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Weight Loss
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Weight loss is a difficult project which requires effort, resources, and commitment. Human physiology limits weight loss by a simple but difficult two part equation: reduced caloric intake and increased activity, each equally important. Increasing one to compensate for less of the other does not work as well. Diet mobilizes the calories stored as fat, and exercise utilizes those calories. However, there are situations where exercise isn't possible, and diet becomes more important. A common mistake is starving all day then eating a large meal later. The body shifts into a starvation mode and will desperately hold onto any calories, having no faith in when the next meal will occur. Ideally one should match caloric intake to caloric need, eating three times a day with a reasonable distribution of calories.
Carbohydrates are all made of sugar, and are stored as fat. Protein has the same calories per weight as carbohydrates, but is used and stored differently. Fat has nearly twice the number of calories as carbs and protein, and is stored as fat. The body burns carbs first, protein next, and fat last. That's the rationale behind a low carbohydrate,high protein, no fat diet. Without the dietary protein, muscle mass is lost before fat is burned.
To succeed, weight loss has to be a priority. Every morsel must be considered for its nutritional and caloric contribution. When you're exercising diligently and appreciate how hard you have to work to burn a few calories, food takes on new meaning. It's also true that many do not eat for nutrition, but to feed other needs. The challenge of sustained weight loss once accomplished is to find a more suitable means to satisfy those needs while committing to a new way of eating, and ongoing exercise for continued health.
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