Based upon response to previous weight control articles the need
for this dietary guideline for adults became apparent. We have
always taken the approach that the more you understand why
weight is gained the less likely you are to make the mistakes
that so many weight watchers make. This article highlights
workplace health but it also applies to each one of us who may
be overweight.
The real secret to health is to eat adequate servings of
nutritious foods and increase the amount of activity in your
lifestyle. The thing to remember is that as we age we change, we
become less active and therefore require fewer calories to drive
our bodies. The problem is that the majority of us work hard
when young, prove our worth and are soon rewarded with a
supervisory or management role at work. Great, that takes care
of income needs, but take a look at what it means to our health
needs:
- Most management/supervisory roles require more time being
spent behind a desk, chasing paper and sitting on our butts at
various meetings. We become less physically active.
- Because we are less active we should reduce our daily calorie
intake but few of us even think of this until we notice our
stomachs are increasing in size and the waistband gets tighter.
- Another thing about management is that it carries extra
responsibilities. As a worker you were responsible for what you
did, as a manager you become responsible for what everybody does
and this creates stress. The most common habit for relieving
stress is to eat. - Unfortunately it is also the worst thing we
can do in terms of overall health. (Tip: If you eat when
stressed try chewing gum instead, it will achieve the same
result without the calories.)
- We also find ourselves working longer hours and this makes us
too tired to play tennis or visit the gym a couple of times each
week. Many also find that they are developing a digestive
problem. Visit
http://www.recipesmania.com/articledigestion.html>http://www
.recipesmania.com/articledigestion.html for more on
indegestion.
There is little point of thinking about the extra retirement
benefits management will give you if you are likely to die soon
after retirement. You must start measuring your intake of food
compared to your level of physical activity now. Put simply;
'less movement, less calories' is a good way to judge your
dietary needs for a long and healthy life.
In the western world we eat an average of 3,500 calories each
day when our body requires only 2,000 calories a day to function
properly. We need to reduce our calorie intake by 500 each day
and this will reduce our weight by 1 pound (450 grams) each
week, which happens to be the optimum weight loss target if you
wish to lose it and keep it off. (I know there are hundreds of
diets out there that promise to reduce your weight by far
greater amounts than one pound each week. - They don't work
because you will put it all back on again.)
Tomorrow's follow up article will look at what foods constitute
a healthy daily diet.
This article is copyright © David McCarthy 2006. It may be
reproduced in its entirety without additions or alterations.
About the author:
David McCarthy is a prolific article writer and webmaster of
http://www.recipesmania.com a site dedicated to freely sharing
knowledge on all things connected to food from recipes, health
tips, cooking tips, weight watchers recipes and a free weight
loss program.
