Weight gain has become as American as apple pie. With fast-food restaurants at every street corner, it is no wonder people have a hard time maintaining a healthy weight. However, these weight gain problems comes at a price and it's not just in appearance.
Researchers have discovered that gaining 15 pounds over several years jeopardizes one's health and increases their chances of heart disease. Weight gain is also the prime contributor to the development of metabolic syndrome, which can be characterized by unhealthy traits such as:
Aside from weight gain, metabolic syndrome has also been linked to obesity, lack of physical activity and genetic factors. People having at least three of these metabolic syndrome characteristics have a 65 percent greater risk of dying from coronary heart disease than those who do not have the syndrome.
In a 15-year study, researchers followed about 2,500 men and women, ranging in age 18-30. Approximately 82 percent of the subjects gained 15 pounds or more throughout the duration of the study. Moreover, one out of every five people in the "gain" group developed metabolic syndrome, compared to less than 4 percent in the stable weight group. Researchers concluded the best ways to fight weight gain are to lower food intake and exercise.
EurekAlert November 7, 2004
Preventing weight gain and obesity is far easier than applying treatment options, though the success of prevention depends on individual dedication. As noted in the article, proper food intake and exercise are two key factors in fighting and preventing weight gain. These are also the safest alternatives, as they will help you reach your target weight in the healthiest way possible. If you are ready to make this commitment, there are a few steps you must take to accomplish your goals.
The first step to achieving weight loss is to learn your metabolic type and follow an eating plan tailored to your specific type. This is the best way to start losing weight and learn more about the right kind of foods you should eat. Remember: What may be healthy for others is not necessarily healthy for you and vice-versa.
You can find out your nutritional type right now by taking the free online nutritional typing test. Also, learn more about eating properly and understanding your metabolic type through my book, TOTAL HEALTH Program.
An additional tool you could use in your journey to lose weight is my energy psychology tool Emotion Freedom Technique (EFT). The key to weight loss is to learn (or train yourself) to cut back on the sweets and other foods chock full of sugar. With EFT, you will easily be able to overcome these temptations, as it uses a combination of kinetic energy input and positive affirmations to release you of your emotional "blocks" linked to addiction and cravings.
The second critical component to weight loss is EXERCISE. One of the keys in using exercise is to make certain minimum thresholds are met. By doing so, you will not only normalize insulin levels, but you will also experience weight loss and the normalization of blood sugars.
I encourage my patients to gradually increase the amount of time they are exercising to one hour a day. Initially the frequency is daily. This is a treatment dose until they normalize their weight or insulin levels. Once normalized, they will only need to exercise three to four times a week.
Typically, Americans don't appreciate or understand optimum exercise. This may be because many have not previously competed in an aerobic sport, which allows you to understand the feelings of "training" and how hard you have to push yourself to obtain aerobic and insulin benefits.
Exercising, and of course eating right, should come naturally in your daily life. You can learn more about incorporating the right exercise program into your life by reading Paul Chek's newest book, How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy!, a perfect complement to my nutritional plan.
Chek's book challenges you to take control of your health and gives you the steps to designing your own individual nutrition and exercise program. You will find the many descriptive "how to" illustrations both easy to follow and implement into your exercise routine.
And right now, you can get both my bestselling Total Health book and Paul Chek's book together and receive 25 percent off their regular price!
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High-Protein Diets More Effective at Maintaining Weight Loss
Medicare Looking For Weight Loss Plans
Metabolic Syndrome: An Epidemic Among Overweight Non-exercisers
More Americans Are Becoming Pre-Diabetics
Modest Weight Loss May Cut Heart Risks of Obesity