Losing Weight Means Mastering These 5 Areas

As I continue on my path to becoming healthier, stronger, and leaner; I'm learning a lot about how to regain control of my weight.  Specifically, I learning more about what not to do, and in process learning what I should be doing.

I am not a dieting guru nor am I a buffed fitness expert with a body to make Brad Pitt envious and women cry.  Although I have been known to make a gal, or two or three, laugh uncontrollably at the sight of me.  That would be my wife and 2 daughters at the beach.  That said, let me share some of what I have learned so far.

For more reasons than I care to get into, my diet of the past few years, or more, can best be summed up by these 5 statements:

Ho-ho's and Krispy Kreme donuts High fructose corn syrup One meal a day No fluids Nothing but work

So, if on that diet I became a soft, pudgy mass of humanity; then the answer is to do the reverse, right.  It would mean no Ho-Ho's, no high fructose corn syrup, eat many meals a day, drink lots of fluids, and find a balance between working and living. How is that for advice?

But first, let me make a couple of basic observations.

In general, losing weight is consuming less calories than it takes to maintain your body. But if that were strictly true, we would all be in great shape. I think a reason why losing weight is more difficult than the previous statement would suggest is that your body works against you.

Let face it, our bodies are lazy. It will always seek the path of least resistance and will do whatever it takes to counter what it perceives to be a threat. And eating fewer calories than you need to maintain your body is a threat. Dieting is a threat.

Again, examining what not to do, in hopes of determining what to do:

1.  Eating once or twice a day:  The worst thing you can do is have only one or two meals a day. Regardless of how few calories you consume, all those calories will go to fat. When you only feed your body once or twice a day, your body does not know when it will eat again.

And like a bear in hibernation, your body stores everything as fat. If need be, it will begin scavenging your muscles to build more fat. For argument sake, you will have a better chance at losing weight by consuming 5 evenly spaced meals at 400 calories a piece than eating 2 meals at 800 calories a piece.

2.  Not drinking enough water:  We lose up over 10 cups of water a day through urine, bowel movements, sweating, and other bodily functions. At a minimum, all that water must be replaced. Your body is over 55% water.  Being in net water loss position puts your body under stress.  It can't be healthy.  You can't lose weight in a meaningful way when your body is struggling to function properly.

Do you drink at least 10 cups of water a day. 10 cups equates to 80 ounces or half a gallon plus a pint. Can you drink a cup of fluid an hour?  Can you afford not too?  Fortunately, all fluids count and that includes veggies and fruits - think of how much water is in a tomato. Juices, milk, and sport drinks all count toward that goal.

Sodas technically do, but should not because...

3.  Consuming too much High Fructose Corn Syrup:  The Corn Refiner's Association would have you believe that HFCS is same as sugar, and therefore, not bad for you.  The anti-HFCS would have you believe that it is not the same as sugar, and therefore, is bad for you. 

I would have you believe both are bad.  Sugar, regardless of what is it from, is bad.  And 40 plus grams of it (HFCS) in soda is disastrous. I love the refreshing taste of colas, root beer, etc.  But no more, I have not had it a while.

Plus, the reality is that food manufacturers use HFCS because it is cheaper than sugar and extends shelf life.  So, it's cheap and a preservative; how can that be good for you?

4.  Too many Hostess Twinkies:  No comment needed

5.  Being consumed by work: We balance in our lives if we are to have balance in our diet.  Working all the time, neglecting our families and our bodies can only affect us negatively.  In fact, too often, working too much can lead right into poor eating habits and choices. 

You may think you are burning up calories staying up late and stressing out, but your body is again converting everything to fat.

So, the foundation of any weight loss program must begin with self discipline and mastery over the body. Your diet must be balanced.

Smaller, frequent meals throughout the day. Lots of fluids Minimize HFCS and sugar in diet No Ho-ho's Time Management, including a good night's sleep

Dieting is really about commonsense.  It is about not living or consuming to excess one way or the other.  It is about balance.

It also means being flexible.  If your diet is clean, then an occasionally soda or donut is fine.  If you miss meal, that's okay too.  Your body will forgive you. 

The challenge is in having the discipline and mastery to not let that one soda become 2 and then 6, and then back to the old ways.

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