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Health & Fitness

Summer Slimdown Tips and Tricks from Visions HealthCare

It's that time of the year again. Winter is long gone, summer is just around the corner, and many people are starting to get beach body ready.

It’s that time of the year again. Winter is long gone, summer is just around the corner, and many people are starting to get beach body ready. Regardless of your current fitness level, losing weight correctly is essential to success. If you don’t prepare properly, it’s easy to either quickly regain lost weight or never reach your weight loss goal. With summer a few weeks away, many people are looking for quick ways to slim down. There is a wide variety of supplements that promise quick results, and many theories and fad diets that might help you drop weight quickly, however there’s no getting around the fact that keeping the weight off requires lifestyle changes.

In general, for the average person looking to lose a few pounds, an active lifestyle with exercise three to four times a week is the ideal way to get on track. Combining that exercise with healthy eating is the best fool-proof approach to creating a permanent change in your body.  There are, however, great, quick ways to kick-start the process. Regardless of the program you choose to lose those extra few pounds, Dr. Wendie Trubow of Visions Healthcare, a Dedham and Wellesley-based medical practice focusing on a patient’s entire health, suggests these tips to help you lose the weight and keep it off.

  • No Processed Foods: The more processed a food is, the more additives and fewer nutrients it contains. These foods are also usually high in fat and calories, which will only worsen that spare tire around your waist.
  • Stress-Free:  Stress, whether in your job or personal life, can be detrimental to your eating habits and make you crave unhealthy comfort foods. It also affects your body’s ability to process calories correctly.
  • Eat More Fiber:  Fiber is essential to digestive health and can also lower cholesterol. In addition, foods that are high in fiber are a great way to stay full longer.
  • Don’t eat out: Dining out, although fun, can be the arch-nemesis of a beach body. When eating out, you have no control over ingredients and, consequently, the calorie and fat content of your meal. Most restaurant dishes have extremely high levels of sodium, and hidden fat (even in salads!).
  • Get plenty of sleep: Studies have shown that people who get more sleep are more likely to lose weight faster and make better nutrition choices. 
  • Drink water: Drinking a glass of water before a meal makes you feel fuller and helps you to eat less.
  • Supervised Detox: Sometimes a professional can help you address the situation from a clinical standpoint, to ensure that your goals and program are safely aligned. Your physician can set up a health evaluation and consultation, fitness assessment, toxicity analysis, and body fat exam to help you plan your weight loss regimen.

 

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Starting a wellness program can be challenging and it always helps to have support. Do your research and consider discussing lifestyle changes with your doctor, who can be a great resource for creating your optimal personalized plan. Regardless of where you are in your weight loss journey, following these tips and committing to moderate exercise can help you safely and permanently achieve the beach body you want to flaunt.

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