I highly recommend a daily walk of at least 30 minutes. If you have the time and inclination, walk even more. To keep yourself motivated, walk with a friend or listen to books on tape. If you have a treadmill, watch a video or DVD. In addition to regular walking, include more activity in your everyday life. Park at the far end of the lot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Also, consider trying other forms of exercise such as tennis and swimming.

While beginning your exercise program, you will need to take a closer look at your diet. I generally recommend a Mediterranean-type of diet with lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and smaller amounts of meat, poultry and fish. Most fat should be obtained from olive oil or other vegetable oils as well as small amount of nuts.

And, you need to practice what I have termed “defensive eating.” It is best to stop eating before you are stuffed. Of course, you don’t want to walk around with constant hunger pains. But, you should stop eating before feeling overly full. And, do not eat everything that is put before you. So, if your waiter serves a basket piled high with various breads, do not feel that you must eat every last morsel. Replace the butter with olive oil. Since they are likely to have far more calories than you think, always be careful of desserts. Close your meal with a bowl of fresh fruit.

Defensive eating entails eating more slowly and gaining greater awareness of what you are eating. Try keeping a journal that tracks your food consumption. It may be quite revealing. Have a snack or appetizer before a meal. It will quell your hunger. And, to reduce temptation, eliminate foods you should not be eating from your home.

As I wrote in my book, Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy, “Weight control isn’t impossible, not does it need to mean deprivation or a boring, repetitious diet. With conscious effort and creativity, most people can successfully control their weight for the long term with an enjoyable but reasonable diet and daily exercise. A longer, healthier life is definitely worth the effort.”

Walter C. Willett, M.D./DrPH Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Chair, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health Author, Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating

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