Healthier Living Plan Help?

Question

Okay I wouldn't call it a diet because I want my results to be long term. I am trying to live a healthier life. I have rid myself of the sweets, soda and fast foods. I need to lose at least 40-50 pounds which is my first goal. Once I lose that I will go for at least 15 pounds more.. I currently weigh 200 pounds, which for the medical standards I am overweight. We do have a tread mill and hand weights. My question is how many times should I workout and how should I go about losing this weight?

Answer 1

When you want to lose weight it is important to exercise often but not necessarily intensely.  Go for three or four half hour walks a day, for example rather than for a two hour walk.

Keeping a food journal really does help.  It will give you a much better sense of how much you are eating, and when, and why.

Make a few small changes - walk everywhere, always use stairs instead of elevators, walk on escalators, get up and move around at least once an hour if your work or life in general is sedentary, walk every day, use a pedometer. Walking 10,000 steps a day is a really good idea. Build up to a long brisk walk everyday, or most days. Do more sports and less TV and computer.

Start a weight lifting routine. It will help increase your metabolism and make you feel and look better in so many ways. Join a gym. Possibly you can find one that has someone who specializes in weight lifting programs for beginners. Weight lifting will increase your metabolism as well as improve posture and appearance overall.

In terms of diet, cut out or reduce things like junk food, pop, fat, fast food. Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, fish. Drink plenty of water. You will begin to see changes. Even though we would like it to be different, there is no quick fix. But stick with it. You can be successful.

The moral support you need is what comes from within you. If you are ready to lose the weight you will stick with it and do it. It doesn't matter what your friends or family say or do.

Check out websites about nutrition, weight loss, exercise, weight training, etc.

Stick with it. You can do it.   Here are a couple of  helpful links.

http://www.nutrawatch.com/

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/

http://weightloss.about.com/cs/fitness/a...

http://www.thepumpingstation.com/trainin...

http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/fe...

Answer 2

Gosh, aren't you smart for wanting to do it the "healthy" way!  First of all, check out the "Eat Healthy" section of the site below.  That will give you lots of good info. about how you should be eating for good health.  You will also find some printable food and exercise logs there.  Research shows that people who record their food intake lose twice as many pounds and stay on their diets longer than those who do not.  

There are lots of really good weight loss tips on the site too.  Look around and see what might help you.

To lose weight, you should be active every day.  Walk on your treadmill a minimum of 20 minutes a day, but some days make it 40, some 60--mix it up.  In addition, think about other cardio workouts that will burn big calories such as biking, jogging, skating, jumping rope, etc.  Do crunches and push ups every day as well.  Do some good stretching too, on a daily basis.  Never take off more than one day a week from exercise...good luck!