What should your weight management program contain?

The first thing you should do is set goals. If you want to lose weight then you should set a reasonable goal for each month. You should also understand that weight loss may consist of losing water, fat, and even muscle in some bad cases. On the wrong program one can lose water and muscle which in turn makes the skin loose and dehydrated. This normally occurs on a low carb diet, not doing the proper exercises, not drinking an adequate amount of water, and sometimes from losing weight too fast.

You should always take body measurements before you start your weight management program, and then again every 4 weeks thereafter. You should also do a full fitness assessment making note of the following:

• Height
• Weight
• Body composition
• Blood pressure
• Resting heart rate
• Muscular strength
• Muscular endurance
• Flexibility
• Cardiovascular endurance

Safety should be your number one priority. Starting out slow is the safest. In some cases a full physical that involves a cardiovascular stress test may be necessary for those over 35 who have never exercised or have not exercised in more than 5 years or so, and/or if you are more than 50 pounds overweight. Again, each person is different and there are many other factors involved. The best thing to do before starting your weight management program is to seek advice from your physician and let him or her determine your specific testing needs.

Nutritional Needs

The next thing your weight management program should focus on is your nutritional needs. Write down on a list everything you eat and drink for the next week or so. You will then forward that to your personal trainer/nutritionist for review. He or she will then make suggestions about how you can improve your diet and he or she will then lay out specific food menus for you to follow based on your current eating habits and lifestyle. Of course depending on your eating habits your weight management program may not contain all the foods you currently eat. However, it may contain most of the foods you eat along with other foods the professional recommends in order for you to accomplish your goals.

Exercise Needs

The next thing that your weight management program should contain is a well rounded exercise program that is tailored to fit you. The exercise program should contain specific exercises that you are able to follow with enough intensity as to not cause injury or aggravate any current physical ailments. Your weight management program should include exercises that work to increase overall strength along with aerobic exercise to improve cardiovascular health and endurance. Both resistance training and aerobic exercise combined in the same routine proves to be far more beneficial than doing either one alone.

Ongoing Support

In order to achieve and maintain your goals your weight management program should contain some form of support from either other individuals like yourself and/or from a professional that has the skills it takes to help you succeed. Joining weight loss forums or forums that pertain to your goals is one of the most beneficial ways of receiving outside support.

In conclusion, as you can see there are many parts to a good weight management program. All of them work together and one without the other will take away from you and lessen your chance for success.

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