Healthy Weight Loss Programs

By Boyce Henry

People who are overweight and want to lose those extra pounds are most likely in search of a plan or program to follow. However, healthy weight loss programs for losing weight differ, or should anyway, from some of the more, shall we say, spirited claims for losing weight.

There are so many weight loss programs out there, they have become trivialized. And a new fad diet seems to come along every day. Every form of media serves as a marketing tool for the latest craze in weight loss or fitness. Truthfully, there are many good ones. There are also some that could be downright dangerous to your overall health.

Nothing beats common sense when choosing a program. That, and knowing yourself and what sort of changes you are willing to make. Most any good program will help an individual lose weight. The trick is sticking with the program. Remember, the process of losing weight should be about long term changes that keep the weight off for good and allow you to live a healthier life. If you go through some form of dietary torture for two months and lose 30 pounds, it is doubtful you will stick with that kind of radical change for long.

The best programs seem to be those that offer education, incremental and flexible changes in dietary consumption, varied exercise routines and long term goal setting. And, people need and want to understand the process their minds and bodies will undergo while making changes. Staying motivated is a huge issue, and the more educated a person is about nutrition and fitness or how well a particular program educates the consumer, the more likely the individual is to achieve their long term goals. This is not rocket science. It is just about being a cautious, well informed consumer.

Even among the many very good healthy weight loss programs out there, each one may have systems or variations that make them good for one person and not another. Gather as much information as you can on the program, study it, then decide if it fits you and your goals. Don't rely on someone else to influence your decision. Do the necessary research yourself. Get informed before jumping headfirst into a cloudy pool!

Most really good healthy weight loss programs have quite a bit of flexibility. It should not be too hard to find one that is right for you. As in almost all other areas, we know a great deal more today about nutrition, health and fitness. Know what you want to achieve, know what works best for you, be informed and then Go! Be happy!

Weight Loss Tips Gone Bad

No one wakes up in the morning and says, 'I want to gain 150 pounds and I will start right now.'

Weight and body oppression is oppressive to everyone. When you live in a society that says that one kind of body is bad and other is good, those with "good" bodies constantly fear that their bodies will go "bad", and those with "bad" bodies are expected feel shame and do everything they can to have "good" bodies. In the process, we torture our bodies, and do everything from engage in disordered eating and all manner of diets in order to shed excess weight or become like someone else.

Walking back home from the pharmacy, I stopped to buy a roasted pear. I had just paid and was counting my change when the pear trader decided to share incredible words of wisdom, words that turned out to become a long list of traditional herbs I couldn't pronounce.

It wouldn't be the first time a total stranger walked up to me and proffered solutions to my obvious weight issue.

I've battled with discussing much less mentioning my failed weight loss attempt, but I know there are people who share my struggle.

It's not as though I haven't tried some of these solutions or come up with my own strategy; from starving, to just eating protein fruits and veggies, I even enrolled at the gym. But somehow I get fed up when I notice little or no change and end up gaining more weight than I lost.

I marvel sometimes at the weird tips and advice I've received on a number of occasions. You wouldn't believe the kind of "solution" I've been should I say unfortunate to hear.

For instance, I was getting my nails done once and the lady told me about some "magic" pills, the downside is I can't be with a man while on the pills. What kind of weight medication restricts someone's sexual activity? I was even more suspicious because between I and the said adviser, I wasn't sure whose physique was presentable.

I've been told that if I want to shed weight I should engage in vigorous sexual activities at least 5 times a week, I have to words

The 'last straw' was when a Lady asked me to buy a certain Indian powder, according to her, all I had to do was to inhale the powder and I'll be surprised with the results. I had to ask her whether she was trying to sell cocaine to me.

I have however embarked on another mission to shed some weight, if at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again, right!