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Diet Plan Without Medication

Jul 31, 2010 | By Jeffery Perry
Diet Plan Without Medication
Photo Credit pills and pill bottle image by Effie White from Fotolia.com

Following a diet can be difficult. Some people turn to medications and supplements to help them lose weight. However, pills are not necessary and can have unpleasant side effects. With an understanding of the role that diet and exercise play in your weight, you can follow a successful diet plan without medication.

Medications

There are many weight loss medications and supplements. As Thomas Lenz wrote in the January 2004 issue of the "Journal of the American Pharmacists Association", most herbal weight loss products and supplements are not scientifically proven to work. Medications can also have side effects. Dr. Jennifer McDuffie noted in the July 2002 issue of "Pharmacotherapy", that absorption of vitamins D, E and K can decrease when taking "fat blocker" pills.

Weight

Some people follow a diet because they are unhappy with their weight. How much you weigh is influenced by what you do. When you eat more calories than you use, your body stores the excess as fat. Fat, in addition to muscle, bone and water, makes up your weight. Losing weight by decreasing the amount of muscle, bone, or water in your body can be unhealthy. That leaves fat as the target of your diet plan.

Diet

A successful diet will be more than something that you "go on." Changing the way that you eat for a few weeks will only change your weight for a few weeks. The trick is to eat a little less food than you normally would, so that you aren't constantly hungry. Reducing portion sizes can help. Instead of eating one hamburger for lunch, have half a hamburger and a piece of fruit. Eating a bit less at each meal will add up quickly.

Exercise

Using more calories by moving your body will help your diet be successful. Exercise does not have to mean going to the gym and working out. In the morning or evening, simply walk around your neighborhood for half an hour. According to a statement made by the American Heart Association in 1996, regular walking can decrease your weight, promote your health and protect you from disease. Taking a friend or family member with you can make your walk more enjoyable.

Considerations

A successful diet plan without medication is possible, but will take effort. Your diet will have to include changes to your lifestyle that you can maintain for months or even years. Small decreases in the amount of food that you eat and small increases in the exercise you do add up over time. Small changes are also the easiest to keep doing. Results from this diet plan may be slow in coming, but will last.

References

Article reviewed by Craig Sanders Last updated on: Jul 31, 2010

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