Carrying excess weight can be hazardous to your health. In fact, obesity is a chronic condition that affects more than two in three adults and about 18.5% of children. And with obesity comes the risk of developing some chronic preventable illnesses, like:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Fatty liver disease
At Vibrant Woman Health Center, we’re dedicated to treating you as an individual. We know that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all diet, so we customize your nutrition plan to meet your individual needs. We’ve created this guide to emphasize the importance of adopting a healthy diet plan.
Remember, healthy weight loss is gradual.
Usually, when starting a weight loss plan, it’s normal to want to lose weight quickly. This, however, isn’t the way to go. According to evidence from the Centers for Disease Control, people who lose weight steadily have more success at keeping the weight off in the long term. What’s the magic number? The CDC suggests that one to two pounds a week is the way to go.
Healthy weight loss is about an ongoing lifestyle rather than crash diets and quick results. Even modest weight loss is incredibly beneficial to your health. Losing just 5-10% of your body weight can improve levels for your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Eating healthy is the first step.
A few things can lead to weight gain from your diet. For one thing, your eating habits may be unhealthy. You could be eating foods that are too high in fat, sugar, and salt, which leads to weight gain. And, you could also be eating too much and taking in too many calories. Just to maintain your current weight, you should only consume the number of calories that you burn.
Maintaining a healthy diet requires following a few simple dietary rules:
- Eat lower-calorie foods
- Consume smaller portions
- Drink more water rather than sugary beverages
Healthy eating can be simple. Sometimes all you have to do is add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Replacing unhealthy eating habits with healthy ones can be tremendously helpful, too. You could try things like baking your food instead of deep-frying, eating whole grains instead of highly processed carbs, and eating only when you’re hungry. Gradual weight loss boils down to making small changes that you can realistically maintain daily.
At Vibrant Woman Health Center, we customize your diet plan to fit your individual needs, and we’re there for you every step of the way, providing support and making adjustments when needed. Call us, or make an appointment right on our website to start losing weight and living healthier today.