According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in three adult Americans, or roughly 36% of the population, has obesity, which increases the risk of developing additional diseases.
According to a recent study that was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the number of heart fatalities connected to obesity has tripled over the past 20 years.
It need not be this way, according to board-certified neurosurgeon Dr. Brett Osborn of West Palm Beach.
You have many of opportunities to develop a better body and fend off diseases like type II diabetes, coronary artery disease, cancer, and even Alzheimer’s in addition to obesity.
According to Osborn, who founded Senolytix, a facility for preventative healthcare and anti-aging, building a better body is easier than many people think.
It’s not brain surgery or rocket science, he claimed.
“Rewiring your physiology to burn fat while concurrently maintaining, or even gaining, muscle, is all that’s required.”
Top five suggestions for getting in better physical shape.
Step 1 is to commit to changing.
Osborn advised people who need to lose weight to aim for dropping 8 to 12 pounds of fat over the next eight weeks while keeping their muscle mass.
Males should aim for a weekly fat reduction of 1.5 pounds, while ladies should aim for a weekly fat loss of 1 pound.
Osborn advised utilizing an anthropometry scale, which measures human body proportions, to monitor your progress for the most accurate outcomes.
He also recommended working with a friend or member of your family to achieve this objective in order to help you stay accountable.
Don’t allow any cheat days, whether they are related to exercise or nutrition, because habits will be created during this time, advised Osborn.
Be persistent, and don’t forget to celebrate when you reach your objective.
Your brain will “revolt” against the changes for a while, just as it would when forming any new habit, he noted, but this is natural.
“Seeing yourself through the discomfort is what forms the habit,” he claimed.
“Remember that your body is an organism that can adapt. If you expose it to a new stimulus, whether it’s a low-carb diet or exercise, it could feel uncomfortable at first, but it will adjust.
Step 2: Give strength training top priority.
Not only will gaining muscle help you look better, but it will also raise your basal metabolic rate, improve glycemic (blood sugar) control, and accelerate fat burning, according to Osborn.
He suggested strength training instead of treadmill walking if you wanted to lose belly fat. “Strength training is not replaced by walking. It is a pastime.
Obsorn stated it is a typical misconception for girls who are concerned about “bulking up” through strength training.
For the muscle to respond in an anabolic (muscle-building) manner, you must gradually overload it.
According to Osborn, the first five “pillar” exercises are the cornerstone of every strength training program:
Squats
exercise bench
Deadlift
Vertical press
Pull-up/chin-up
These actions don’t need any complicated equipment, he noted. They are simple yet very powerful.
Step 3 :Eat a low-glycemic, anti-inflammatory diet
A low-glycemic index (low-GI) diet consists of meals with little impact on blood sugar levels, as measured by the glycemic index score, which ranges from 0 to 100.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, an anti-inflammatory diet often consists of items known to reduce inflammation, such as omega-3 fatty acids, polyphenols, vitamin C, foods high in fiber, and others.
If daily caloric intake is sufficient, this will reduce insulin levels and promote fat loss while retaining muscle, according to Osborn. Keep in mind that our muscles are what give us our resilience; protect them at all costs.
Limiting simple carbs, which have glycemic indices more than 40, was emphasized by the doctor. This contains rice, pasta, bread, and sugar.
Osborn advised that you receive your carbohydrates from vegetables, preferably green ones. “Eat moderate amounts of protein (from lean meat and fish) to support your muscle mass, and liberal amounts of fat to train your body to burn fat instead of sugar.”
Osborn advised focusing on eating numerous little meals throughout the day with progressively decreasing carbohydrate loading rather than counting calories.
If not earlier, “your last meal should be at 7 p.m.,”
Step 4: Minimize your stress levels.
According to Osborn, stress is one of the most significant—yet frequently disregarded—factors that influences fat loss.
The “unwanted spare tire” and other issues linked to high cortisol levels, such as hypertension, insulin resistance or prediabetes, and low testosterone levels, which “impact energy levels, libido, and body composition,” may be difficult to lose in people with high stress levels.
Committing to adopting stress-reduction strategies into daily life is the cure.
Osborn suggests finding stress-relieving pursuits, taking vacations, arranging exercise, and planning social connection with family and friends among other stress-busters.
Step 5: Check your hormone levels
Age causes all hormone levels to decline, according to Osborn, but thyroid and testosterone are the most significant in terms of body composition.
According to him, thyroid hormone functions as a metabolic thermostat, similar to a motorcycle’s throttle. It regulates how quickly you burn fat, just like gas does for a motorcycle. The motorcycle burns fuel more quickly when the throttle is opened.”The similar impact of thyroid hormone on fat metabolism means that regulating your thyroid level is essential, he continued.
The doctor pointed out that testosterone also has restorative functions in the body.
It has immediate benefits on fat burning, stimulates the billions of testosterone receptors in the body, and aids in muscle building and repair after strength exercise.
He continued, “These tests are affordable, and you’ll know the results in days. If your levels are not at their best, you can discuss hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with your doctor. Hormone replacement therapy is more about your inside biology than it is about appearance, continued Osborn. “The appearance is a’side effect’ of the health,” I always remind my patients. According to Osborn, all it takes to develop a healthy body is a daily commitment of one hour to better health.