Healthy weight loss, in general, is about burning more calories than you consume; in other words, it is about making better food choices and being more active. A healthy approach to weight loss includes:

• Make Small, Achievable Changes to Your Lifestyle — There are many unhealthy misconceptions about weight loss, but in order to reduce your weight, and actually keep it off, you need to make small, achievable changes to your lifestyle that do not cause you to revert to previous eating habits.

• Understand Your Current Eating and Exercise Habits — Once you have made the decision to lose weight, it is a good idea to understand your current situation; this can be achieved by analyzing your eating and exercise habits. Take some time to reflect on your eating patterns, such as what you eat, when you eat, and why you eat.

• Keep a Food Diary — Keeping track of the foods you eat with a food journal is one of the best ways to monitor what you are putting into your body. Maintaining a food diary takes hard work, dedication, and determination, and the rewards far exceed the efforts.

• Recognize Habits That Lead to Weight Gain — Some of the food-related habits that can lead to weight gain include night eating (snacking throughout the evening); social eating (eating when in a group of friends or family); emotional eating (eating in response to your emotions, whether that be boredom, tiredness, anxiety, stress, elation or sadness); and distracted eating (eating when doing something else, such as browsing social media, watching TV, or working at your desk).

The amount of weight you should lose in order to attain a healthy weight depends on your total weight, your height, and other factors. Current research suggests that you get the ultimate health benefit between 5 to 10 percent weight loss. For example, if a person weighs 200 pounds, losing just 10 or 20 pounds can provide a huge benefit, such as reducing their risk of chronic disease and disability.

In general, there are four main stages of weight loss, which are:

• The ‘Whoosh’ — Glycogen Depletion
• The Reality Check — Things Slow Down
• The Plateau Phase — Slow and Steady
• Maintenance Mode — Keeping the Weight Off

There are many benefits of losing weight—nearly countless—but it is imperative to approach this in a healthy manner in order to maximize results without compromising your health. Some of the biggest benefits of healthy weight loss are that by losing weight gradually, there is no sudden shock to the body. In addition to this, there is also less risk of developing loose, saggy skin when you lose weight in a healthy, gradual manner. Additional benefits include:

• Reduced or eliminated snoring
• Decreased risk of type 2 diabetes
• Lower risk for cardiovascular diseases
• Improved cholesterol levels
• Decreased risk of cancer
• Increased confidence
• Improved ability to sleep
• More stamina
• Fewer joint pains
• Fewer mood swings
• Less seasonal allergies
• Improved memory and concentration
• Improved skin health
• Stronger immune system health
• Fewer cravings for unhealthy foods
• Save loads of money—on both food and healthcare
• Improved hormonal balances and fewer endocrine issues
• Improved cognitive function
• Improved athletic performance
• Reduced tiredness and brain fog
• Reduced irritability

If you are trying to lose weight as healthily as possible, the professionals at Metabolic Medical Centers can help you design a weight loss plan that uniquely addresses your needs and lifestyle. Call us today to book an appointment with our weight loss specialist, or visit one of our six South Carolina locations: in Mount Pleasant, SC; Charleston, SC; Murrells Inlet, SC; Columbia, SC; Bluffton, SC; and Irmo, SC. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Mount Pleasant SC, West Ashley SC, Murrells Inlet SC, Columbia SC, Bluffton SC, Sullivans Island SC, Isle of Palms SC, Daniel Island SC, Charleston SC, James Island SC, North Charleston SC, Pawleys Island SC, Myrtle Beach SC, Hilton Head SC, and Hardeeville SC.