By Eileen Renders
Weight has always been a touchy subject with much of the population. Many of us are overweight, or obese. Some are underweight while others are a good weight, yet not physically fit.
Factors that can predetermine one’s weight might be genetics, and inheriting fat genes from parents. Other factors contributing to overweight are poor food choices that lack nutritional value. Eating habits that lack vital essential nutrients in favor of overly-processed foods and non-nutritional foods such as; junk foods, high sodium foods, and consumption of highly hydrogenated oils found in many foods offered by some fast-food take-outs. Other issues related to obesity are inactive lifestyles, in other words, eating more calories than one can burn.
Over and over again, we hear people saying “I don’t overeat so I do not know why I am overweight.” A woman who came to me years ago for a consultation said, in her words; “I can’t lose weight.” In asking her about her eating habits, she replied; “For breakfast, I just have a cup of coffee and a piece of toast.” Her husband spoke up and said; “Tell her how many sugars you put into your coffee.” The answer was; 7 teaspoons of refined white sugar in one cup of coffee. Imagine 2 cups of coffee.
In another instance, another female with a fairly decent diet was saying she could not lose weight. I asked her if she had a routine of exercise, she replied very quickly “I cannot exercise.” When asked why she could not exercise, she replied “Because I have arthritis.” And I answered her saying “This is why you need to exercise.”
What to eat, what to avoid, and how to gradually change one’s diet is not turned around in a week. However, it can be accomplished gradually without sacrificing taste. How to substitute, and how to kick up taste for plain foods is a challenge. We need not be overwhelmed with this if we learn the process. With your doctor’s approval, slowly begin.
Look for a guide with “You And Your Weight” which I wrote and can be found on www.Amazon.com. You can do it.
It is strongly recommended before taking any Supplements or Herbs to obtain your Doctor’s approval. Any information found in a Research article is not meant to be a substitute for your doctor’s recommendations. Certain conditions and or medications could cause a negative reaction.
Eileen Renders is a retired nutrition counselor, health research writer, author, and publisher with 13 published titles on www.Amazon.com She founded the First Wellness Center in Atlantic County in 1995 and was a provider for Cigna and United Healthcare.
