How You Can Fight Obesity

Hi everyone! Hope your week is going well. Now, today’s article may not relate to you specifically, but this information is good to know in general. Our guest author is the wonderful Sheila Olson, a fitness professional who runs the website http://fitsheila.com/ . She has contributed once before, and we are pleased to have her on board again for this succinct article:

How You Can Fight Obesity

For many, dealing with obesity feels like a battle. It takes work to “defeat” it and overcome the obstacles that may occur along the way. Here are some of the best ways you can beat obesity.

Home Gym

Sometimes a gym membership isn’t feasible. Whether it’s too intimidating or expensive, exercising at home is always an option. Discuss with your doctor what routine is best for you, and consider investing in a home gym. It’s not expensive, and you only need a few pieces to be successful.

Free weights or kettlebells are a great starting point, as they can be used for multiple activities. If you have good knees, a jump rope is a good source of cardio. Stability or Swiss balls are an excellent and affordable way to build up your core strength. Keep your “gym” in whatever room offers the most floor space, whether it’s your bedroom or living room.

A simple basket or ottoman can hold your exercise equipment when not in use. It might benefit you to work out near a window, or by the TV, so you have something to watch while you work. Thirty minutes goes by much more quickly when your mind is engaged.

Build a Routine

One of the hardest parts of exercise is establishing the habit. A routine helps instill that it’s time to work out. However, if you don’t enjoy what you do, you may end up losing progress. That’s why it’s important to have fun while you exercise. If you love socializing, invite a friend over. You can motivate each other and catch up while you work out.

If you love being outside, take your jump rope out back and work out in the yard, or go swimming, as it uses the entire body. If music is your passion, then find a routine based around dancing. Try to alter how you think of working out. Most of us don’t want to be punished, so don’t use exercise as a punishment. Instead, try to frame working out as something good.

Tell yourself it’s a way to unwind or to make your body feel good. Make sure you include rest days for your body to recover. If you work yourself to exhaustion, you’re unlikely to continue.

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Eat a Balanced Diet

One of the best ways to lose weight is to improve your diet. This doesn’t mean starving yourself or cutting out things you love completely. A good diet is a way of life and something you can commit to for life.

Focus on lean proteins and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and when you have grains, make sure they are processed as little as possible. Find ways to adapt your food to make it healthier. If you love ice cream, blend a frozen banana with your nut butter of choice and top it with some cocoa powder or chocolate nibs.

You’ll be surprised how satisfying healthy substitutes can be. It’s also important to avoid getting mad at yourself for eating something not “on plan.” You still need to enjoy yourself, and if eating is nothing but a chore, you’re more likely to give up or participate in binge-eating. Also, talk to your doctor about your specific needs.

Mental Wellness

While not everyone who is obese suffers from a mental disorder like depression, there is a documented link between the two. Unfortunately, obesity itself can also lead to an increase in anxiety and other disorders. If you are overeating to compensate for something, as many of us do, treating the symptom and not the cause will only get you so far.

You need to take care of your mental health to take care of your overall physical wellness. Therapy is the best option, but even practicing mindfulness can help restore your sense of peace. Meditation and mindfulness can lower stress, which can, in turn, help you focus and commit to health.

This is a journey you’re on. It won’t be easy, but feeling good is more important than just about anything else. Never question it. You deserve to feel good.

Once again, thank you to Sheila Olson for her wonderful contribution. Don’t forget to check out http://fitsheila.com/ also. And check these out too: