Weight Loss Part 3 – The Blockages!

Greetings folks!

So you have gotten rid of all the junk in your cupboards by now and you know to avoid the scams, you have had your check up and you have started to exercise and eat real foods in a balanced way again keeping in mind the energy in must = energy out equation. So what can you expect next?

This is where most people fall down and give up, from here you will begin to do a few things. Your body will begin to detoxify itself. This can bring along a few symptoms that can be a little uncomfortable. These are all normal symptoms and nothing more than a sign of your body correcting itself and returning to good health but still it can be a little uncomfortable.

You may experience body aches, some lethargy and the need for more sleep, more frequent toilet visits and possibly some short episodes of flu or cold like symptoms. This is NOT your signal to give up! This is also the time when your mind will begin to throw every reason under the sun to give up, to just leave it till tomorrow etc etc, you need to be aware of the tricks your mind will play on you and learn to use the one reason you are doing this, you are doing this to get healthy, lose weight, look great and live a longer healthier life. That is a fact! You will need to remind yourself of this on a regular basis, sometimes several times a day on a bad day. Write it down and place it where you can affirm it often..you need to reprogram your mind as much as your body during this time.

Now having said all this there are a couple of things to be aware of. When beginning your exercise programme be aware not to go too hard straight off, keep it to a level you can achieve and up the pace only when you are able to. Too much too soon will burn you out…and this won’t get you over the line. Personal trainers are big on push, push, push…they are clowns mostly! You have a body condition that is already straining due to excess bodyfat…pushing too hard too soon can be dangerous so go easy until some weight comes off and you feel you are able to increase the load or pace. Remember this is a long term project, not an overnighter!

There will be a point early on where you will begin to get cravings for the junk foods etc again…this is actually a positive sign…it means the body is starting to detox and break the cycle of junk. NEVER give into these cravings..they will only send you backwards at this point. Not even a little bit! These cravings will pass quite quickly and can return from time to time but usually are very mld and will not bother you.

I am also debunking the myth that you can reward yourself with a chocolate or naughty snack here and there etc etc…whilst on the weight loss mission; YOU CAN NOT! You need to learn to reward yourself differently..not with food…perhaps a day at the dayspa or footy etc is a better reward. Rewarding yourself or comforting yourself with food is a negative behaviour and will lead you back to fattyville again real quick! You should certainly reward yourself…just not with foods.

When dining out, use your brain and look for the healthiest options on the menu and avoid overindulgent desserts…they have huge calorie/kilojuoule counts and remember we are adhering to energy in = energy out, so if you take in excess it will be stored as bodyfat…that’s the truth. Remember I am not selling you a product here, I have no vested interests…many other that supposedly “advise” on this topic are selling you something at the end of the day. Beware of salespeople misinforming you!

Days when you are just too tired or don’t have time….this is rubbish! If you are tired or pressed for time…do a shorter version but do not skip it! Discapline!!! If you are sick or unwell then obviously you need not exercise…rest is what you need. Exercising when you are sick will only take you backwards. Don’t lose sight of reality!! You are not superhuman!

Losing bodyfat is something that requires work, persistence and dedication to a total lifestyle change. It requires common sense and you not being a sook! There will be hard times but they are worth it. There is no quick fix, no magic pill and no faster way…the grass is not greener…you must understand that your lifestyle choices and habits have made you this way, you must now choose differently and you must understand that it has taken time for you to get this way so it is going to take time for you to undo it as well. Your mind will try to make you seek out a faster way…particularly duiring the early uncomfortable parts..be aware of this and do not give in to it.

That’s it for now on this topic, I would love to hear any comments and stories from others on the weightloss mission and I would love to hear from anyone who has taken my advice and is reaping the rewards.

Have a great day!

Craig Hitchens. B.HSc.

Weight Loss – Part 2 – Those Pharmacy Based Programmes

Greetings folks.

The first question people usually ask me about weight loss after the first point about energy in= energy out part is ..”what about those pharmacy based weight loss programmes like Xndoo, Tony Ferguson, etc etc…my answer is simple…STAY AWAY FROM THEM! They will get weight off you for a short while but then it rebounds and you will be fat and down a whole lot of money!

Shakes and all the garbage they throw at you is NOT sustainable long term. Also, and this is very important point, they are NOT practitioners, they are trained by the company in the way the company wants you to administer their products…they are informed sales people at best. Practitioners are impartial and will use what ever is BEST for you. Pharmacisits are NOT nutritionists nor do they or are they formally trained in herbal medicines or nutrtional supplementation…how do I know this…I have worked in a pharmacy as a naturopath and was SHOCKED to find out this from the pharmacist herself!

These are not the people to be getting this advice from….there are more appropriate and well trained people to get this advice from such as nutritionists, dieticians and naturopaths…they know what they are on about!

Now getting back to the programmes themselves…they do not take into account your individual constitution nor do they have a sound base in proper eating…they are supplement based and this is NEVER sustainable…despite what the “success stories” will spout on about.

So what is the next step in losing weight then…you need to look at the emotional reasons for weight gain, do eat cause you’re bored? Are you upset and comforting etc etc…and take steps to help yourself with this using something other than food…see a good therapist, get a massage, there are a number of ways. Next is to empty your house of garbage foods.

Next it is off to the doctor for a check up, this is to make sure that you can embark on your exercise programme without over doing it or aggravating any existing condition. Once this is done it is a simple matter of eating healthy foods and exercising daily. There is NO SECRET formula, that is it! Make sure you are not over eating by having modest serves unti you are at your goal weight…which incidently should be realistsic…if you are a tall person or naturally large, don’t aim for being a twig…it won’t happen and you will only get sick…be realistic!

Next post will be on what to expect and how to get around those blockages in your mind that will pop up and make it tricky!

Have a great day!

Craig Hitchens. B.HSc.