You've read about popular diets, you've seen the ads for the latest exercise gizmos – but what's the best way to keep your weight under control?
The answer is that you don't need fancy formulas or special equipment to control your weight – by eating a healthy diet and adding some physical activity into your daily routine, you can drop pounds and reach a healthy weight. While the idea may be simple, making it work can be harder than it looks.
Here's how to get started. First, find out if you have a healthy weight by calculating your BMI (body mass index). BMI measures your weight relative to your height. It applies to adults aged 18 to 65, but not to pregnant or breast-feeding women.
According to Health Canada, you should aim for a BMI somewhere between 18.5 and 24.9. When your BMI is in this range, it means you are a healthy weight for your height. If your BMI is 25.0 or over, you are overweight, and you could benefit from losing weight until you are in your healthy range of 18.5 to 24.9.
Your next step is to talk to your doctor about making a personal weight loss plan – this plan will include healthy eating and exercise. If the physical effects of MS make exercise a challenge, or if this will be your first time exercising after a long break, talk to your doctor, who can tell you which exercises will be safest to start with. You can also do your own research on healthy eating and exercise. Finally, work with your doctor to set realistic, achievable weight loss goals: most experts recommend 0.5 to 1.0 kilograms (1-2 pounds) per week as a safe, reasonable rate of weight loss.
Once you're armed with knowledge, a realistic weight loss goal, and a personal plan, it's time to give it a try! Don't be discouraged if you occasionally have some unhealthy food or skip an exercise session – the important thing is to get back on the horse and stick with your plan.
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