How to Lose Weight: #8: Get Informed

David Bennett

If you are really interested in something, what do you do? You probably learn about it, and maybe even obsess a little. Think of something you are interested in. Maybe it is music, sports, religion, or even your prize insect collection (it takes all types). Now, think of all the information you probably have about this subject, the books, magazines, web pages, and so forth. Why have you acquired all of this information? Because you care about the subjects, and you want to know as much as possible.

If you care about weight loss and health, then it makes sense to educate yourself about these too. I am not saying you have to buy hundreds of weight loss books to equal your comic book collection, or buy as many health magazines as you have Rolling Stone mags, but if you want to be successful at losing weight, you have to be knowledgeable, and probably more importantly, develop a thirst for knowledge about health and wellness.

Books on Shelf, photographed by David Bennett

I started reading about health back in 1992, when I was 14. Jonathan checked out Dr. Lendon Smith's Diet Plan for Teenagers from the library, and from there I bought other books related to fitness, health, and alternative medicine. I looked forward to book shopping with my parents. I remember reading health books right before bedtime (after a busy day of school and football). Unfortunately, I didn't always follow the good advice contained in these books (some books contained a mix of good and bad advice), but at least I had the knowledge to fall back on, knowledge which I continued to have in the back-of-my-head, even when I was making bad choices.

I believe that by educating ourselves, and staying informed, we place ourselves ahead of the curve. Weight loss and good health are difficult to maintain in a society with so many unhealthy temptations, so any advantage is helpful. Knowledge always provides an advantage. A good example is when I read recently in Prevention that diets high in monounsaturated fats are associated with greater weight loss, specifically belly fat loss. I now eat more peanuts, and other nuts, and use olive oil more often. I always knew that these fats were healthy, but I now know that they are helpful in shedding harmful belly fat. In high school, I made a hand-drawn, make-shift chart that listed all the healthy things I wanted to accomplish. It contained a table of things like "don't eat after 6:30 PM," and "stretch at least 3 minutes" and I weighted each one so that all of them added up to 100%. At the end of the day, I gave myself a grade out of one hundred. It was needlessly complicated and I didn't stick to it very long. Nonetheless, I benefited from the research and reading I did to make that chart.

I just can't stress enough the importance of being informed. I view weight loss like being in a battle. The foe, body fat, is extremely powerful. I recall reading in a health magazine in the 1990s that if a person does not lose his or her excess body fat at puberty, then he or she has only a 1 in 35 chance of getting thin. You could be that 1 person in 35, but you darn well better have powerful weapons at your disposal! This is where knowledge comes in. If you can attack your weight loss from multiple "fronts" then you are likely to do better. If restricting calories by eating rice cakes for every meal is all you got, then you are in serious trouble. If you are making use of strength training, exercising aerobically in the 6:9 intense-to-normal ratio, drinking 17 ounces of cold water in the morning, eating whole grains, taking in monounsaturated fats (Omega 9 fats), drinking green tea, eating fish rich in Omega 3 fats, etc, then you are much better armed and likely to succeed at weight loss (I'll be explaining some of these ideas in future tips). However, how would you know about these ideas if you aren't informing yourself?

So how do you get educated? I used to read a lot of books and magazines, and I still do, but the internet contains a wealth of good information (but some bad information too, so beware!!). Prevention, Natural Health, Fitness, and Men's Health seem to be pretty good magazines, although the first three are more for the ladies, and the last one can sometimes be a little too raunchy for my tastes. I keep an eye open for health articles at Yahoo News and The Drudge Report. Real Age.Com is extremely helpful, and probably the best source meant for the layman, because it is scientifically reliable without being closed to new ideas. I receive their emails about three times a week with news and articles related to my interests (nutrition, weight loss, etc). I also check out Health Notes, which while sponsored by a supplement company, consists of research conducted by independent researchers. Natural News is on the fringe at times, so you have to take some of what you read with a grain of salt, but there is some good stuff there you won't always hear from more mainstream sources. BioMed Central is a collection of open source research articles that is academic in nature. Be creative! There are many ways to stay informed.

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Disclaimer: These tips reflect the insights of one or more individuals about weight loss and other issues of health. These insights are based on personal experience and scientific research, to help you live a life of greater wellness. They should not be construed as medical advice or the services of a dietician. Before beginning any weight loss or exercise program, you should consult a physician.