Weight Loss as a New Year’s Resolution

It seems almost cliche to make a New Year’s resolution that has the words “weight loss” in it. As soon as New Year’s Day has passed, individuals start buying the gym memberships, treadmills, and other exercise equipment. However by the end of the year, the membership card is nowhere to be found and all of the exercise equipment has about two inches of dust on it. Many times, the weight loss New Year’s resolution doesn’t make it past Valentine’s Day with the large dinners and the boxes of chocolates. The temptations simply become too much.

However, there are those individuals who do find success in their weight loss New Year’s resolution. And there are ways in which they do this:

- They write down “why” it is they need to lose the weight. They write down that they want to fit in that bathing suit in the summer. They write down that they want to have more energy when playing with the kids.

- They write down their goals. These individuals make sure their goals are sensible. They don’t write down, “I want to lose weight by next week.” They simply write down that they want to lose 1 to 2 pounds per week. If they are losing more than that, then that is fantastic as long as it is done in a healthy way. Losing 50 pounds in a year is a very reasonable goal.

- They make a plan and they stick to it. Making common sense small changes is how it all starts. Take those changes and turn them into larger changes and your goals can be met.

Goal setting

It is important when setting goals that you not look at the big picture because it can be overwhelming. Divide the big picture into bits and pieces and turn those bits and pieces into small goals. If something seems attainable, then it is easier to reach.

However, there are some individuals who may find that it is difficult for them to lose weight through traditional means. This is because they may have a disability or they are so obese that exercise can’t be done. Eating alone won’t take care of the job. If that is the case, then something such as lap band surgery is an option.

Lap band surgery

Lap band surgery is a very important decision to make. This is a decision that is made when an individual has been overweight for over 5 years, is 50 to 100 pounds more overweight, and who has exhausted all other methods of weight loss. The individual must also be willing to make the lifestyle changes that are required for weight loss surgery to be a success.

The procedure involves fastening an adjustable gastric band around the top part of the stomach, forming a small pouch, which is where the food goes. A person feels full quicker and the digestive process is slowed down. This reduces the amount of food an individual can take in. There is no bypassing of the intestines and the band can be adjusted by injecting or removing saline from the band. That way the band is comfortable.

This weight loss surgery is being practiced more and more to help individuals lose weight and they are finding great success with it. Recovery time is considerably less than with other weight loss surgeries. What is better is that over time, exercising becomes easier and the lap band patient is able to work on becoming physically fit. This is so that they can have the energy they need to do things such as playing with the kids and looking great at the beach. There is also the fact that that New Year’s resolution is able to stick.

What are 5 Good Energy Foods or Vegetables?

Many of us find that we are a bit low on energy, especially if we are dieting or we have had weight loss surgery. Dieting seems to take a lot out of us because we are consuming less food, we are not taking in caffeine like we used to, and there is also the fact that the body can be deprived of certain nutrients. Although many dieters feel that they are eating the right foods, the question is if they are eating enough of the right foods and if they are taking a dietary supplement to help them along.

The dietary supplement

A good dietary supplement is great to take each day so that you can have more energy. However, it cannot work alone in providing your body with the natural nutrients it needs to create an adequate amount of energy to help you through your day.

However, a good supplement that will help you along will contain Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamins B6 and B12, Folate, Biotin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Iron, and Phosphorus. Some supplements are now including tri-Amino blends that include L-Taurine, L-lutamine, and L-Carnitine. These are great for helping provide a little extra energy.

Foods

And now that you know a dietary supplement can’t do it all on its own, it is very important that you be made aware of 5 good energy foods and vegetables that will help in providing you with the energy you need. It doesn’t matter if you are on a weight loss mission, have had weight loss surgery such as lap band, or if you just want to have more energy, these are foods that you should eat because they work in making you healthier.

Those 5 foods are:

1. Wheat and barley - Anything containing these two food items will be high in energy. This explains why runners and other athletes will eat pasta the day before a competitive event. However, this is not something that you should eat a lot of. You must portion this. If you have had weight loss surgery such as lap band, this is something that your doctor will review with you.

2. Fruits - Take into consideration that the earth bears fruit and fruit is good for us. High energy fruits include bananas, strawberries, and pineapples.

3. Vegetables - Amongst vegetables, some of the most high energy foods and great for those on weight loss endeavors are green leafy vegetables. Cabbage and spinach have been pinned as the two that create the highest degree of energy.

4. Chicken - Chicken is high in protein and is great for weight loss. However, it must be skinless chicken or it will defeat the purpose.

5. Yogurt - Dairy is the tricky one for the fact that it is the dairy foods that are high in fat that provide the most energy. However, you can have yourself a cup of yogurt and provide yourself with some extra energy. There are dairy products out there that will enable you to energize and still achieve weight loss.

A balanced diet

It mainly comes down to having a balanced diet. If you have lap band surgery or another weight loss surgery, your doctor will talk to you about portions and eating the right foods. Even if you are trying to lose weight the old fashioned way, the success lies in the foods that you eat. You also have to exercise and consider weight loss support. These two things make for a super weapon against weight gain. In the meantime, you will shed the pounds and have the energy to do it, which means a better quality of life for you.