Weight-Control Techniques

There are no magic solutions to weight control, at least not at the time. In the future, you may be able to swallow a pill and have the pounds simply melt away, according to news reports, but not just yet. It takes a little effort at the moment. No one weight-control technique works for everyone, so the key is to find what works for you and stick with that.

Eating Habits

• Eating seems to be the consensus advice, whether you go on a diet, or just change how you prepare your foods. People tend to stick best with programs that allow them to eat and fill up on foods they like yet still control their weight. In many cases, this means eating more of one type of item than another, but still satisfying your hunger. By far, however, the most recommended change of eating habits is to eat smaller portions, but from a large, healthy variety of foods. Find a balance, or diet, that works with the way your body uses different foods. A nutritionist might be able to help you figure out what will work best.

Exercise

• Exercise can be fun and beneficial.

  A good weight-control technique is getting some form of exercise daily. You don't have to join a gym or hire a personal trainer -- unless you want to and have the money and time. A nice, brisk walk for 30 minutes every day can start you on the right path. If that is too much at first, work up to it slowly. There is a combination of exercises that you can do that suit your physical abilities. Even house cleaning counts as exercise. If you have limited mobility, there may still be exercises for you, depending on your condition. As always, you should talk to your doctor first before beginning any exercise program.

Surgery

• Surgery for weight loss is a growing business.

  Think about surgical intervention. It's a big step, but one more and more people are taking. It's not for everyone, either physically or mentally, but if you are at a dangerous weight, this might be something you'll want to bring up with your doctor.

Behavioral Change

• You can get help in planning your weight control.

  For some people, the issue isn't so much what they eat, as why they eat, or why they are sedentary when they are capable of getting out and about. It may be something as simple as boredom, but it could also be indicative of a more serious, underlying mental or physical problem. When you consult your health professional, try to be as candid as possible, and ask as many questions as needed. You can then, with a little effort, put together a combination of weight-control techniques that work best for you.