Throughout the month, this space will be dedicated to talking with local experts about ways to tackle some of the most common New Year’s resolutions (as determined by my highly unscientific Googling of the topic). So far in this series we’ve looked at Going Green, Eating Healthier andGetting Your Financial House in Order. Today: Weight Loss.
Losing weight. It’s a perennial resolution for many. There’s always a new trick, fad or five minute workout routine to solve all your problems. Ultimately, though, it all boils down to burning more calories than you take in. Sounds simple, but it never seems to be. I talked to Capitol Hill’s Weight Watchers meeting leader, Kimberly Steele King, to find out what makes for successful weight loss.
Weight loss requires a lifestyle change, so what motivates someone to make this type of commitment? King says it is often what she calls “last straw incidents.” Examples she gave were when the doctor says you have high blood pressure, are pre-diabetic, or something painful or embarrassing happens like splitting your pants. What keeps them going? “Success,” says King. “People don’t quit a weight loss program like Weight Watchers when they’re loosing weight.”
If you’re someone thinking seriously about weight loss for the first time, King says that you shouldn’t pay attention to all the statistics. “People get hung up on statistics that say they’ll gain weight back. I say make your own statistics; make it your time to loose.” She has serious credibility too – she’s kept off more than 40 pounds for 10 years now. For those who have been on the weight loss roller coaster before, King says its time to recommit to a sustainable weight loss program because “its not going to get any better until you do something about it.”
Okay, so what does all this really mean? We’d all like to think we’ll loose weight every week and hit our goal right away, but that is not the reality of sustained weight loss. Changing habits takes time, plus studies have shown long term weight loss is best accomplished in smaller increments: one to two pounds per week. King is both educator and emcee, as she energetically leads a meeting in the parish hall of Christ Church Episcopal in Southeast every Tuesday evening. She motivates a group comprised of all different ages and genders; people who have a long experience with weight loss and those who are coming to check things out because the first meeting is free. With such a varied audience, I asked King about what she thinks is the best advice she gives. “Portion control and accountability. There’s nothing you can’t eat, but you have to watch portion sizes because it’s the taste you’re craving, not the quantity. Then when you have to step on that scale for somebody else you’ll be more careful in the choices you make.”
The holidays are unquestionably one of the most challenging times, coupling stress with all those office parties and family events. So here are a few tips King shared to help keep things in check and still have a good time:
– Leave space between the food on your plate; don’t fill every square inch.
– No layering, i.e., when all your plate real estate is gone, don’t start piling food on top of food.
– Eat hors d’oeuvres with your opposite hand. You’ll eat slower and pay more attention to how much you’re eating
– It all comes down to personal choice. If you know you have a big event coming up, make a plan for how you’ll face the challenges and then pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Any tried and true tips for surviving the holiday food crush?