Medical Daily. I was reminded that, as the weather warms, people have new hope of eating healthier, athletic training more often and setting new wellness goals. Unfortunately, summertime is also a time of fad diets to lose weight for pool season or find a “miracle diet” to improve weight management for summer. Fad diets, as their name implies, are short-term quick fixes that actually set many dieters up for weight-loss failure. If a diet or product sounds too good to be true, it is. Unfortunately, there are no “magic” foods or pills that burn fat. No super foods or fitness products that will speed your metabolism to the point where “fat melts away” while you watch TV or sleep. And, some ingredients in supplements and herbal products can actually be fatal. Life is already complicated enough. Limiting food choices or following rigid meal plans can be an overwhelming, distasteful task. With any new diet, always ask yourself: “Can I eat this way for the rest of my life?” If the answer is no, don’t do it. So, how can people keep the weight off and improve weight management? It’s simple – exercise. Regular physical activity is essential for good health and healthy weight management. The key to success is to find physical activities that you enjoy and then to aim for 30 to 60 minutes of activity or athletic training every day. Make it a family endeavor! Exercise as a family. Play a quick game of basketball after lunch on a weekend, plan a pajama Zumba party in the living room or take the pets for a walk. You don’t have to use a Stair Master to get a great workout. You just need to use your imagination. If you want to maintain a healthy weight, build muscle and lose fat, the best path is a lifelong combination of eating smarter and getting moving. Doesn’t that sound better than a lifelong diet of grapefruits or, even worse, intentionally ingesting tapeworms? Yuck! I sure think so. And, it’ll benefit your long-term health and your kids’ health by showing them that childhood obesity can be avoided while having a little family fun. It’s a win-win! Learn more about how Fitness for Health can help you create a customized fitness program or athletic training that is fun for the whole family (kids too) while helping to improve weight management and increase bone and joint health. Check out our weight management program for pre-teens and teens!]]>
Tags: weight management, diets, fad diets, weight loss, exercise, fitness