The Great Weight Reduction Introduction

The great weight reduction

Obesity has reached epic proportions in Canada and the U.S.  Currently, 59% of adult Canadians are either overweight or obese.  In the U.S. that statistic is 69%. Adults who are overweight have increased risk of heart disease, cancer, strokes, sleep apnea, depression and type 2 diabetes.  In 2005, the total cost of obesity to Canadians was $4.3 billion.  Affected adults may die up to 3 to 7 years or earlier than counterparts with a healthy weight.

In Canada and the U.S. over 60 billion is spent on weight loss products a year.  Over 50 million people in the U.S. go on 4 to 5 diets every year.  Of those few successful dieters only 5% are able to keep the weight off. 5 years after losing the weight they wanted to 95% have gained it back.

 

University of Alberta recently did a study showing the negative depictions of exercise shown on weight loss shows actually turn people off exercising.  Tanya Berry, the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity Promotion says. "People are screaming and crying and throwing up, and if you're not a regular exerciser you might think this is what exercise is — that it's this horrible experience where you have to push yourself to the extremes and the limits, which is completely wrong."

Many weight loss books show one way of losing weight often suggesting extreme, unrealistic, and unhealthy diets.  There are multitudes of products that are expensive and unfounded in science advertised every day.  Supplements are often confused with drugs and sold as a one type fits all solution.

‘The Great Weight Reduction’ will focus on one person’s journey. It will touch on what others are doing or have successfully done.  It will also offer healthy tips on lifestyle improvement.  It is meant to be inspirational, to touch on different things people can do and who can help.   The blog will demonstrate how weight loss can help transform people. 

Can you have fun losing weight?  Why should it be brutal?  True at times one will feel like giving up but can we embrace the challenge?  We would like to demonstrate how exercise is fun.  Unfortunately it seems that it doesn’t start out that way.  When does the fun start?

Changing eating habits can be a test but a short time in your tastes will adapt.   The worst is the first.  Is this true?  The human mind and body adapts to the rush and comfort it gets from sugary, salty, and fatty foods. If it is like an addiction how is it countered?  Different things work for different people; we will try and show what is and has worked for some.

A Blog will be written as we go for ease of reference.  There are no feature films on weight loss though there are many television shows which do a quick look at weight loss.  There are some you tube videos as well which are mainly ‘talking heads.  The videos will be available online, as will the book reviews, interviews and blogs.  We will talk to people who have lost weight and kept it off, people who are losing weight now, and others who are ready to join in the fun.