The Ten Commandments of a Weight Loss and Weight Control LIfestyle

How many times have we heard that diets don't work and healthy eating and weight control must be a lifestyle? But what does that mean exactly? After lots of trial and error, somewhere between crates of grapefruit and total food anarchy I have found these "Ten Commandments" keep me on track.

1.Thou Shalt Exercise.
Any time I have attempted to manage my weight without a consistent exercise program I have succeeded only in deluding myself. Not only was I unsuccessful, but also I was missing out on the health benefits of exercise. When I am exercising regularly I am less depressed, more energetic, and feel and look better all around.

The problem I had with exercise is that an entire half-hour was a bit of an ordeal when I first started out, and hard to work into my busy schedule. My doctor pointed out that any exercise I can do consistently is better than making goals I will not meet.
So I decided to start small. I found that breaking it down into three 15 minute mini- workouts made things much easier

First thing in the morning I do 5 minutes stretching followed by 10 minutes of some light weightlifting and old fashioned calisthenics. When I do this I am so much more alert and charged up for my day. Not only does it get my brain and body working it increases my metabolism so I burn more calories throughout the morning.

After I eat my mid-day meal I have found that a brisk 15 min stroll helps me avoid the drowsiness that sometimes comes after lunch. It provides another little boost to my metabolism and helps rejuvenate me to face the rest of my day instead of dragging through the afternoon.

Just before bed I do 15 min of yoga. I have really come to look forward to this part of my routine. The breathing and stretching help me relax physically and mentally as I unwind from my day. I have found I get much more restful sleep. Not to mention it has helped me develop my body awareness and control. I am more conscious of my physical self, and I have found that has been a crucial aspect of "taking ownership" of my health.

Eventually I began to expand my morning workout to a longer time, but I still keep these goals as my bare minimum on days that are hectic.