Posted by Captin Cannuck on May 15, 2008 at 05:52:13:In Reply to: Re: Effect of weight loss on sleep apne posted by seattlebill on May 14, 2008 at 11:08:33:
I think that the problem with weight loss is that it is not fun. People have to make it fun. Going to the gym is not fun. Dieting and restricting food is not fun. Another thing is that people are impatient. They want results right away, then they get discouraged and abandon the program.
Personally, I don't think any diet works. I love food. I really do. I love good food. So, why not enjoy food? Eat food often and enjoy it, but not to excess. This is the key in small meals. You can calculate your caloric requirement and eat increments of food spaced throughout the day. If you increase the exercise, then no need to do without food. Being hungry is not necessary.
In my opinion people have to find a fun way of exercising. Maybe by mixing fun activities with exercise. For example, let's say that a person makes a habit of taking a walk with his wife down the beach (or other nice location) to watch the sunset and chat. The person forgets that they are exercising. It becomes a kind of fun routine that they might even look forward to. Getting friends involved is good. It becomes a social thing.
Another thing is being patient. We have to stick with it. Results will become apparant but very gradually. We start gradually, doing what we can, however little it is. If a person can only walk around the block at first, that is a good start. As Confucius said "the road of a thousand miles begins with a single step".
Some people have obstacles for fitness. For example, I have a bad back. Swimming, cycling, skating and rollerblading do not bother it, but walking and running do. People might be handicapped (in wheel chairs etc.), but there are outlets, basketball leagues etc. which are wonderful.
Basically, the mother of all ideas is that fitness can and should be made enjoyable, social an fun. It should not be a burden that we force ourselves to endure. When it is a burden, our resolve will dwindle fast.