Balance Your Life (from Real Age)
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| Fri, 02-03-2006 - 11:36am |
Lose More Weight with Life in Balance

Even when you have all the diet and fitness tools you need to lose weight and keep it off, there are other kinds of lifestyle choices that could be undermining your efforts. A demanding schedule with too much stress, too little sleep, and no support from other people can make it harder to manage your weight.
Your final step in creating a sustainable, long-term weight management plan is to take a look at the life you lead and focus on ways you can improve your emotional well-being. Certain lifestyle changes that nurture your emotional health may not only improve your mood, but they also can help support your weight loss needs.
Here are four key lifestyle areas to examine.
1. Shuteye. Getting enough sleep shouldn't be a luxury - it's a necessity when you are trying to manage your weight. Research shows that a lack of sleep can lead to a dip in blood levels of leptin, a hormone that aids in appetite control. Low levels of leptin may stimulate your appetite and contribute to overeating. A lack of sleep also can sabotage your willpower. People are more likely to skimp on exercise or not follow their diet plan when they are tired. Aim to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night to control hunger and make your RealAge up to 3 years younger.
2. Stress. Are you feeling exhausted or overwhelmed at work? Research shows this could lead to overeating and weight gain in some people. Are you taking on too much in your personal life? Little daily hassles that repeat or accumulate can be just as tough on your overall health as a major stressful life event, studies show. As you make a new effort to focus on balanced eating and extra physical activity, it will be easier to stay on track if you don't take on too many additional commitments in the beginning. To burn off stress, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and express yourself creatively by writing in a journal, taking up a relaxing hobby, or meditating.
3. Social support. If you don't have much support in your immediate circle of family and friends, consider finding a weight loss partner. You're more likely to lose weight and keep it off if you team up with a buddy who has similar goals. You also can join a support group to boost your weight loss efforts. People in weight loss support groups are more likely to achieve long-term weight loss success, research shows. Being around people who are experiencing the same weight loss struggles can be very empowering. It gives you the opportunity to swap diet and exercise tips and discuss ways to overcome roadblocks on the way to slimmer living.
4. Consistency. Living a balanced lifestyle one week and letting your life reel out of control the next will make long-term weight loss success more of a challenge. Keeping a consistent schedule and eating pattern is best. Allow yourself the occasional setback, but don't ditch your eating plan one week and expect to make up for it the next; research shows that this often backfires. Also, be consistent throughout the week. Many people consume about 115 more calories per day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday compared to other days of the week. Over time, these extra calories can lead to an expanding waistline. Make your new lifestyle a 7-days-per-week plan.
By paying more attention to these areas and taking care of not only your physical but also your emotional needs, you'll be doing your weight a major favor by making it easier to make sensible, healthy choices.

