Three simple ways to lose fat and maintain weight

For the past 27 years I’ve learned and practiced several ways of working out and trying different styles of healthy eating.  Now that I’m in my 40′s, I’ve grown tired of watching what I eat like a hawk, eat foods I love a little more, and learned to keep my strategy simple and still stay in good shape.  Trying to obtain a super lean physique like those young guys on the magazines just doesn’t fit into my interests, as long as I can still fit into a size 34 pants I’m all good. Does this fit your frame of mind too?

There’s more than a few strategies that will help a person lose or maintain their bodyfat levels.  Ask 10 different trainers how to lose weight and you’ll get 10 different styles of philosophy and strategies.  Me being a simple guy, instead of counting calories and grams, analyzing every ingredient that goes into my mouth, and keeping daily journals (which I’ve done), here is the big picture I focus on:

1) Portion control

2) Sugar/fat intake

3) Cardio activity

If you only focused on these three areas for the rest of your life, it could help you be in your ideal weight range.  The biggest mistake most people make when beginning a new routine are these huge dramatic changes in their eating/activity behaviors thinking they can keep it up for the long term.

Starting with small changes in eating habits and activity levels will be less overwhelming, decrease chances of injury and burnout, and increase chances of long term enjoyment when you don’t feel like you’re killing yourself or having to eat bland chicken every meal.  Believe me, it’s been 20 years since I did those bodybuilding diets and I still won’t touch canned tuna or baked potatoes!  A buddy told me years ago he did a simple switch from regular sodas to diet, the only change he did in his daily eating habits, and his body responded by dropping 10 lbs within days.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize those super strict diets and 2 hour workouts aren’t necessary unless you’re under doctor’s orders, wanting to prepare for a bodybuilding contest, or want to be part of a weight loss reality show with the screaming personal trainers.  My guess is most of you aren’t interested in any of those categories.

So, that’s the big picture for now.  Stay tuned for future posts on each of these areas of focus!