Tips for Weight loss

Health Tip:

Having a support group for weight loss efforts is the most effective way to maintain weight loss.

One of the most important health issues facing societies today is the struggle of weight loss and weight maintenance. Weight is a struggle for most people at some point in life. As a clinician, I constantly see the effect of weight gain and a person's overall health. In fact, it is truly an epidemic in the US today.

One of the most fascinating facts about weight loss is that most of us lose weight most effectively if we are surrounded by a support group that can hold us accountable. Evidence continually substantiates that programs such as Weight Watchers have a long lasting effective mostly because of the focus on support groups.

This is a scriptural principle that we see played out in our lives on a personal, spiritual, and physical level. We are encouraged as the Body of Christ to stand beside each other. This is a difficult principle for many who are independent and prefer to 'go it alone'. Both scientific evidence and Scripture confirm our need for one another to live health lives: emotionally and spiritually!

If you are thinking of losing weight, have you thought of a group you could join, or friends that may want to lose weight with you?

I close with the story of Carl. Carl was diagnosed with heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. He was told he needed to lose over 100 pounds. Unsure how he could even begin such a task, he started on a journey of walking everyday- inspired by the people in the neighborhood that were already walking daily. Two years later, Carl has lost 100 pounds just through walking daily- he says knowing that his neighbors will be out and about is what keeps him walking every morning at 6 am.

Carl's story is proof of how much others can motivate us- no matter how informal the group may be!.