Being overweight is very subjective and can mean anything from being a few pounds over what you perceive to be your ideal weight to being medically overweight or obese with associated health problems. In simple terms you gain weight if you consume more calories through your diet than your body can burn.
Healthy weight loss
A healthy approach to weightloss will put you in a better position to gradually lose extra pounds and keep them off without the use of slimming pills so you mantain your ideal weight. This kind of approach will reduce the risk of your weight yo-yoing, and will not cause your body damage.
How slimming pills can help
Slimming pills can be very helpful if you are at risk of developing health problems due to being overweight. There are a lot of pills out there and not all can guarantee results. Generally anything which can be sold over the counter or in a health food shop will not have been tested for efficacy. If you follow a healthy diet and good exercise regime you will see results, by complementing this with a slimming aid you will see the weight come off quicker.
Which slimming pills can I take?
There are hundreds of products out there making it difficult to chose an appropriate treatment. If you are suffer from obesity you can get help and advice from your doctor. In the UK the only prescription medications available to aid weightloss are Xenical and Reductil. Reductil can only be prescribed following strict rules and close monitoring due to its potentially severe side effects. Xenical is a low risk treatment which can help you safely lose 5-10% of your body weight over the course of a year.
Weightloss tablets should be used only once you have exhausted all other options.
The first step in losing weight is adopting realistic lifestyle changes. In most cases weight related problems are caused by bad lifestyle habits: poor food choices and little or no excercise. There is little use taking slimming pills if you do not address the issues causing weight gain. The most practical tips include:
Eating a well balanced and healthy diet
This means the bulk of your daily food intake comes from fruit and vegetables, the more types you can eat the better. You should eat moderate amounts of starchy foods such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes and switch to brown or wholemeal alternatives as these are more nutritious and help you to feel fuller for longer.
Whilst a balanced diet would discourage you from excluding whole food groups, there are some types of food which should make up a much smaller proportion of your food intake.
Protein sources like meat and eggs are high in cholesterol and fats and should only be eaten once or twice a week. You can source protein from non-dairy products such as beans, tofu and nuts instead.
Food and drinks high in fat and sugar should be avoided as much as possible. Cakes, crisps, fizzy drinks and milk chocolate have little or no nutritional value and should not be eaten everyday.
You will also need to identify and tackle any emotional problems which make you eat. Taking these steps will help you towards a postive and healthy approach to eating.
Follow a regular exercise regime
Government guidelines recommend doing at least 30minutes of exercise every day. If you can afford to sign up for gym membership you can opt for personal training and instructor-led classes, you can also ask for advice on how to arrange your own cardiovascular and weight training. Start off light and then increase the intensity of the exercises. You can still reach the 30min target by leaving your car at home, going for a 20minute jog three times a week, and going for a brisk walk during your lunch break.