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Lifestyle changes needed to lose weight Too many calories and too much sitting are strongly linked to weight gain. Our children are gaining weight, too, for the same reasons. Overweight parents tend to have overweight children, and if children are overweight, they have a greater chance of becoming overweight adults. People who are overweight are more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, some types of cancer and joint problems related to arthritis. If you are among the nation's overweight, you probably have made one or more attempts to lose those extra pounds by eating less and increasing your activity level. But change is difficult. Dr. Ralph Neal of Grove Hill Healthcare states, "Anyone can go on a diet and lose weight, but not everyone can keep it off- unless long-term lifestyle changes are made. Lifestyle changes are needed to prevent old habits of eating high calorie foods and sitting in front of the T.V. from returning." Changing eating and activity patterns requires effort and planning. As for exercise, get into a routine. If you do not currently engage in regular physical activity, you should begin by incorporating a few minutes of physical activity into each day, gradually building up to 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity activities. On your eating habits, try taking smaller portions and planning your weekly menus in advance to avoid fast foods and lastminute pizzas. It's important to take time to learn about effective weight-loss approaches and the exercise options you believe will work best for you. Just because you have not been successful at weight loss in the past does not mean you cannot succeed this time.
If you want to get started on the road to better health, call Cindy Greene, RN, at 251-3191, Ext. 201 to learn about "Scale Back Alabama," an eight-week, weightmanagement program.
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