Is Fast Safe Weight Loss a Myth?

Over half of the people in North America are either overweight or obese. Why?

At one point, I was beginning to think fast safe weight loss was just a myth because so many including myself were losing the battle of the bulge with supposed easy diet plans. It doesn’t help that our fast-paced society is based around quick, fast and processed foods that probably don’t even contain real food that our bodies can’t process. Or the fact that the generations are starting early on slowing their metabolisms down by sitting and staring at video and computer screens instead of exploring the outdoors.

I know when I was a kid, my mother kicked me out into the backyard constantly and I had no choice but to be active. “It’s so beautiful outside, play outside with your friends or ride your bike,” my mother would say. And when I would ask for a snack, there weren’t a plethora of quick fixes like Bear paws or pizza bites. My choices were usually an apple or a pear.

So, is it our fault as responsible parents and adults or do we blame the society that we live in? I think a little bit of both. Maybe if we slow down just a little learn more about nutrition, play a bit more especially with the kids and be willing to take the few extra steps needed to change our daily habits, Fast safe weight loss would stop eluding us.

So . . . What Does Work?

If you have ever tried a diet, you know starvation is definitely a no go as far as being on the list of easy diet plans.  Starvation causes the body to use it’s own reserves for energy beyond the extra fat like glycogen and when glycogen is used, the water is released where people notice a loss of weight. You can also lose lean body mass and it can take a toll on your heart which is dangerous.

Since starvation slows your metabolism, the muscle you lost is now replaced with fat. Usually this results in you repeating the process all over again.

Stay Active and Have Fun!!

Let’s face it,  if you’re not having fun you’re not going to do it. Get outside and play with your kids. Go for a walk, play frisbee or get involved with your children’s sports by practicing with them. One thing my husband did was volunteer to be a soccer coach. This solidified his commitment to being involved in our son’s favorite sport and got him out there running around with him! Participating with your children’s sports pays off in so many ways besides being active because you are also spending quality time with your children.

And if it’s a rainy day and you must stay inside and play a video game, try Wii Fit or Wii Sports activities. This is on the top of my list for the best fat burning exercise.  Believe me you can really sweat with these exercises and if you are all competing against each other the encouragement to actually work harder will be there.

What’s in your grocery bag?

Start thinking about your shopping experience in a whole new perspective.

If you’re one of those people who hate grocery shopping as much as I do, you are most likely just trying to get through the store as quick as possible and grabbing what’s on your list without having to think about too much. But this can be a huge mistake! Who knows what you just threw in your carriage and what you are eating can keep you from ever reaching your weight goal. Don’t be fooled by the low fat, low calorie labels, because those are bogus and eating that kind of food can make you even fatter. You end up eating more of them and they are usually full of sugar and who knows what else that will just sit in your gut.

Here are some tips that may help to slow you down and actually focus on what you’re buying, especially if you have children. It can be grueling to go shopping with three children under the age of 6, but there are some things that may help.

One of my grocery stores actually has a play area where my kids can go while I shop. There is also an area that serves coffee, so I grab a coffee and I am actually getting a little mini break while I take my time to shop. It becomes a more pleasurable experience and I make sure I have scheduled out the time so I can really focus on what I am buying like fresh produce and local meats on the outer perimeter where the ‘real’ food tends to be. There are snacks that can be quick for you and your children that are still nutritious like cheese strings, individually bagged carrots and celery and apples. My kids love these snacks and so do I with no guilt or questions about what’s really in our food.

If you are buying snacks or foods from the inner perimeter, keep in mind of these ingredients to avoid in your food: high fructose corn syrup (this blocks the chemical leptin, that controls fat loss), enriched flour, sugar and hydrogenated oil. If any of these ingredients are on the first 5 then your best bet is to avoid them.

Dear Diary

It’s always a good idea to keep a running food diary to see what you are eating, the time of day and portions of what you’re eating. We are actually meant to be grazers and eating about 5 small meals during the day instead of 3 massive ones. You should also stop eating 4 hours before bed time.

Because this is more of a comfort time for me to eat food, I have a cup of tea instead.

How Can My Weight Loss Progress at a Faster Pace?

Supplements are a great way to have fast safe weight loss sooner than later. It’s also a big encouragement if you’re losing weight and gaining more energy because of it, which leads to exercise. You may want to look at the best fast burning exercise list for some fantastic overall fat burning activities you can do from the comfort of your home.

Photo byAriel da Silva Parreira