Why Weight Loss Efforts Stall and What to Do About It, from America on the Move Co-founder
James O. Hill, Ph.D., co-founder of America on the Move, has written an illuminating article for ABCNews.com , “Why Americans ‘Tune Out’ Obesity Talk Simple Lifestyle Changes, Not Crash Dieting, Are the Key to Weight Loss Success.” He points out that it is these daily changes that are significant and produce lasting results, not crash diets and other drastic measures. An excerpt:
Simple lifestyle changes are a proven approach to preventing excessive weight gain. The average American gains one to two pounds each year; it is this gradual weight gain that is fueling increasing obesity rates. AOMF studies prove that making two small changes each day can reap big rewards over time. Just two simple steps — adding 2,000 steps a day (about a mile) and cutting 100 calories (about a pat of butter) — can keep off those few extra annual pounds.
Helping people make these small lifestyle changes is the most likely way to reverse the obesity epidemic. Over time, this will first stabilize and then lower the number of overweight and obese Americans.
Getting started is as simple as purchasing a pedometer and tracking the number of steps you take each day. Once a baseline is determined, adding 2,000 steps over the course of one day is easy — parking at the edge of the parking lot, walking once around the grocery store before beginning to shop, or even walking through the house while talking on the telephone all are quick, simple ways to add steps to your day.
We have also found that once people start making these small lifestyle changes, they find it easier to continue to make more small changes. The approach is viral and we have even found that these people begin to influence positively people around them (their social network).
You will find links to other, helpful articles on the ABCNews.com Diet and Fitness Section.