Get Real – Realistic About Weight Loss

Some of you may be familiar with a new reality series entitled “The Biggest Loser.” Although the premise may seem well intended – a network trying to help people lose weight – as I watched the first episode I found some real problems. First, the weight loss after just one week was quite extreme – ranging anywhere from six to 22 pounds! Most health professionals would agree that losing such a large amount of weight in such a short amount of time is not healthy for a variety of reasons. Secondly, these people, many of who were probably sedentary prior to joining this program participated in five hours of exercise per day. Is five hours of exercise realistic or even safe for someone who has just begun to exercise? Probably not. But I think this brings home a great point. When it comes to weight loss are you being realistic?

First, are you realistic about your weight loss goals? If you expect to lose half your body weight you may be setting yourself up for a big disappointment. Or, if you expect to look like Brittany Spears or Jessica Simpson you may need a reality check. But, if you expect to become healthier because of your weight loss, have more energy, have a healthier heart, a reduced risk of a variety of diseases, feel more confident, etc., you may find that because those goals are attainable, you’re happier in the long run. It’s certainly ok to shoot for the moon. You know what they say, at least if you don’t get the moon you’ll still be among the stars. Just make sure the stars aren’t disappointing.

Now let’s think about our eating habits. If you hate broccoli and you’re eating it every night because it’s low in calories and you heard it would help you lose weight, it’s time to get real. How long will eating broccoli just for the sake of weight loss really last? Probably not long. Instead find vegetables you like! You can have them raw, steamed, sautéed, etc., just be sure you enjoy eating these vegetables. Or, perhaps you heard that salmon is a healthy dish but you hate fish. Does this mean you must eat fish three times a week? Not if you hate salmon. Instead look for ways to incorporate this nutrition advice into something else that is realistic. Do you like tuna? Opt for tuna on crackers or a tuna salad a couple of times a week. Or, incorporate other seafood items such as shrimp, scallops or crab. Perhaps you are a chocolate-lover but have forsaken all chocolate for fear it will doom you to failure when it comes to weight loss. Well – here’s the good news. You can have your chocolate and eat it too.  Have five pieces of sugar-free chocolate (sweetened with sucralose) in place of full-calorie chocolate and save 50 calories!  You can save calories by choosing a variety of products sweetened with sucralose such as light lemonade, orange juice or cranberry juice, ice cream, yogurt, soda etc.  The possibilities and calorie savings are endless!

And when it comes to exercise, if you hate every minute you spend in the gym it may be time to head for the hills. Again, it’s about being realistic. If you haven’t exercised in several years starting off at the gym may not be the right place for you. In fact, there are many people who are physically fit (and even run marathons and participate in Ironman events) who have never even set foot in a gym. Find the exercise that you like and get moving. Do you groan as the alarm clock sounds and the dreadful thought of exercise enters your brain? If so – perhaps exercising during your lunch hour or after work is more your speed.

The bottom line is that when it comes to losing weight and maintaining weight, you’ve got to get real. You need to be realistic about your weight loss goals in addition to your eating and exercise habits. So find what works for you and just do it!

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