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WEIGHT LOSS
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That's because belly fat (or “visceral” fat), which
surrounds your internal organs and interferes with
their functions, is more dangerous than fat that sits on
your hips or under your chin.
So, if you're a woman, your correct weight is one
that gets your waistline below 35 inches (see “Getting
Started,''
page 120,
for instructions on taking your
measurements). As a rough guide, it takes about five
pounds of fat loss for a woman to lose an inch around
the middle; for a man, it’s about 10 pounds.
A FINAL WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Remember that sustainable weight loss is a three-
legged stool: better nutrition, increased activity, and
steadfast motivation. Remind yourself that these are
exciting times for you. You are about to change your
life in ways that you might not even expect. This new
way of living holds all kinds of remarkable surprises.
“Have a light heart and a sense of humor,” says
Alesha Kientzler, Ph.D., executive director of the St.
Helena Center for Health in St. Helena, California.
“This really is a journey of self-discovery.”
118
JANUARY 2009
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
A QUICK GUIDE TO
Staying Motivated
“You don’t have to be in a
perfect place in your life to
start this,” says Alesha
Kientzler, Ph.D., executive
director of the St. Helena
Center for Health in St. Helena,
California. “Just start from
wherever you are.”
Enlist anyone and everyone
who can help you—spouses,
relatives, friends, fitness
professionals—says Howard
Eisenson, program director of
The Duke Diet & Fitness Center,
in Durham, North Carolina.
If you set the bar too high, your
motivation will quickly wane.
Dr. Melina Jampolis, author of
The Busy Person’s Guide to
Permanent Weight Loss,
tells
her patients to focus on the
short-term. Break up weight
loss into small goals to stay
motivated, she says.
A 2008 study showed that if
you ‘Vow” or “pledge” to live
more healthfully, you may be
more successful than if you
“try.” Renew your vows daily.
Sit down in front of a video
camera and speak from your
heart about how your weight
has affected your life and
your view of yourself. When
motivation wanes, watch that
tape. It’ll get you back on track.
Go to a movie when you lose
two pounds, head to a day spa
when you lose five, book a
weekend away when you drop
10. Choose whatever rewards
motivate you.
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Get a jump-start on
weight loss by joining the
nonprofit Live Healthy
America initiative, a team-
based 100-day challenge
that runs from January 14
to April 23. In 2008, about
63,000
people lost a
combined 250,000 pounds
and logged 136 million
minutes of physical activity
through the program.
Anyone can register—all
you need is two to 10
people willing to form a
team. You’ll compete
against others around the
nation to drop the most
pounds, log the most
physical activity minutes,
or both. Go online to
livehealthyamerica.org
to learn more about the
program and what support
it offers participants.
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