Weight Control That Can Work for You

With increasing attention on the overweight and obesity trends that are rampant throughout the United States, many people are wondering how they can improve their own health through proper weight control. Without a history of healthy eating and exercise, it can be difficult for people to find a weight control program that will work for their lifestyles and their personal weight loss goals. Weight control is different for everyone. There are many factors which influence one's ability to lose weight and get fit. However, there are some steps that everyone can take to begin their weight control program without expert advice or expensive diet plans. The first basic step to weight control is to change your eating schedule. Most people eat two or three meals a day and then snack on junk food at some point in between. Irregular eating schedules that leave you feeling hungry and then stuffed create an inefficient metabolic rate. You need your metabolism to work as efficiently as possible for long-term weight control success. To do this, you should eat 5 or 6 small meals a day. These meals should be eaten every three to four hours. This will keep you feeling satisfied throughout the entire day and it will cause your metabolism to work overtime while trying to process the constant intake of fuel you're providing your body. One of the most basic rules to weight control that many people never even think about is to avoid drinking your calories. People who drink a lot of juice or soda can consume hundreds of calories a day without ever eating a meal. While some juices provide the body with some vitamins and minerals, they also contain a lot of sugar. Soda is the ultimate weight control offender in that it contains a lot of empty calories, offering fuel without sustenance. One 12 ounce can of Coke contains 155 empty calories. These calories add up quickly, and if they aren't burned off, they will be converted and stored as fat.
Another basic rule to weight control is to incorporate moderate exercise into your daily schedule. You should try to do some toning exercises and some cardiovascular training every week. For a beginner, 30 minutes of walking at a brisk pace each day will result in vast improvements in weight control. Additionally, if you add some basic weight training to your exercise plan, you can build a base of lean body mass (muscle). It has been proven that each pound of muscle that a person has burns 10 to 15 calories a day while at rest. So, as you build muscle, weight control becomes easier to attain and sustain. Weight control doesn't have to be a miserable or confusing experience. Take the first steps by eating small meals more frequently throughout the day. Make healthy food choices, limit your liquid calorie intake and incorporate a little exercise into your daily schedule. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to achieving your weight control goals and living a healthier, more energetic life!