by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: July 08, 2009   Last Updated: October 03, 2010

Some people are engaged in a constant struggle to control their weight, having developed poor eating and exercise habits which they find impossible to shake off. Then there are those individuals who profess that they are able to eat what they want without gaining a pound but who, in most cases, have just become accustomed to following good habits that they don't even give them much thought, and when they do they tend to think of them as being the 'norm'. If only everybody were choosing to adopt good habits then perhaps weight wouldn't be as much of an issue as it currently is. However, it can be difficult for adults to challenge their attitudes towards food and exercise, as they have been a part of their being for so long.

It is therefore essential that parents get their children into good habits from an early age so that they can enter adulthood secure in the knowledge that their routine is a healthy one and so their life isn't dominated by a weight problem. This might be difficult for many parents, though, as many of them are trying, and failing, to manage their own weight, and so have their own bad habits which they generally end up passing down to their children. There needs to be a structure in place, though, so that everybody knows when they should eat, exercise and go to sleep. People who want to develop good habits need to establish a routine that they practise day in, day out so that it is simply part of their every day.

Regular meals are a feature of a good routine, with breakfast providing a boost for the body's metabolism, and giving individuals energy which can help them concentrate and leave them less likely reaching for unhealthy food options later in the day. Snacks in between main meals can also feature in a healthy routine, as long as the calories they provide are taken into consideration, and can help keep the body's metabolism working at a faster rate. Main meals should have the right combination of fruit and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, protein, fat and dairy, whilst processed foods often provide empty calories and are thus best avoided as much as possible.

Taking regular exercise is also another good habit to get into for people trying to maintain a healthy weight, as it obviously helps burn calories, and so individuals are able to consume more calories without worrying about gaining weight. Exercise can also help build muscle, and muscle also helps to burn calories. It is important to stick with an exercise programme, though, rather than continually stopping and starting exercise, as increasing a person's fitness depends on consistency.

When a routine has been established which enables individuals to control their calorie intake and expenditure throughout the day it becomes much easier for them to maintain a healthy weight. There is no need for them to become obsessed with calorie counting, but it certainly helps to have some idea of the energy required during a day and how to make the most of diet and exercise for weight maintenance.

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