| Losing weight is something that we all worry about, as | | | | over time: First, eat foods that are in their natural state, |
| a society. In fact, studies show that North Americans | | | | or as close to it as possible. And second, use your car |
| are heavier than they have ever been before, and this | | | | as little as you can. Some people make it a rule not to |
| includes our children. With all the health problems that | | | | drive if they are traveling less than ten or fifteen |
| are caused by obesity, that's a very serious problem - | | | | blocks, for example. |
| it will probably impact on our health care costs in the | | | | These aren't the quickest ways to lose weight, but |
| very near future. | | | | they are the easiest and the best. That's because, |
| At the same time, the desire to be thin and fit has | | | | unlike a diet, these are lifestyle change that will make |
| never been stronger. Advertising and images in the | | | | you healthier. Once you start enjoying regular exercise |
| media tell us that a thin body is the only acceptable | | | | and good food, chances are that you'll never want to |
| body - and this is particularly true for women and girls. | | | | go back. So unlike diets, which might offer more |
| Putting all these facts together, what we have is a | | | | impressive results in the short term, you are unlikely to |
| situation in which more and more people are very | | | | gain back the weight that you lose in this manner. |
| unhappy about their weight. | | | | Here's how to get started: |
| To discover the easiest ways to lose weight, we | | | | First, when you go the supermarket, try to avoid the |
| should consider why North Americans are overweight | | | | center aisles. In most markets, the meat, milk, eggs, |
| today, and how this is different from the behavior of | | | | fruits and vegetables are located at either end of the |
| most other societies. There's a popular book on the | | | | store, and in the back. The center aisles, on the other |
| market right now about why French women don't gain | | | | hand, are where all the packaged food is kept. If you |
| weight, despite a diet that is rich in meat and dairy fat. | | | | avoid the middle of the store as much as you can, you |
| What's their secret? And why are most Europeans | | | | will end up with a cart full of natural protein and |
| and Asians 'naturally' thinner and fitter than North | | | | produce, the perfect ingredients for losing weight. |
| Americans? | | | | Here's another hint: don't let yourself get hungry. Eat |
| The answer is simple. There are two reasons: First, | | | | regular meals, so that you don't feel deprived. If you're |
| the food that people eat in most traditional societies is | | | | like most of us, once you feel hungry you are more |
| of better quality than the 'instant' or packaged food | | | | likely to eat whatever happens to be available, healthy |
| that we tend to eat. This is changing - in another | | | | or not. That's where the problems start. If you have |
| generation or so, people all around the world might end | | | | regular, healthy meals and snacks, you won't be |
| up with the same weight problems that Americans | | | | tempted by the junk food that's all too readily found in |
| already have. But there's a lot to be gained by eating | | | | any corner store or vending machine. |
| food that's prepared in a traditional way, and that is as | | | | Finally, avoid using your car as much as you can. It's |
| close to its natural form as possible. | | | | better for the environment, and much better for you. |
| The other reason is that people in more traditional | | | | Walking for a few hours every day is actually a better |
| societies are more physically active. This may surprise | | | | way of losing weight than if you exercise vigorously a |
| you, given the obsession with exercise that many | | | | couple of times a week. Try to work walking into your |
| North Americans have. But it's true - because of | | | | daily routine - for example, can you leave home a half |
| amount of time that we spend sitting in our cars, we | | | | hour earlier and walk to work each day? With gas |
| simply don't get as much exercise as we should. | | | | prices reaching an all-time high, think of all the money |
| Exercising vigorously two or three times a week is still | | | | you'll save while you're using weight! |
| not as effective as the constant exercise that you get | | | | Follow these simple life changes for lifelong health and |
| if walking or biking is your regular means of | | | | fitness. Over time, your body will settle at a healthy |
| transportation. | | | | weight, and you can begin to enjoy the ample benefits |
| So, in short, these are the easiest ways to lose weight | | | | that this brings! |