Food has become a large part of North America's obesity problem. It has also become the topic of many, blogs, TV talk shows, articles, books and documentaries. I have noticed that many people are confused about the difference between losing weight, and getting healthy.
I want to clarify this in the easiest way possible.
TO LOSE WEIGHT:
In order to lose weight, you need to expend more calories than you are taking in. 3500 calories equals 1 pound, so if you burn 500 more calories per day compared to what you consume, you will lose 1 pound per week.
When we look at it this way, it does not much matter where the calories come from, so long as there are more calories out as opposed to in.
TO GET HEALTHY:
If you need to lose weight, then the main rule still stands... you need more calories out as opposed to in.
However, here is where the difference lies. You need to see where the calories are coming from.
If you have Type II diabetes, or are deemed pre-diabetic, you want to limit the amount of sugars and simple carbs in your diet. You do not want to eat too many fruits, and you are best off switching from white bread and pasta to whole wheat or multi grain bread and pasta.
If blood pressure and cholesterol is your health issue, you want to increase the amount of fiber in your diet. Salty foods and foods containing sodium should be very limited or even eliminated.
I see that alot of people focus on getting thinner, but they do not always worry about their health in general. Many people under eat, and that too can lead to long term health issues. People willing "to do anything" to lose weight often try supplements that are safe for most, but may be harmful if you have some underlying condition. Yo-yo dieting has been proven to cause serious long term health issues, and we all know why it is called yo-yo effect. You stick to the diet and once you reach your ideal weight... KABOOM!!!
If I can offer 1 piece of advise, it would be to focus on your overall general health. I assure you that if you train correctly, eat well, and put out more calories than you take in, you will lose the weight and gain health.
If you need any help or need suggestions for doing this, please contact me on twitter @mytraineroz or via my website www.mytraineroz.com.
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Great blog! Many people think trainers and fitness/health people are only into the superficial aspect of "looking hot" and "losing weight", but I think if they really understood how important their habits were for their health, there would be a much bigger buy-in.
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