Weight Loss: integrated how to information

A note from Life Advantage Leader Susan Williams: Master Applied Science Food and Nutrition, Master Nutrition & Dietetics

It’s our goal to inform, motivate and empower you to make positive changes to your life. Your Member section includes

• Reference which covers the basics like portion sizes, Protein, Fat and Carbohydrates
• Strategies which covers the practical things like planning and shopping, and
• Motivation which addresses the powerful role your mind plays in changing your habits and behaviours

Accredited Practising Dietitians prepare all of the articles so you can trust the information is current and is based on sound science

The articles are a short, informative read and each includes practical measures to implement changes.

So if you are ready to give quick fixes the flick and make some healthy changes that will benefit you now and in the long term the information you get as a Member will make that difference.

As a Member if you have nutrition or weight management questions you can ask us by clicking on “Ask a question” in the Nutrition and Healthy Weight Gateway.

Weight Loss Motivation

Many people find losing weight is not as difficult as keeping it off.  Some people find losing it is also difficult.

Weight loss requires a real and consistent focus, physically and mentally. 

Realising just how much your mind has to do with your actions and behaviours can help you stay on top of your effort to lose weight.

Combining your healthy weight goals with the dual approach of healthy eating and Life Advantage activities is key to achieving your goals.

Of course starting with realistic goals helps, as does planning for and understanding plateaus or other setbacks. 

Practising positive thinking and supportive self talk are also important to long term success.

Information in this section includes:

• Realistic expectations
• Self talk weight loss
• Positive thinking
• Overcoming set backs

So if you find yourself starting on the weight loss track again and again, as a Member  the information in this area might be just the thing you need to keep you on track for good.

Weight Loss Reference

Weight management, where do you start?

If you type weight loss into your internet search engine you are likely to get over 80million hits!!

However, in most cases excess weight isn’t anything to do with magic missing ingredients or some strange biological or digestive problem.

Your best bet for success is to get back to basics and get the answers to the questions below.

• What is your healthy weight?
• Is your diet healthy?
• Do you get the right amount of activity, consistently?
• Are you getting the right balance of what your body lives on: protein, fat, carbohydrate?
• What quantity of food are you eating?
• How does safe weight loss happen?

If you get the basics right then you are heading in the right direction.

Information in this section includes:

• Healthy weight for you
• Weight loss guidelines
• Weight management & energy balance
• Weight Management & glycaemic Index
• Serving sizes
• Carbohydrate
• Protein
• Low Fat
• Plateaus in weight loss
• Underweight
• Weight management & fibre
• Popular diets - evaluation

Weight loss Strategies

Knowledge does not equal action, knowing that you need to reduce your energy intake does not mean you automatically do it.

Knowing how to do what you need to do is just as important as knowing what you need to do.

Sometimes all it takes is a bit of organisation or a few handy hints on where to get started.

That’s what this section is all about, the practical stuff that makes doing what you need to do easier.

If you combine these strategies with up to date knowledge of the nutrition/weight management basics and stay on top of things mentally and emotionally you’ve got it all covered!

Of course things are rarely that simple, so take your time as a Member to work through the information in this section and the others in Weight Management.

Choose the strategies you can implement easily, keep coming back to the basics and the motivational strategies and over time you will experience success. Information in this section includes:

• Planning to eat well
• Shop well: Eat well
• Food Labels explained
• Healthy Cooking
• Ingredient substitution
• Healthy Drinks
• Dining out and take away
• Fast food: Healthy options