I found out about this program on an ad that was on this blog. I went through the list of available doctors in my area. There was one real close. Called and left a message. Doctor called within 15 minutes. I asked if insurance covered the program. He said no unless your BMI is over 41. I'm 37.4.
I guess I'm not obese enough!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The Right Amount of Calories For You
Calorie counting can be very confusing because there is no one right way of doing it. We are all a little different, and we can fit into any category at any point in our lives. So, how do we decide what to do? Your doctor can help you in this matter, but there are a few categories that may require a closer look.
Active: Very active people are going to require more caloric intake. This includes athletes, marathon runners and those who have very physical jobs. Parents often fit into this category, especially if the kids are still very young. Carrying a twenty pound toddler up the stairs to bed can be quite a workout. Take your weight and multiply it by seventeen to get your daily caloric needs.
Children: Kids need different amounts at different stages. As an example, toddlers need from 1000 to 1400 while teen boys need from 2200 to 3200. That may explain why a teenage boy can eat through the stored groceries like a cloud of locusts.
Male/Female: Women and men need different amounts of calories, mostly based on body type. A woman should not carry as much weight as a man of the same height. An example is this: at my age, weight and activity level, I need about 3200 calories per day to maintain my current weight. Changing only gender, I would need more than 3500.
Overweight/Obese: Knowing how many calories I should take in to maintain my current weight gives me a point of reference for how many calories I need to lose weight. By deducting ten to fifteen percent, I know that my daily caloric intake should be about 2100. However, to make sure that this is right, I will still use a calorie calculator. Even if these estimates are accurate, I still won't lose weight if I consume more than I burn.
Pregnancy: This is somewhat individual, but the rule of thumb is that during the last six months of the pregnancy, you should consume about 2500/day. This may differ if you are underweight, overweight or carrying multiples.
Underweight: This will require a calculator, just as being overweight can benefit from one. Such information as your age, current weight, desired weight and gender will all change the calculation slightly. Also as with being overweight, it's a good idea to check the numbers with your actual caloric intake and output.
The internet has made dealing with calories a lot easier. However, you still need to put in the time and effort if you want to arrive at or maintain your ideal weight. Your doctor and a nutritionist are good allies in this endeavor, so make an appointment today so that you can live your new, healthy lifestyle.
Active: Very active people are going to require more caloric intake. This includes athletes, marathon runners and those who have very physical jobs. Parents often fit into this category, especially if the kids are still very young. Carrying a twenty pound toddler up the stairs to bed can be quite a workout. Take your weight and multiply it by seventeen to get your daily caloric needs.
Children: Kids need different amounts at different stages. As an example, toddlers need from 1000 to 1400 while teen boys need from 2200 to 3200. That may explain why a teenage boy can eat through the stored groceries like a cloud of locusts.
Male/Female: Women and men need different amounts of calories, mostly based on body type. A woman should not carry as much weight as a man of the same height. An example is this: at my age, weight and activity level, I need about 3200 calories per day to maintain my current weight. Changing only gender, I would need more than 3500.
Overweight/Obese: Knowing how many calories I should take in to maintain my current weight gives me a point of reference for how many calories I need to lose weight. By deducting ten to fifteen percent, I know that my daily caloric intake should be about 2100. However, to make sure that this is right, I will still use a calorie calculator. Even if these estimates are accurate, I still won't lose weight if I consume more than I burn.
Pregnancy: This is somewhat individual, but the rule of thumb is that during the last six months of the pregnancy, you should consume about 2500/day. This may differ if you are underweight, overweight or carrying multiples.
Underweight: This will require a calculator, just as being overweight can benefit from one. Such information as your age, current weight, desired weight and gender will all change the calculation slightly. Also as with being overweight, it's a good idea to check the numbers with your actual caloric intake and output.
The internet has made dealing with calories a lot easier. However, you still need to put in the time and effort if you want to arrive at or maintain your ideal weight. Your doctor and a nutritionist are good allies in this endeavor, so make an appointment today so that you can live your new, healthy lifestyle.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Keeping an excercise journal helps.
I have kept a calendar of each time I exercised for years. It motivates me to have something on each day. I get mad at myself if my calendar is blank. Some people use online workout charts while others use electronic methods such as IPhones or laptops. Anyway that works for you is better than nothing.
Excercise - Oct 4, 2010 5:30 AM on 10/04/2010
Tilton Gym this morning for 1 hour. Best part, the steam room! After that went off to Mazzeo to buy apple, pears and nuts..
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Tips For Setting a Realistic Weight Loss Goal
Below is an article I tweeted today. I'm very guilty of not doing this. My goals have always been set high for everything. I always said the worst person to compete against is yourself.
Until I sat down and did a little research, my weight loss goal was to reach the same weight I was in high school. To be honest, that was unrealistic. Your ideal range changes as you get older, and becoming the skinny, supermodel look may not be practical...or safe.
While it is important to have a goal, you need to find out what it should be, not what you want it to be. There are some good calculators on-line that can give you this information, or you could ask your doctor. It will be in a range of numbers, not one particular one. It will be based on your age, gender and height. All three are vital.
If you are as over weight as I was when I started this process, you may find the numbers a little disconcerting. I found I needed to lose about eighty-five pounds...that's a big number. Thus far, I've lost sixty, so it feels like I'm almost to the home stretch.
This leads to the second question, what you do when you hit your ideal range. Here is something I have discovered the hard way. If you are on a diet, it means there is an end and you can go back to eating what you had before. Unfortunately, if you do that, you will wind up right back where you started and have to do it over again. There are a lot of bad things that can happen if you do that.
The best bet is to go about it as a change in your overall lifestyle. Make it something you can do permanently and still enjoy your food. That is what I've had to do, and it's not as odious as you may think. It's even easier than it was when I started, as food manufacturers are beginning to notice we want healthier products.
One of the most significant changes has been in the fats and oils I use when I'm preparing food. I grew up in the South, so most savory dishes start with a couple of tablespoons of bacon grease. That's not on my diet anymore, but you can get around it. While it will change the flavor a bit, I use olive oil, and not a lot of that.
I also love to cook with butter. That, too is not a frequenter of my refrigerator any longer. Instead, I use trans fat free margarine, or once in a while I'll use whipped butter mixed with olive oil. That is a treat, and usually only three or four times a year. I have learned what a serving size is, and try to stick to it. All of these changes will continue after I have reached my goal.
If you are on a diet or are considering one, your doctor and a nutritionist are good allies. Your doctor can make sure you are healthy and recommend exercises that can help in your efforts. The nutritionist can help you find foods that fit your family but are still healthy.
I've lost 60 pounds using the principals found in my new Win the Weight Loss War Win the Weight Loss War, Win the Battle of the Weight Loss War. If you are struggling to lose the pounds and have tried every diet that ever came out, this book is for you. It covers: Diet Types.......................Page 8 Understanding Calories.......Page 10 Supplements....................Page 17 Childhood Obesity.............Page 19 If you want to lose the pounds, this book can help. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Bodel |
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