These are all potato products (chips, french fries, white pastas, and white breads) These break down into sugar quickly, but do not last long in your body and must be replaced quickly if there is no other sustanance along with it. Look for breads that have grain in them, they take longer to break down in your system and are healthier for you altogther.
5) Be Positive! Maintaining weight and not gaining any is a victory in itself. Sometimes your body will hit a "plateau" where you do not gain or lose weight, but during this time period, you may lose in clothes size...also remember that muscle weighs more than fat.
6) Everyone says that you need to exercise, but lets be honest about time constraints...there are several of us who just don't have the time for formal exercise, so try parking a little further out at the grocery store so you have to walk to the door. If you are in college, carry more than one class subject of books at a time using your bookbag only for your notebooks. One Dr. told me that walking 30 mins a day would do, and the thirty minutes does not have to be all at once!
If you limit your simple carbohydrate intake, eat breakfast in the morning, and drink more water on a regular basis, I'm confident that these simple steps will help you as well, but most importantly, do not try any diet pills, or other diet gimmicks without consulting your Dr!
Help is out there, and your Dr is the one who knows you best, so use his knowledge and let him/her help you on a road to better health!
God Bless!
Angel
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