Losing weight isn’t easy. There it’s out in the open. Weight loss is hard work and dedication that rewards you with a lifetime of health. Carrying around excess weight isn’t just hard on your self-esteem; it’s hard on your body, your relationships and the activities of day to day life.
The good news is there are simple and affordable things you can start doing today to help you begin to lose weight. There are even changes you can make starting today that are free and easy!
Rule #1: You’re NOT Dieting. You’re Healing, Eating Better and Taking Care of Yourself
The biggest defining factor in successful weight loss: perspective.
Clients who view the weight loss process as healing, adopting a healthy lifestyle, or learning to eat for health are the most successful at losing weight and keeping it off. The difference is so notable and staggering I finally had to adopt a rule to present to all weight loss clients at their first appointment: Never say you’re on a ‘diet.’ Yes. You read that right.
Losing weight is a healing process. When your body tissues reconstruct to be healthier we call that healing. When you break a bone and it begins to fuse back together everyone recognize that as healing. Same things with scabs, surgical wounds, and more.
Why is it that when we decrease fat tissue, increase muscle tissue and repair our organs from the damages and strain of excess weight, we don’t call the healing? Starting from this moment forward, it is just that. Losing weight is a healing process.
A diet is what you eat, not what you don’t eat.
The word diet is defined as the foods and beverages a living organism consumes. So deer for example eat a diet of brush, golf course grass and prize gardens. Far too often individuals will go on a fad diet and define their diet as everything they “can’t have.” With a long list of foods off limits and short list of foods that can be consumed, it’s a recipe for an unhealthy relationship with mind, body, food, and often the bank account.
Focus on what you want, not what you don’t want.
Don’t think about all the weight you want to lose. Think about how awesome you’ll look and feel when you reach your goal. Think about how it will change your day to day activities and life. Don’t workout and change your dietary habits because you hate your body, do so because you love your body.
Water, Water, Water
The first, simplest and cheapest tool to a healthy weight is proper hydration. Water provides so many functions in the human body. Consuming enough fluids on a daily basis keeps a person healthy from the inside out. Water can flush the body of toxins and other compounds that cause weight problems.
The average adult needs a base of 64 ounces water a day. Higher elevations, temperatures and activity levels increase needs for fluids. Keep in mind that all fluids count in fluid consumption and there is fluid in there are the foods we consume. Strive for 10 cups of water a day for 10 days and see how many ounces works for you. Track the fluids you consumed throughout the day and then reflect on how you felt and your appearance the following morning.
One of the simplest and healthiest things you can do for your health is to drink 16 ounces of water first thing in the morning, prior to any other foods or beverages. One of the biggest uses of water in the human body is breathing. We breathe all night as we sleep and often times deeper than we do during the day time. We wake in a dehydrated state.
We know to have breakfast to “break the fast” first thing in the morning, but there is no cute way to say “break the dehydration.” Drinking 8 ounces of water first thing in the morning replenishes your water stores, flushes toxins from the body, aids in regularity, boost metabolism, plumps up skins cells and activates the organs in the body. Start with 8 ounces of room temperature water and increase your consumption a little each day. It takes time to build up to the total 16 ounces.
Take wellness to the next level and make it your lifestyle, weight loss will follow. For further information on healthy, lasting weight loss check out this Weight Loss Success eManual. Downloadable and available when you have the time.
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Originally published at www.wellwoodhealth.com.
Originally published at medium.com