Is your approach weight loss right for you?

medicinelineWeight loss approaches that are extreme and restrictive are often damaging to our body image and can throw our bodies off. Often weight loss programs that focus on a healthy, balanced lifestyle that lets you include things you love, are those that make lasting changes in losing weight and gaining health. Here are some areas that you should consider before embarking on your next weight loss program.

Take a moment to consider why your life choices have left you unhealthy, unhappy and out of shape. This is an important step as it will give you an idea of how to change your behavior and adopt a lifestyle that will get you closer to a healthier, happier you.

Do you sleep enough? – 6-7 hours of sleep a day is recommended to help your body repair and to regulate your hormones. This will help you make healthier food choices throughout the day and curb your hunger.

Do you eat healthily and exercise? – It is known that a balanced diet followed by exercise is the easiest way to maintain a healthy body. The diet you choose should be flexible and not restrictive. It is important that you concentrate on portion size. When looking at exercise, start with 10 minutes a day and increase the time you spend by 5 minutes a week. Remember that consistency is the key.

How well you handle stress? – Stress is part and parcel of modern life. However, how we handle it, will affect how we react to situations, what foods we choose and how we generally experience life. Include daily meditation session for as little at 5 minutes a day to help you learn breathing techniques that will help you throughout a busy day.