The Myths and Reality of Getting Your Summer Body Back

Introduction:

Many of us experience winter weight gain due to reduced activity and altered eating habits. While it’s tempting to seek quick fixes, sustainable lifestyle changes offer the most effective solution. Let’s explore the myths surrounding weight loss and the real road to shedding those extra pounds.

Key Takeaway:

Winter weight gain is a common phenomenon, but it can be prevented with proactive measures. Despite the allure of quick fixes, sustainable lifestyle changes remain the most effective approach to weight loss and maintenance.

How can winter weight gain be prevented?

Winter weight gain can be prevented by conditioning oneself in advance, making proactive plans to combat seasonal tendencies, and adopting sustainable lifestyle changes.

Despite our best efforts at avoidance, many of us gain some weight during the cold dark months of winter. Seasonal weight fluctuations aren’t a myth, but a very real facet of human make up, partially driven by our biology and partially by our mood. The simple fact is that when the weather turns cold, we go outdoors less and our eating habits change.

In Hindsight, Prevention is Better than Cure

Of course winter weight gain can be prevented, as long as we condition ourselves in advance and execute plans to combat the natural tendencies which are awakened when colder weather sets in. Although it’s not particularly difficult to combat the accumulation of extra pounds, busy lives and seasonal excesses enjoyed during the holidays tend to get in the way of best laid plans.

Therefore, when spring comes along and those occasional warm days remind us that summer won’t be far behind, we start to critically appraise our slightly expanded waistlines and think about remedial action. Now that time is here and with summer virtually on our doorstep, some of us will be thinking about fast weight loss techniques to regain our summer bodies non surgical back pain treatment

Weight Loss Myths :

In our attempts to achieve weight loss before it’s too late to parade our trimness at the beach or pool, we seek the expert advice of nutrition and weight loss experts. Every year there seems to be a new, never-been-seen-before, proven method to shed the winter fat. Some of which are simply variations on tried and tested weight loss programs while others are the stuff of fantasy.

So far this year, for example, it seems you can’t go wrong with the “Paleo Diet”. Yes, it really is short for Paleolithic and is based on eating the food that our ancient ancestors used to consume, such as vegetables, fish, eggs, nuts, and grass fed meat. While the jury is still out on its success as a weight loss program, a US study of 22 experts rated it the worst diet of 2014, based on health impacts and weight loss effectiveness.

Fads and Diets Through the Decades :

Outlandish and dubious diets are nothing new though. They have been around since the early 19th century, when the Vinegar and Water diet was apparently made popular by Lord Byron. Every few decades a new version of the Grapefruit Diet re-emerges. This diet was first popularized in the 1950s as a 12-day plan involving the consumption of a grapefruit before every meal. Although unlikely to be harmful, the belief that grapefruits contain fat burning enzymes which help you lose weight is a mistaken one.

Of course weight loss fads aren’t always about dieting. The latest thing in non-diet related weight loss is something known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or “finger tapping”. Advocates of this technique claim that spending 15 minutes daily, tapping at certain acupressure points on the face and body will eliminate cravings for snacks and comfort food.

The Real Road to Weight Loss :

While I see the logic on which many nutrition and weight loss theories are based, I would prefer to offer some very simple advice. If you want to lose weight and get your summer body back, all you need to do is change your lifestyle, just a little. By carefully selecting what types of food you eat and regulating how often you eat them, along with taking some regular light exercise, you can successfully shed the winter pounds.

These are the fundamentals on which organizations such as Weightwatchers base their weight loss programs. The approach is simple and backed by the support that an organized group provides attendees is very often successful. That’s why such organizations have been around for years and have become household names.

If there is any drawback to such groups, it’s merely that attendees don’t get so much support between the regular group meetings. Along with that is the fact that the programs are rather standardized. Every one of us is different in makeup, metabolism and psychology, which means there is no one method of weight loss that’s suitable for everyone.

Health Is a Process Not an Event :

Keeping on track with your lifestyle change is the most important element of losing weight and keeping it off. A balance of physical, mental, and biochemical health is essential to wellness and longevity. Join a support group. Tell your friends and loved ones your goals. This creates accountability to others and will better serve you in your efforts.  Regardless of what method or style you use, take it one day at a time. Don’t get too hard on yourself if you slip. Always begin with the end in mind and you will see you can accomplish any goal you set.