If you are currently obese, you may wonder how likely it is that you will return to a healthy weight. A study conducted by researchers at two London institutions sought to answer that question.
The study’s team looked at a randomly selected group of electronic health records that were collected from 2004 to 2014 and stored within the UK’s Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Records of 99,791 women and 76,704 men were chosen for the study.
By looking at records for this pool of individuals over time, the researchers found that approximately 1 in 210 men (1283) and 1 in 124 women (2245) were able to return to a healthy weight each year.
To overcome these incredible odds in 2018 and achieve your New Year’s resolution, it is critical to approach weight loss with strong preparation. Here are a few tips to stick with a long-term goal of a leaner, fitter physique:
Diet Tips for Real Weight Loss
First, here are a few tips related to dietary changes:
Realize that your body will resist your efforts.
Many obese people have tried dietary plans with little to show for it. One interesting idea for those looking for diet tips is from Andra Aamodt, a neuroscientist who promotes the set point theory. The notion is that our bodies have a desired range. When we try to go outside it, our bodies struggle mightily to maintain weight within that range. “If you lose a lot of weight, your brain reacts as if you were starving,” Aamodt explains. That reaction occurs even if the body would benefit from losing substantial weight.
Give yourself exceptions.
Be carefully about excessively restrictive diets, which can often lead to binge-eating.
Consistency does matter.
While “cheating” is all right at times and you do not want to be excessively restrictive, developing consistency means avoiding bad habitual eating. Think in terms of daily patterns. It is better to think in terms of patterns than to be absolutist (while generally prioritizing consistency).
Tips for Long-Term Weight Loss
Beyond diet, here are two general approaches you can also take to increase your chances of success with your weight loss program:
Do not just make your plan about dropping pounds.
The nature in which you frame your resolution is important. Expand the idea instead. Adjust your plan to also gear it toward better energy, greater stamina, and healthier sleep, for instance.
Be careful about not exercising too much.
In contrast to not wanting to overdo the diet with too many restrictions, your workouts should be strictly controlled. Think about energy in and energy out: you must be certain that you are getting enough calories to perform your workouts in a safe and healthy way.
Getting help
Do you want success in losing weight, despite the incredible odds? Getting professional assistance can be essential to the best results.
At Atlanta Medical Clinic, we can help. Developed with the medical expertise of our doctors and nutritionists, our Medical Weight Loss Program takes each patient through a comprehensive health exam, BMI data, and patient feedback. Lose up to 30 pounds in 30 days.