More than two in three adult Americans are either overweight (which is defined as having a body mass index of 25 to 29.9) or obese (a body mass index of 30 or higher) according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Worse yet, these numbers are going in the wrong direction as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that, from 1999 to 2018, the number of obese Americans increased from 30.5 percent to 42.4 percent. And the number of “severely obese” almost doubled, jumping from 4.7 to 9.2 percent, during that same time frame.
Though many of us know that carrying excess weight puts us at greater risk of developing major health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes, getting the weight off still isn’t easy.
That’s why we reached out to Jill Heron, a Certified OPTAVIA Coach, to learn more about why it is so hard to lose weight, and what actions we can begin to take to get the extra pounds off…for good. This is what she told us.
What Are Some of The Reasons People Today Struggle with Losing Weight?
One of the main reasons people struggle with losing weight is the mindset shift has not occurred. In other words, mentally, they’re not in a place to commit to changing bad habits. They don’t have the motivation it takes to embrace a new lifestyle. Couple that with busy schedules and it sets you up for poor planning of meals, which leads to poor nutrition.
There also seems to be an overall lack of understanding health and wellness, and the effects it has on weight loss. A good understanding of health and wellness needs to be present if weight loss is to occur as understanding the needs of your body to be in a healthy state is crucial.
For example, we need to know the calories needed for one’s level of activity and how often we need to eat to keep us from falling into fat storage and defeating our purpose. Also, the health of our mind contributes to our positive thinking and attitude as we heal ourselves with good nutrition and reach a healthy weight.
Why Don’t Diets Typically Work?
Typically, diets do not work long-term as they are simply “diets!” They are designed to start and stop, leaving you with cravings and yo-yo results.
Failure to embrace the “Habits of Health” lifestyle and educate one’s self on what our bodies actually need to live in the state of optimal health is truly the biggest misunderstanding of people trying to lose weight. Health and wellness are a lifetime pursuit, and a daily choice.
What Is One of The Biggest Mistakes You See People Make When Trying to Lose Weight?
The biggest mistake I see people make when trying to lose weight is skipping meals and starving their bodies. The switch we all have in our brains compensates, telling our body to store fat because food is not plentiful.
This is most always an innocent mistake and results from solely focusing on weight loss versus overall health and habits. Failure to intentionally set yourself up for success by skipping meals is an unfortunate but common stumbling block.
What Are A Few Keys to Achieving Weight Loss Success?
A few keys to achieving weight loss success are:
- Stop
- Challenge
- Choose
Stop and challenge bad habits, then make a conscious choice inspired by the healthy habits you’ve educated yourself about, along with a positive mindset.
Also, studies show that having a personal health coach sets you up to be ten times more likely for success. We are in charge of our health journey. If we truly want it, we will achieve it!!
If There Is One Thing You Want People to Know When It Comes to Losing Weight, What Is It?
The one thing I’d like people to know about weight loss is actually four things rolled into one familiar saying: EAT ~ DRINK ~ SLEEP ~ BE MERRY!!
Eat balanced nutrition often; drink a minimum of 84 ounces of water daily; sleep 7-8 hours daily; and be merry by feeding your soul spiritually and with healthy, meaningful relationships.
Let’s Be Real. Is It Really Possible to Lose Weight and Keep It Off?
My personal story as a 59-year-old post-menopausal woman who categorically is not supposed to be able to lose weight DID! I had a personal health coach and followed the program as designed and lost 53 pounds in four months, by healing my inner self and was able to rid my body of the two meds I was on.
It absolutely is possible to lose weight and keep it off on this amazing program. As a coach, I equip you with tools needed to learn facts about the needs of your body in order to lose weight and maintain your health for a lifetime.
