Proper weight management is more than concentrating on a single bodily factor such as one's weight. There are other measurements that should be monitored as well, such as BMI, waist circumference, body fat percentage, muscle-to-fat ratio and others. All of these factors are important in trying to maintain the healthy body.
The first step to achieving this goal is to realize that there are no short cuts or easy ways to maintain bodily health. Sure there are aids that modern nutritional and exercise science can supply. And , by all means, we should take advantage of them.
But even with all the nutritional supplements on the market, it's still essential to have a proper diet and an exercise routine.
In today's market, you can easily find hundreds of fad diets.. The 'low carb, high protein' diet is one of the latest. In the beginning, people following them often experience rapid weight loss. But the long term benefits are few and the costs are high.
Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy for the body. When the body has a shortage of available carbohydrates to use to produce energy, it turns to other sources. And the other source of glucose necessary for the metabolic function of the body is the body's muscles.
Low carbohydrate diets reduce the amount of glucose available in the muscles and liver. That leads to muscle fatigue and less tone. At the same time, that fatigue also makes exercise more difficult and less pleasant. It also leads to a lower basal metabolic rate, which means fewer calories will be consumed per hour than would otherwise be the case.
That's an unhealthy trade off for a rapid, short-term weight loss.
What is really needed is a long-term commitment to lifestyle change. Unfortunately that is more difficult than simply changing a few things on the menu. It requires learning more about nutrition, and making the correct choices of the types of food that we eat.
At the same time a person is struggling to change eating habits he needs to be aware of the importance of a regular exercise program to the overall effort to improve bodily health. Regular exercise is the second factor essential to proper weight management.
You don't have to become a fitness "nut", but a regular series of vigorous running or weight lifting or other form of exercise is critical. That requires great willpower, to be sure. Most people give up too soon, because they try too hard at first. That results in injury and abandoning the program.
To maintain a proper weight management diet, a person has to have a vision that is set for the long haul, and not a short-time fix. Make changes slowly but permanently, and you'll find that weight is the last thing you have to think about. Your general appearance and health will improve. Those are the ends to keep in mind.
Gary Machado writes on a variety of topics on health issues. Did you find these tips on weight management useful? For more information go to: http://www.squidoo.com/dieting-success
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Editor's note: Remember, too, that this article is for information purposes only. If you have or think you have a health issue, including weight or diet issues, consult your primary care physician for proper diagnoses and treatment.