“Calories consumed” must be less than “calories burned”, this is the simple equation that is essential to reach your weight loss goals. Oftentimes, the simple concepts (like this one) are the ones we struggle with the most. Your trainer or the fitness guru on TV makes it seem so simple “just stop eating the junk food”, “get to the gym”, “make the commitment”. Oh, if it could be so easy……
The fact is that weight loss is hard because there are a variety of different variables that often stand in our way. One of the major causes for our demise is our environment and how we respond to it.
1. Our surroundings…. On every corner chances are that there is a fast food joint or tasty restaurant that is calling your name. This restaurant will often carry your favorite guilty pleasure (i.e. french fries, cakes, cookies and the list goes on). So when you’re hungry for a quick breakfast or afternoon snack before you go home your primal urges kick in (especially if you haven’t eaten in the past 4-5 hours).
Solution: Keep yourself stocked with tasty (and healthy snacks) and eat small meals every 2 hours. This way you can control those primal urges since you would’ve already had your fill of nutritious foods.
2. Our relationships…. Most would agree that when your “love boat” starts to sink, ice cream and chocolate are great flotation devices. Drowning a broken heart in chocolate and cookies seems like a good idea at the time but what sense does it make to lose your man and lose your waistline at the same time?
Solution: Don’t sulk in the kitchen, go out and enjoy yourself. Burn off the stress with a night of dancing on the town!
3. Our expectations…. When we make the decision to change our lifestyle we don’t consider “the spectrum”. The spectrum of eating healthy consists of eating super clean (think physique competitor/fitness model) and eating really bad (think “junk food junkie”). As a result, we try to eat perfectly and end up falling off the wagon.
Solution: We must cut ourselves some slack and not expect to make a “180” in 2 days. Small steps result in large gains, because small steps are feasible building blocks that lead to long-term changes that last.
Always take note that weight loss’ secret to success: Calories consumed must be less than calories burned!
By: Ozzie Jacobs
LA Personal Training Examiner
The fact is that weight loss is hard because there are a variety of different variables that often stand in our way. One of the major causes for our demise is our environment and how we respond to it.
1. Our surroundings…. On every corner chances are that there is a fast food joint or tasty restaurant that is calling your name. This restaurant will often carry your favorite guilty pleasure (i.e. french fries, cakes, cookies and the list goes on). So when you’re hungry for a quick breakfast or afternoon snack before you go home your primal urges kick in (especially if you haven’t eaten in the past 4-5 hours).
Solution: Keep yourself stocked with tasty (and healthy snacks) and eat small meals every 2 hours. This way you can control those primal urges since you would’ve already had your fill of nutritious foods.
2. Our relationships…. Most would agree that when your “love boat” starts to sink, ice cream and chocolate are great flotation devices. Drowning a broken heart in chocolate and cookies seems like a good idea at the time but what sense does it make to lose your man and lose your waistline at the same time?
Solution: Don’t sulk in the kitchen, go out and enjoy yourself. Burn off the stress with a night of dancing on the town!
3. Our expectations…. When we make the decision to change our lifestyle we don’t consider “the spectrum”. The spectrum of eating healthy consists of eating super clean (think physique competitor/fitness model) and eating really bad (think “junk food junkie”). As a result, we try to eat perfectly and end up falling off the wagon.
Solution: We must cut ourselves some slack and not expect to make a “180” in 2 days. Small steps result in large gains, because small steps are feasible building blocks that lead to long-term changes that last.
Always take note that weight loss’ secret to success: Calories consumed must be less than calories burned!
By: Ozzie Jacobs
LA Personal Training Examiner
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