“Eat Less, Move More” has been the generally accepted advice of those in the weight loss community, but I’ve seen this simplified way to lose weight backfire on those with this philosophy.
Do you really have to eat less in order to lose weight, or is it that you have to eat differently? Sure, if you are mindfully eating foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, nuts, and seeds, and other healthy fats when hungry, throughout the day, and still not losing weight, then you might need to cut back on portions or proportions. In this country we consume more protein than our bodies actually need for optimum health. Using quality protein more as a condiment to meals and snacks is one way to change proportions. This allows more of our plate for low density, high fiber, filling vegetables and fruits. I see many people trying to lose weight who are afraid to eat, and will just have packaged and marketed “diet food” which can over time make them less healthy, feel like a failure, and give up.
What about moving more? For most of us with a sedentary lifestyle, we need to move more throughout the day for better health and metabolism. When starting a weight loss plan, yes, moving more than you are moving now will help with weight loss. However, just getting on a treadmill for 30 minutes in the morning and then sitting in an office chair for the rest of the day, then watching TV after dinner is not going to cut it. But what is enough? And what is too much? Too much exercise and being a fanatic in order to lose weight, may not be sustainable for you, and again, you might fall off the wagon, feel like you failed, or worse, sustain an injury. Too much exercise, along with a busy life and no downtime, can actually cause stress and higher cortisol levels which interferes with weight loss, or as I like the envision it “weight release”.
Have you tried to lose weight before? How many times? How many different ways? I’ve lost weight and kept it off for over ten years, and with my customized approach, can help you find a healthy balance in order to meet your goals and live the life you desire. Contact me at (973) 617-6742 or at coahmaryellen@outlook.com to schedule your free consultation.