Everyone wants to lose weight and improve their physical appearance. Unfortunately, most people who want to lose weight are not aware of the impact that losing weight can have on their body. Weight loss can drastically change your body image and how you perceive yourself. The reality is, when you lose weight, it does not mean that your body-size will shrink. It means that your body will be adapted to a new set of dimensions which you must get used to.
Many people who lose weight end up with smaller waistlines yet larger hands and feet. This is due to a phenomenon called metabolic adaptation. When your body is exposed to a new set of environmental conditions (such as when you lose weight), it will change how it functions to ensure essential elements are no longer missing. One of these elements is oxygen. Your body will reduce the amount of oxygen that it needs in order to ensure normal metabolic processes in the face of a low-oxygen environment. This reduces the amount of oxygen that is available to your organs and tissues. This can lead to serious health problems. For instance, if your hands get small due to metabolic adaptation, you may find it difficult to perform tasks that require large muscle groups.
If you are interested in trying weight loss, but want to avoid going through any uncomfortable health issues, then you need to make sure that your body is prepared for the change. You should consult your doctor or health professional to find out what tips and advice they may give you to ensure your body is ready for a change in lifestyle.
Lose The Fat Layer Around Your Heart First
Many people who are overweight begin weight loss journeys with the intention of improving their physical appearance. While many people feel great once they start losing weight, they quickly find that their bodies have changed. One of the first things that you must do in order to successfully lose weight and keep it off is to reduce the amount of body fat that you have around your heart and other critical organs. Your doctor or health professional will likely recommend that you begin by following a heart rate reserve program which will increase your respiratory rate and get your heart pumping hard. This will enable you to burn more calories and increase how effective your weight loss is. The more you weigh, the more you will have to lose in order to reach your target weight.
Exercise Less And Diet More
When you lose weight, your body adjusts by reducing how much you need to do in order to function. One of the best tips that you can follow in order to ensure your body is prepared for a change in lifestyle is to exercise less and diet more. You should do this in order to reduce your daily caloric intake and subsequently lose weight. Exercise less means that you will need to get the same amount of exercise as you did when you were obese, however, you will need to make it count by choosing activities that are high in intensity (i.e. sprinting, weight lifting, or cycling). Your doctor or health professional will probably recommend that you begin by doing a fitness test to determine your current level of fitness before starting any exercise program. They will want to make sure that you are not physically restricted due to poor health or previous injuries before you begin any strenuous activity.
Reduce The Amount Of Processed Food And Drink You Eat
When you reduce the amount of food that you eat, your body will adjust by changing how it functions. You should try to reduce how much of the following you eat:
- Candy
- Pastries
- Processed meats
- French fries
- Soft drinks
- Ice cream
- White bread
You should also try to reduce the amount of drink that you consume. While some people can function successfully without drink, many others will find that they need more juice than usual. Again, this is because of metabolic adaptation. When your body is not getting sufficient amounts of nutrients and calories, it will change how it functions in order to ensure that it gets what it needs. This can lead to problems such as diabetes and heart disease. If you want to try and reduce your alcohol intake for medical reasons, then you should follow your doctor’s advice on how to do this safely.
Try New Foods
When you reduce the amount of food that you eat, your body will adapt by changing how it functions. This will have a positive impact on your overall health and well-being. One of the best ways to ensure your body is prepared for a change in lifestyle is to try new foods. It is well known that the human diet has changed a great deal over the past few decades and what has been traditionally considered ‘healthy’ has changed as well. Before you start losing weight, your diet should consist of high-quality protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. You should aim to avoid eating obvious food deserts which are high in empty calories (such as fast food and sweets) as these will most likely lead to you gaining weight back soon after you have lost it. The proteins, carbohydrates, and fats in these foods are digested slowly which leads to a large caloric intake. Instead, you should focus on eating seasonal foods which are high in vitamins and nutrients. Fruit and vegetables are excellent sources of these vital substances. Instead of fast food, you could try and eat grilled fish or chicken, or a salad with chicken or salmon in it. If you need a vegan alternative, then you could try and make a fruit or vegetable pizza. When you eat healthy food, it fills you up faster and keeps you satisfied longer than when you eat foods high in carbohydrates or sugars. You will most likely lose weight quickly and easily if you follow these simple tips which can be found on most nutrition facts labels. Once you begin losing weight, it is of paramount importance that you continue to follow a healthy diet which will allow you to keep the weight off. This is because your body will always adapt and adjust to what you give it so it can function at its best. However, your hands may still get smaller even if you eat the right food because of metabolic adaptation.
Reduce The Stress In Your Life
Many people who are overweight begin weight loss journeys with the intention of improving their physical appearance. While many people feel great once they start losing weight, they quickly find that their bodies have changed. One of the first things that you must do in order to successfully lose weight and keep it off is to reduce the amount of stress that you have in your life. This will help to regulate your physical health and enable you to maintain a healthy weight. You should do this by taking breaks from stressful situations and activities, and by learning how to deal with stress and anxieties in healthier ways. It is well known that when you are under stress, your body produces chemicals which can increase your appetite and cause you to gain weight. If you are really determined to lose weight, then you should consider looking into weight loss surgery or medication which can help to control your appetite and enable you to lose weight in a safe and healthy manner. While weight loss surgery is a great option for some people, it is important to remember that it is not the be all and end all of obesity treatment. Instead, it is a last resort and should only be considered after other, more natural methods have failed.
Get Enough Sleep
Your body produces hormones which enable you to sleep. These hormones are vital for your mental and physical health. Your body makes them in order to enable you to rejuvenate and restore. The fewer hours of sleep that you get each night, the more tired you will be during the day which will make it harder for you to lose weight. People who get less than six hours of sleep each night are more likely to be obese. Try and get at least seven hours of sleep each night so that you can maintain a healthy weight. This is because the body requires time to restore and repair itself which is why many people are more likely to be successful when they sleep less. However, it is also good to get eight hours of sleep each night and avoid sleeping longer than necessary. This will help to regulate your appetite and energy levels so that you do not consume more calories than you need. If you are finding that it is hard to lose weight no matter what you do, then it might be a good idea to try and get more sleep. When you function at your best, you will not need as much sleep so adjust your sleeping habits accordingly.