If one were to take a peek into the gyms around Barbados, one would see them bursting at the seams in preparation for the upcoming Crop Over season. Lot of people will be starting the latest diet trying to achieve miraculous but temporary results. These results are temporary because the healthy eating patterns and exercise regimens are seasonal and temporary as well. By September you will likely see the gradual reduction in gym members and slowly expanding waistlines. Most dieters regain any lost weight plus additional pounds when they go back to their old eating habits.
Getting healthy is not about going on a diet, it’s about a lifestyle change. If you truly want to keep those excess pounds, create a new normal! Weight loss is most likely to be successful when people change their habits, replacing old, unhealthy ones with new, healthy behaviours. Here are 5 ways to Reach (and Maintain!) a Healthy Weight:
Exercise.
Regular physical activity burns calories and builds muscle — both of which help you look and feel good and keep weight off. Walking the family dog, cycling to school, and doing other things that increase your daily level of activity can all make a difference. If you want to burn more calories, increase the intensity of your workout and add some strength exercises to build muscle. The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, even when you aren’t exercising.
Reduce screen time.
One reason people get less exercise these days is because of an increase in “screen time” — the amount of time spent watching TV, looking at the computer, or playing video games. Limit recreational screen time to less than 2 hours per day. If you’re with friends at the mall, you’re getting more exercise than if you’re Instant Messaging them from your room.
Watch out for portion distortion.
Serving sizes have increased over the past 10 years, and these extra calories contribute to obesity. Another key factor in weight gain is that more people drink sugary beverages, such as sodas, juice drinks, and sports drinks. So choose smaller portions (or share restaurant portions) and go for water or low-fat milk instead of soda.
Eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day.
Fruits and veggies are about more than just vitamins and minerals. They’re also packed with fiber, which means they fill you up. And when you fill up on fruits and veggies, you’re less likely to overeat when it comes to high-calorie foods like chips or cookies, plus your skin will be aglow.
Don’t skip breakfast.
Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism, burning calories from the get-go and giving you energy to do more during the day. People who skip breakfast often feel so hungry that they eat more later on. So they get more calories than they would have if they ate breakfast. In fact, people who skip breakfast tend to have higher BMI’s than people who eat breakfast.
