The human body is designed to move, and in today’s world of fast food and sedentary behavior, it may be become all too easy to gain lot of weight over time and face obesity-related illnesses. After all, the human body is a relic of pre-historic times when early hominids chased game animals for food while other primates were tree-dwelling fruit eaters. Today, no one is chasing their meals, but the human body “remembers” this lifestyle, and it will in fact reward an active lifestyle and punish a sedentary one. An endocrinologist will know this, as the endocrine system regulates the body’s hormones for sleep, mood, reproduction, insulin secretion, and more. An endocrinologist may be visited for a diabetes patient, and a nutrition doctor, weight loss doctor, and endocrinologist may all be consulted by a patient who wants to start a safe weight loss program. If someone is looking to change their lifestyle and lose weight, a personalized weight loss program may be done after consulting these professionals.
Why Obese
Fast food and processed food are a major reason why so many American kids and adults alike are overweight, as these foods have added sugars and fats in them to make them taste better. However, those ingredients contain a lot of extra calories, and this will reflect on a consumer’s waistline. Organic, wholesome foods are often neglected in favor of processed, cheap food at the grocery store. And on top of that, the human body’s need for exercise if often unmet, and most kid and adults today fall short of the American Heart Association’s minimum guidelines for cardio or muscle training. Kids are using electronic screens for hours every day, even on school days, and they don’t get the gross motor play that they need for mental and physical growth. Adults often do no better, working sedentary desk jobs and watching television at home while neglecting local gyms or dumbbells at home. The good news is that these trends can be reversed.
Professional Guidance
Radically changing one’s exercise levels and diet can be quite a shock for the body, and most Americans are urged to consult a nutritionist or an endocrinologist before they get started. This is especially true for those with particular health conditions or previous injuries. A diabetic individual, for example, will often meet his or her endocrinologist anyway, and they should do the same and explain their intentions to start a weight loss program. The endocrinologist will know how this can be done safely. A patient may need consultation on exercise and nutrition if they have certain food allergies, lactose intolerance, or Celiac disease (allergy to gluten). Patients with a bad back, heart issues, or recent surgery may also want to check with their doctor ahead of time. If everything checks out, a fine fitness program may be started, tailored for the patient’s needs and interests.
Working Out and Eating Better
Once a person has professional guidelines and advice in mind, he or she can tailor a fitness program that accommodates any of their health conditions while also providing max results. The diet is a good place to start, and nearly anyone can do this. The weight loss trainee is urged to cut out all fast food and processed food from their diets to eliminate the associated unhealthy fats and sugars, and instead have a balanced diet of wholesome and organic food. This ranges from fruits and vegetables to wheat and other grains, protein like eggs and chicken and beans, to dairy like milk and cheese. Any necessary dietary restrictions can be involved in this, such as diabetics avoiding sugars and lactose intolerant individuals avoiding dairy and taking calcium supplements if need be.
Any able-bodied person can start an exercise program, and this is where healthy weight loss and muscle development may happen. Exercise ranges broadly from barbell weight lifting to swimming to martial arts classes to soccer, and the trainee can choose whatever looks fun and effective to try out. This lets them burn fat, develop muscles, and learn new skills, and they may take classes for such activities as martial arts or a spin class, or hire a personal trainer. These trainers can guide the trainee to produce great results.
