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Moderation is the way to
maintain the good health

Linda Stultz
Certified Fitness Trainer

The reason we become overweight is not eating well, not getting enough exercise and not taking care of ourselves. For whatever reason, we get so wrapped up in our busy lives that, before we know it, we are 5 or 10 pounds overweight, or even more. Sometimes we even see the weight creeping up on us, but we think we can take care of it later. By the time "later" comes, we are overwhelmed and confused about how to get the weight off and, of course, we want it off NOW.

It is true that, in order to lose weight you need to lower or maintain your present calorie intake while increasing your daily activities to burn more calories. The trap most people fall into is lowering their caloric intake too much while not increasing their exercise level at all. In doing this, they confuse their body into thinking that it is being starved and therefore it holds on to every bit of food consumed. Weight loss is different for each person, but in most cases starting out slowly and developing healthy eating habits is the key to steady, permanent weight loss.

When I decided to write this article about moderation, a very wise friend of mine told me that "We can’t handle doing things in moderation." I realized she was so right. People either go overboard with strict diets that are completely unlivable or they don’t watch what they eat at all. As I stated above, when trying to lose weight you do need to keep track of what you are eating and make some changes, but most people could just modify their eating habits and add a little exercise and watch the pounds slowly disappear. What we need to realize is that the weight did not accumulate overnight and it is certainly not going to disappear overnight. Small changes in your life and especially patience will bring you the results you are looking for.

Check with your doctor, nutritionist, support group or a trainer if you are not sure where to begin. Everyone needs a little help sometimes. The successful people are the ones that ask for it. Join the people who are improving their health for the future and for their quality of life in the present. Moderation is so much easier to live with than strict, unhealthful diets.

If you have any questions or need help getting started, please call me 717-334-6009, or via e-mail at fitness@emmitsburg.net

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