How to Lose Weight Naturally

by Emilia Ross - Sales Rep
(Wilmington, Delaware)

How to Lose Weight Naturally

I have tried all sorts of diet on how to lose weight naturally, but I also ended up losing my health. My doctor’s first advice was not to go into any kind of diet without first asking him about it because the diet may work well for others, but it doesn’t mean it will work for me too.

I Lost Weight but also Lost my Health
That was particularly true when I punished myself for a week by getting into some low carb diet and did some intensive and serious treadmill running. End result? I was so weak from loss of muscle fuel and near dehydration I simply plopped on the floor and went all blank. My doctor was quite flabbergasted with my lack of knowledge. The foolhardy person that I was did not know that unused carbohydrates are not really stored as fat but are used as fuels by the muscles. So what I was really losing was more of muscle tissues because they were unable to repair and form new muscles after I got through with my intensive treadmill running.

Not only was I losing muscle tissues but I was also losing body water by eating less carbohydrates. I came to know that for every gram of carbohydrate, our body will hold 2.4g of water which is what water retention meant. So even if I drank ounces and ounces of water, most of it will just pass as waste instead of being held by the body.

The reason I lost consciousness aside from the weakness is because the brain also uses carbohydrates as fuel. I lost weight but I lost my health too. I had to stay in a hospital bed for a week with dextrose needles supplying the glucose that I needed. My muscles were simply starving and I had to have something that was fast acting.

How I Lost Weight Naturally without Losing Health

From then on I became afraid of trying out fad diets and learning how to lose weight naturally without losing my health became almost impossible. My doctor told me that since I obviously lacked the knowledge, I could probably do with some educating. He told me to simply follow the American Dietary Guidelines, and continue with my exercises and just be patient about it. After he computed how much of my weight was body mass and how much was stored fat, he estimated that maintaining my calorie intake at 1200/day would be enough to provide the fuel I needed for my daily activity.

I had been overweight for years and I had to condition my mind that I did not have to be in a hurry to lose weight. With that in mind I was able to learn how to lose weight naturally without losing my health. Here are the things I did:

1. Since my diet failures were mostly based on ignorance about foods I came to learn about each food group and what kind of nutrient I got from them. The stored fat I had in my body came mostly from calories and they came not only from simple carbohydrates but from different types of foods.

2. I learned which foods have more nutritious content and at the same time low calories. I always chose low fat or fat-free over whole, lean over marbled, unsweetened over sweetened, baked or boiled over fried and fresh-picked over canned.

3. I got into the habit of reading nutrition facts on the labels. I took note of the calories per serving, so if I will just limit myself to one serving, then I get only the amount of calories stated on the label. If I had two more then that would mean more than doubling my calorie intakes. I also learned the other names by which sugar is called like honey, molasses, fructose and maltose, so I know that they are still sugar and will still add to the calorie intakes.

4. Instead of copying meal plans from some weight loss website, I planned my own meals and kept them in portions. I could eat as much as I want just as long as I kept my calorie intakes at a certain level as well as kept my nutrition facts right. My doctor did not find anything wrong with my planned meals seeing they eliminated mostly those that are sources of solid fats or simple sugar.

5. I have lost 15 pounds from last year because I maintained my calorie intakes at 1200 per day. You do not have to starve yourself or deprive your body of any nutrient; you simply had to watch what you are eating. What was important is not to add anymore of the stored fat you already have in your body. I was burning whatever stored fat existed in my body through my regular walk-run exercises using my treadmill.

How to lose weight naturally without losing your health was all matter of knowing the right foods, watching your calories and regular exercise. It was a bit tedious at first, but I soon learned the right food by heart because I took charge of planning my meals. Besides, it is a lot easier than starving constantly. Now I am beginning to enjoy shopping for clothes because it meant I was making progress if it became necessary for me to buy new ones.

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