March Is Nutrition Month. The Active Living Workshop was scheduled to be about nutrition. Betsy Opyt dietitian at Physicans Regional Medical Center planned to speak to the community for free but it had to be cancelled. Here is Betsy's article on healthy eating and her contact information if you have questions:
How to Lose 10 Pounds Without Diet and Exercise
Ah, did I get your attention? How many times have you believed claims such as this? In modern day society the quickest and easiest solutions are usually the ones that are sought after. However, when it comes to diet and exercise quick and easy usually won’t get you anywhere. As a registered dietitian and personal trainer, clients often come to me awaiting this magical solution or special food they are to eat to make them lose weight. They are often disappointed when I recommend a balanced diet and plenty of exercise as their weight loss solution. It takes months and years for those added pounds to accumulate. You cannot expect to lose those pounds in a matter of days or weeks. It takes patience, time, and dedication to making life long changes in diet and exercise.
Fitness guidelines have had a makeover this past year. Recommendations have gone from 30 minutes a day to 60 minutes in hopes if increasing fitness levels, and decreasing pant sizes. This increase is not to make you frustrated or take up more of your time. The bottom line is calories in vs. calories out, and unfortunately American’s do not expend enough calories to maintain a healthy weight.
Getting started in exercise is not as hard as you may think, sticking to it, however, is often when people fail.
5 Tips for Sticking to It
1. Start looking at exercise differently- All movement is exercise, walking the dog, riding the bike to the store, taking the stairs at work, dancing at a wedding. Don’t opt for convenience, make the movement count!
2. Get an accountable partner- Having a friend, mentor, or coach cheering you on will help you stay motivated and stick with your exercise plan.
3. Set an Agenda- Plan your exercise days and times and hold yourself accountable to those times. Also set fitness goals to accomplish weekly, monthly, and yearly.
4. Try something new- Ever dreamed of skiing, rollerblading, karate, or swing dancing? Exercise does not have to be the same old thing. If you’re having fun, why stop?
5. Troubleshoot- Become aware of the reasons you stopped exercising in the past, or the reason you never started. Fitness foes can be overcome once you have identified them. If you find yourself becoming bored, unmotivated, or lacking time, have a backup plan ready to lead you back on the right path.
Written by: Betsy Opyt R.D., ACE certified Personal Trainer