Lifestyle Changes

Many women find it hard to make that lifestyle change which will help their health and change their lives and the way they live.

Of course there are also many factors behind why many women are overweight or obese and finding ways to help them help themselves is often a challenge. I’m speaking from personal experiences and not from something that I have plucked from thin air.

Lifestyle changes can be very hard. Weight management services are very expensive and the lack of will power can often prevent women from seeking the help that they need. We can all be in a health service but there is no encouragement to seek out that help. The cost of going to a gym is one that doesn’t even get factored into the weekly budget because of the high expense to keep fit.

It’s easy for a person who is thin and who doesn’t have health issues to stand up and say how easy it is. That person is possibly a person who can eat so much and not batter an eye lid about the kilos. However many women who are already overweight feel that they only have to look at what that person is eating and the kilos pile on.

Every woman should be treated as an individual. Not as a text book case.

Some of the factors behind women being overweight or obese are:

Health issues such as a thyroid issue where women suffer from low metabolism.

Lack of will power; some women just don’t have the will power to lose weight. The thought of giving up lots of food that they love sometimes is a cause. However this can be turned around with the right information and the education that is needed to show that the food they love can help them lose weight. (Avoiding fatty / fried foods / sweets etc. of course.)

Sure a lot of women love fatty and fried foods and in fact I know of some women who find it easier to prepare a meal each day by serving up fatty and fast foods. As with most meals like that, in moderation is good but serving it most days and sometimes two or three times a day is not.

From experience, moderation is the key.

Lack of finances… I mention this because many women would dearly love to attend places like Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, try the Herbalife diet and many other diet programs or weight management programs but they can’t afford to attend these places. And of course for these women attending the gym is definitely out.

The amount you receive back from your health care fund (if you can afford to be in one) is very minimal and really doesn’t help at all…

In some places adding extra to buy their products or the food that you are supposed to eat cripples the family budget. And yet we are all supposed to be able to change our lifestyles and do it comfortably.

For many years I have had a problem with my weight. The yo-yo affect is not very good and it begins to play on my mind but then so does the weight. Being able to survive and live a normal life and still enjoy food is something I’d love to do. My goal is to do just that.

I have been dieting, trying many different diets for as long as I can remember. I got to the stage where I was sick of everyone suggesting I should diet, or asking me how my diet was going. I tried many things including one diet where I had to replace my meals with a shake because ‘apparently’ it had all the nutrients I needed. That diet put me in hospital for four days due to dehydration and other symptoms.

his was before it was discovered I had a thyroid problem. So before you begin dieting or decide to change your lifestyle, you should see your doctor and have tests done. There really could be an underlying issue that may stop you from losing weight.

Personally, I’ve spent many thousands of dollars on trying to change my lifestyle. Lap band surgery is great for people who can make it work. However I had an issue where I lost weight and my thyroid decided it wanted to not work again even though I am on medication. It should be reviewed frequently and if your doctor doesn’t listen to you when there is a problem, see another doctor.

At one time recently I felt it was better to stay a large lady because I was comfortable with myself. But I know that I can’t because I am not comfortable with me as I am. I recently joined Curves. It’s a place just for women. However I haven’t been as many times as I’d like due to my metabolism being low and other issues including work.

I also found that it was hard to get myself into something that I could follow. I guess it was because I am paying to exercise which I have no problems with because I included this time in my budget for me, but because I need a plan to follow, or the will power is not there.

Curves have a book for members but I was disappointed that it was not for sale. Instead if you refer 3 or more women to Curves you have access to one. That’s great if you know of 3 women you can refer, but if you don’t… you really don’t have the chance to have that book which I have been told is very good. This book has suggestions, offers help and other advice to all women. And I have been told it is a very good one. However not knowing three people to refer, I will have to work out without the added benefits from that book.

Feeling low and down because of my low metabolism, I was almost beside myself and I made a phone call I never thought I would make. You see there was one place that helped me lose around 35kilos. I can’t remember the exact amount but it was close to 35 kilos and the results were incredible. I felt really very good… however it was after that time when I was on my own that my thyroid started to help me put the weight back on and I went through the process of having the lapband procedure.

Sure it helped me lose weight… but at the same time I have lived on and off that roller coaster for many years. To the stage where I was malnourished and I was not very well at all.

So I made the phone call – from Queensland to Tasmania to Jess from Macquarie Weight Management. I know Jess’ program will get me back on the right track to living a healthy lifestyle again. My lapband is still in place but I find it hard to even think of having the band filled again because I want to be healthy, not malnourished.

Over the next few weeks I will keep you up to date on how I go with Jess and her program. I haven’t found anyone else who is as supportive and understands the different issues faced by women as Jess.

Of course with a long distance program there is a cost that needs to be introduced into my budget. In my case, I can do it, but for those that can’t I’m hoping that I can help you as I progress through her program.

Remember you are not alone and there are many programs to help you change your lifestyle. Remember to look for one that will work well with your budget but at the same time it shouldn’t send you bankrupt or cause you stress with the additional payments that need to be made.

Toni Livesey