Creating a Weight Loss and Healthy Lifestyle by Chef Noche
Happy New Year!
It is officially the first full week back from the holiday season, and most of us will be into our 5th day of our New Year's Resolutions. Believe it or not, our government actually keeps statistics on this. Here is America's top New Year's Resolutions. Drum roll please:
10. Reduce Stress
9. Quit Smoking
8. Quit or Drink Less Alcohol
7. Improve Education
6. Eat Right
5. Get Fit
4. Get A Better Job
3. Save Money
2. Manage Debt
1. Lose Weight
I am not surprised losing weight is number one, but I am surprised 60% of the resolutions listed here have to do with improving our health. That must mean we are all aware of the importance maintaining a healthier lifestyle, but I also discovered 88% of our New Year Resolutions end up as failures.
This newsletter is scheduled to be sent on January 5th. I wonder how many people decided to lose weight in 2009, and how many are still actively investing their time and energy in their health and weight loss goals just 5 days into the new year. It is hard to change a lifestyle, I guess that is why we see the same New Year's Resolutions appearing on the list each New Year's Eve.
Get Fit and Eat Right
I like these, right in the middle of the New Year's Resolution list:
#5 Get Fit and #6 Eat Right
Let's throw out all the other resolutions for now. If you could end the year saying I am fitter, and eat better than I did in 2008, would you consider that a successful healthy lifestyle change? I certainly would. The first rule of making a lifestyle change is to do it gradually and set realistic goals.
Getting Started
Whenever I start a new plan or project, I have to see where I am right now. Let's do just two very simple things to be able to say we have started our 2008 plan to Get Fit and Eat Right:
BMI Index BMI or Body Mass Index is a measurement of body fat that is determined by height and weight. A score system provides an actual BMI Index number which is then classified into four categories: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese.
Calorie Calculator Our calorie calculator will tell you how many calories you burn per day based on important and personal variables such as your height, weight, age, and general activity level. It is a great tool for seeing your current break-even daily calorie intake so you can set your own personal caloric goals for weight loss.
My Simple Starting Point
I am starting 2009 with a BMI Index of 27.8. That means I am overweight for my height and weight. Not too bad, I am right in the middle of the overweight category, but the important observation I made was that normal is 24.9, and I am 2.9 BMI units away from normal. That sounds like a fit and healthy goal for me in 2009. I just have to decrease my BMI units by .25 per month or .06 per week. I'll go with that, and I'll come back to the BMI Index page to monitor my progress.
Next, I filled out the DineWise Calorie Calculator for Men. I learned I can take in 2,527 calories a day and maintain my present weight. I think I'll start with the standard 2,000 a day diet, and see just how difficult that is for me to stick too. It is 500 calories per meal, plus 500 calories for snacks, drinks, and salads.
That's my plan! For next week, I will be looking into exactly what calories are. Assuming I keep my exercise schedule the same, I wonder if I can find "loop holes" in the calorie counting process so I can still eat the volume of food I like without exceeding my new healthy goals for 2009.
