Hello Everybody
Healthy weight loss is easy. You just give up junk food, eat a healthy diet and exercise every day. But what if you cannot exercise? You may have a physical condition that prevents you exercising? Perhaps it is this which is causing your weight problem. Just not liking exercise is a motivational problem - which is something else. After all you dislike being stuck in traffic. But you do it to get to work to earn money to go to the beach in summer. You may not like exercise, but you could still do it to lose weight to look good on the beach. That is where the motivation comes in. But you may be highly motivated to lose weight and think you will not be able to do so because you cannot exercise.
Is healthy weight loss possible without exercise? Yes, but it is not easy. We are talking here of long term permanent weight loss. It is possible to lose weight short term without exercise with a fast weight loss diet, but you must be aware that the weight will return when you finish the diet. For healthy weight loss long term you need a lifestyle change involving the food you eat - not a diet.
That is the problem for people who cannot exercise. Even for a weight loss enthusiast losing 1 pound a week is the minimum likely to keep them motivated. You need results to keep on going. To lose 1 pound a week you must eat 500 calories less each day than are needed to maintain your present weight. An hour’s walking at moderate speed will burn half of that, and giving up a butter croissant with your morning coffee will take care of most of the rest. Not too difficult. But if you cannot walk it means giving up something more substantial and that is the hard part.
The other problem is snacking. If you are at home a lot of the time you are likely to get bored and head for the fridge. Quite often. So, given all these difficulties, some say exercise is essential and you just cannot lose weight without it. My view is that you can lose weight, but it is more difficult. The basics are still the same whether you exercise or not and are no different from what I always suggest. Clear the fridge of junk food, and fizzy drinks. Throw away cookies, cakes, chocolate bars and anything else high in sugar. Avoid white foods like white bread, white pasta and white rice. Eat plenty of fresh fruit, salads, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat like chicken or turkey and fish like mackerel. Drink a lot of water - this fills you up and stops you craving food. Eat more meals a day off smaller plates and never, ever, skip breakfast.
That is all you need for healthy weight loss without exercise. It does need motivation and you may think you are throwing away all the food you enjoy, and eating like a rabbit. But Google the Mediterranean diet and take a look at the many recipes available. If you have not tried French and Italian food you will be pleasantly surprised - it tastes good and it helps you lose weight.
There are many reasons why people are unable to exercise and arthritis is one of them. Some have tried everything to relieve the pain without success and have just accepted living an unpleasant and uncomfortable life. I have had good reports of Glucosamine Gell which is just rubbed onto the affected area and is said to relieve the pain and swelling. I have seen it in action with one person and it does seem to work. I have no financial or any other interest in this product. I just suggest that if you do have arthritis give it a try. Even if you are still unable to exercise you can carry on with a healthy weight loss program by diet alone. It just takes patience.
See you soon,
Peter Stockwell
21 November 2010
Photo. fintag (Flickr)
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