Today more and more of us are living life on a dangerous ‘cocktail’ of unhealthy life style choices. Many of us eat too much of the wrong things (and not enough of the good stuff) as well as way too little physical activity, and way too much stress. These issues are the main reason that some things are becoming more common, such as diabetes for example. The good news is that if you act now, many of this can be turned around such as weight loss and diabetes.

Most doctors will tell you to lose weight and exercise more, but what few doctors will help you with is finding the best method to do that. They don’t seem to want to admit that it is difficult, that you may fail a few times before you find the right combination of diet changes and exercises that you like to do.

Most people think that ‘working out’ is all about the work part. And it is work, but if you find an activity that you actually enjoy doing, it won’t seem so difficult and you may even find yourself having fun.

Remember when you were a kid and the sheer joy you felt when you would take off in a dead run? Or how free and alive you felt just skipping down your driveway? You can recapture a lot of that joy if you take the time to find a physical activity that you actually like to do. That is the number 1 ‘secret’ to being successful in your weight loss: find an exercise that you like doing.

Of course getting more physical activity is the first part of the weight loss and diabetes equation. The second part is to make better food choices. I hate to use the word ‘diet’ because that can have such negative connotations. People often equate that word with eating celery stalks for days on end (which is completely counter productive by the way)

Instead I think it’s better to make better food choices and lifestyle changes. Start simple and small. What is your biggest weakness? Too much soda, sweets, carbs? Whatever it is, start there. Now, don’t expect to go cold turkey and completely cut those things out of your diet. It’s unlikely that you will be able to succeed. Instead just make it a policy of cutting way back on that problem item.

If you like soda a little too much, than concentrate on changing that habit and cutting way back. Only allow yourself one soda a day, for example. It’s all about moderation.

Go easy on yourself. Instead of setting yourself up for failure by setting some grand, lofty plan that will be virtually impossible to stick with, give yourself every chance of success.

Choose to start smaller, with more achievable lifestyle changes. It won’t take longer because the overly confidant goals will probably never be accomplished anyway. Smaller goals have a much better chance of success, so start there.

Most health issues can be improved or prevented by maintaining a healthy weight and getting exercise. Diabetes is one of those illnesses, weight loss and diabetes reduction go hand in hand.

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