I receive insightful questions on my social media accounts, and since one question helps many, I'd like to share some with you along with my answers. ~Margaret Marshall-The Healthy Living Expert
The #1 New Year's resolution is to lose weight. The amount of weight you'd like to lose will dictate how many changes need to be made. If it's a few pounds, you probably already have healthy habits and will just need to make some adjustments, but if you have a large amount of weight to lose, it will take more change than you might realize. Either way, sustained weight loss takes knowledge, patience, and practice. Are you ready to "Achieve your dream in '17'"?
Let's do it together! Healthy Living Means Living Healthy will be your reference guide that will train you to improve every aspect of your life and create healthier habits. It contains my Five-Finger Food Guide. The guide will show you how to easily choose a balanced diet that includes food you enjoy. It also explains how to listen to your body and how to act on the messages it sends.
A healthy diet is, eating food that is enjoyable to you in the quantity that is good for you. Aside from your doctor, stop listening to what others think you should do. You know your body better than anyone else. Be healthy, be realistic, and don't be obsessive or extreme with food. You want to make changes that you can embrace and enjoy. The two main ingredients to a sustained weight loss are a healthy diet and regular exercise. The following questions I've received on social media speak to this.
Theresa began her journey in 2015 and lost a large amount of weight. We really must applaud her success. Most people who make a resolution to lose weight in January forget about it by the end of the month. Losing motivation at any time during the journey is normal and may lead to regaining weight. We want to avoid that.
The original motivating factor is no longer a strong force, Theresa. You have achieved the goals that motivated you to lose weight. It's time to find new inspiration. Pick new goals. Reach for new heights. Keep at it. Weight maintenance takes a lifetime, and the sky is the limit when you believe in your capabilities.
Could you be eating the same food every week? Having a boring diet leads to overeating, look for new recipes, restaurants, and food items in the grocery store. Ask friends what they eat, and choose what you think will work for you. I'm sure you already have made many positive, concrete changes and will be able to choose new ideas wisely.
Exercise is an appreciation of the incredible body that sustains your life; and Karol's question addresses a common phenomenon about exercise.
I suggest you start small with an activity you enjoy. Add five minutes of exercise into your daily routine and then build on it. The main idea is to make exercise habitual. Do what feels good to you. Pick something that you can do throughout the years that will not cause injury, but be willing to change your routine when necessary. Exercise does not have to be formal; it just has to be a continuous movement where you realize the benefits. Too many people think exercise is a chore, but it's really a prescription to prevent unnecessary illness. In Body, Mind, and Mouth, I devote an entire chapter to explaining how to make exercise a life-long activity.
The combination of a healthy diet and continued exercise is the mainstay to: "Achieve your dream in '17'''.
Send me your questions too!
Margaret Marshall is The Healthy Living Expert. She is the creator of the "Five-Finger Food Guide", and the author of "Body, Mind, & Mouth" and, "Healthy Living Means Living Healthy".
She is a weight loss coach, media personality, and an international speaker presenting wellness programs at corporate functions, higher learning institutions, women's organizations, medical facilities, and cruise ships.