Are you ready to control your weight?

As I have reflected on my own weight control journey, several concepts have emerged.  Have you ever wondered why some people have great success in weight loss and maintenance, and some people never make progress? External forces rarely spark weight loss.  Nagging does not work.  Almost every patient whom I have counseled about their weight already knew that weight control would help them. Over the years I have read and heard about the stages of behavior change   I understand the theoretical basis of behavior change, but how does that really apply? As I recall my decision to start a weight loss journey, I suspect that I went through the stages.  As a physician I understood that weight loss occurs in a very simple equation – burn more calories than you ingest.  But how do you do that?  How do we change our eating habits?  How do we get our butts off the couch or chair and burn more calories?  How do we start and maintain that long journey, because weight loss and maintenance is a very long journey?  Results do not occur quickly or magically.  We have to make a commitment and stick with that commitment. I have told my story many times.  Clearly as an internist I knew that I weighed more than I should.  Clearly as a man, I could see the size of my pants and saw pictures that were not very flattering.  Nonetheless, I did not take action. During an approximately 5 year period, I still did some exercise, but I ate much more than a smarter person would.  Did I ...
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Fitness & weight Medical Rants Source Type: blogs