1: Eat Correctly

Nutrition forms a very important part of your overall wellbeing. Step 1 in the journey to better health is making sure that your body receives all the necessary nutrients it needs to function optimally. Take the time to assess your current diet and eating habits. Are you eating the correct foods and are you eating enough of it? Cut out the foods that do not add any nutritional value to your body’s well-being.

Action Step: Simply choose which Tony Ferguson Program you want to follow (Classic; Accelerate or Extreme) on our DIY platform; click “Find out more” and you will find the free “ 7 Day Meal Plan” and other resources created by the Tony Ferguson nutrition experts at the bottom of the page. These simple eating plans will guide you to eating better and losing weight, so that your body can perform at its peak.

2: Exercise Regularly

Many people tense up just at the mention of exercise. You’ve hated exercise as long as you can remember and you find a myriad of excuses not to do it. But keeping your body active with regular exercise is important. Take baby steps, start by doing things that you like and do it consistently. A brisk walk around the block a few nights a week is a great way to launch into your new health regime. Don’t expect to suddenly be filled with a love for exercising. It will most likely take time. The best you can do is to keep at it.

Action Step: Getting healthy is easier, and much more fun, if you do it together. Ask a friend or family member to join you for a brisk walk or jog. Support each other when you get tired and take the journey to better health together.

Being overweight or obese may be seen as a good or a bad thing, depending on the existing cultural and social setting.

For example, in modern Western society being overweight or obese often has a negative social stigma, while in other cultures the reverse may be true with obesity seen as a mark of wellbeing and or wealth.

What is clear though is that excess weight is linked to an increase in health risks, including the chronic diseases linked to Metabolic Syndrome such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease.

A weighty issue

In the 1990’s there was increased interest in the health impact of the growing obesity epidemic, not only in first world countries but in the developing world too, as researchers realised that as obesity rates soared, so did the prevalence of some of the diseases associated with metabolic syndrome, especially cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Researchers began looking for common denominators and noticed that the growing obesity rate was matched by an increase in the consumption of processed foods, edible seed oils and sugar sweetened foods and beverages. Dr Peter Hill of Met-S Care says, “Epidemiological studies, i.e. studies that investigate the factors that lead to the presence, incidence and control of disease, are generally not able to assign cause but rather refer to association, especially when it comes to diseases of the metabolic syndrome.

In other words, obesity is not the cause of heart disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, diabetes etc. but it is associated with these diseases. It is in effect a fellow traveller.” Recent research seems to indicate that people who are of normal weight or slightly overweight are likely to have better health outcomes than thin people and those who are obese. So an important question to ask is, “Will weight loss in overweight and obese people mean improved health?”