Did you play high school sports? Maybe you played in College. A few may have played pro. So, what is a common follow-up to extended vigorous athletic activities? When you quit, you get fat.
If you were like most, during your athletic years, you could take in massive amounts of calories and not gain a pound, or at least, not get fat. Your body became accustomed to handling a constant bombardment of food. Your digestive system was at peak efficiency and your metabolism was humming. Many athletes try to gain weight, especially if they play football or some other sport that encourages bulky muscles and maximum body mass. When an athlete is burning hundreds, if not, over 1000 calories per day exercising his or her muscles, it takes a lot of food just to maintain one's weight. To gain means even more daily calories. But what happens when athletics are over?
For many of us, when the last game is played and the uniform is put away, one thing remains... our appetite. The body has become adept in dealing with large amounts of food intake and tends to rebel if we try to reduce meal sizes too soon. It is not uncommon for an athlete to gain 5 or 10 pounds within a few weeks of ceasing regular high-calorie-burn physical activity. It can be a real chore reining back your system from eating habits that have been in place for the last several years.
So, is there a reasonable solution? Absolutely!
First, you need to realize what is taking place. You're taking in more calories than your body can burn thus it's turning the excess into fat.
Multiply your desired body weight times 14. This will give you an idea of how many calories are required to maintain your desired weight. Then start tracking how many calories you are currently taking in.
Don't let your exercise habits fade away. You don't have to do huge amounts of exercise. You can do easy exercises on a regular schedule and get all you need. Try to design an exercise routine you can stick to for the rest of your life. If it's too hard you won't stick. Better to be too easy than too hard. Remember, "What can I do for the rest of my life?"
Next, start conditioning your appetite. Slowly but surely, practice eating smaller meals.
Track your daily intake for a few weeks and discover what works and what doesn't.
When you are consciously trying to lose weight... never get in a hurry. Trying to rush your body into submission is a sure path to disaster. Be gentle and patient. If you are burning more calories that you take in, you are going to lose weight. And, if you're exercising as you go, you will not only lose weight faster, but your body will become stronger, more agile and much more attractive.
It really takes quite a while for a person to become obese. Consequently, it can take time to reverse the trend. But, it is fairly easy and stress free.
Warning! Never beat yourself up if you blow your eating plan every once in a while. Just make a mental note of it and get back on your normal routine as soon as possible. Don't make your eating plan too difficult to follow and don't make your exercise routing too rigid or strenuous to maintain. Simply, enjoy the ride.
Practically everyone who is currently over-weight wishes he or she had followed a sensible plan of diet and exercise all along. I recently heard that obesity in America had overtaken heart disease as the number one health risk. The good news is, it is never too late to start getting healthier - losing weight and recovering your physical strength and pleasing appearance. Simply go easy and stay with it.
