Losing weight is one of the most difficult problems posed for someone wanting to get back into shape.
One dieter I spoke with called his diet the "HATT" diet.
This stands for "hungry all the time.
" There's good news; you don't have to be hungry, you just have to choose with care what you eat and drink.
Exercise Before starting a new routine, it's a good idea to have a physical.
This will help you avoid exercise related injuries and a world of hurt from arthritis, etc.
The doctor can give you a list of exercises that will be right for you.
When setting up your exercise plan, find a calorie counter that can input both what you eat/drink and what you do.
Don't forget to include every activity, even when you are sleeping or driving your vehicle, calories are still being burned.
The ideal counter includes several other important details such as gender, age and weight.
The most calories I have ever burned came from a four hour, five mile hike.
Hiking is the second highest calorie burner I have found.
That hike burned more than 2400 calories alone.
Backpacking the same hike would have burned over 3100 calories.
Not everyone has access to hiking and backpacking trails, so walking/jogging and running are the better options.
Even though it doesn't burn as many calories, walking is probably the best bet.
It is a lot easier on the joints.
Swimming and aquatic exercise is also easy on the joints, as they are no impact exercises.
The water also provides resistance, increasing expenditure.
Your doctor may suggest you join a gym and get a physical trainer to help match you with the ideal workout.
Trainers can show you how to use the equipment properly, thus reducing the chance for injuries.
Some trainers can also help you develop a diet plan that will improve your chances of success.
Food Exercise is not likely to help you lose weight all by itself, even if you take advantage of hiking.
What you eat is as important.
As I said above, this doesn't mean you have to be hungry, and surprisingly enough it doesn't mean you have to eat odd and/or tasteless foods.
The most important tool you can have when selecting foods is the nutrition label.
Unless you cook everything from scratch, some processed foods are probably included in your daily menu.
Reading the labels can save you from consuming substances designed to increase your waistline.
One caveat to that is that not all calories are the same, at least in nutritional value.
Whole wheat bread is much better for you than it's more processed cousin, white bread.
The calories are worth it due to the fiber content and other nutrients.
When creating your menu, try to include as many home cooked dinners that employ a lot of fruits and vegetables.
One way I do this at home is to make a snack tray to be served when everyone gets home.
There is a salad dressing dip (balsamic vinaigrette is a great option here), and slices of raw vegetables just waiting to be dipped.
Reduced fat cheeses are sometimes included as well as other savory, healthy finger foods.
This tray does more than help get those five servings of fruits and vegetables eaten without complaint.
It also dulls the appetite so that less of the higher calorie main course is needed before you begin to feel full.
You may want to ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist for the beginning of your new diet plan.
The doctor can give a nutritionist information about your overall health, which will help in this endeavor.
As an example, if you have high blood pressure, sodium is going to be a big problem.
We already consume more of it than is strictly healthy.
Those with high blood pressure can only have half the amount recommended for healthy adults.
Having a team approach to your weight loss goals is the ideal way to get started and to achieve them.
It will still take work and time, but the health benefits are worth it.