TIME FOR CHANGE
Losing weight doesn’t have to be so hard. With a smart approach, it’s possible to fit in getting fit this year
LIZ Josefsberg’s “Target 100” plan featured in The Post this week is one of the most straightforward weight-loss strategies ever devised.
The South Orange, NJ, dieting expert, who herself dropped 70 pounds via the regimen, believes that keeping things simple is key.
“You don’t have to kill yourself to lose weight,” she tells The Post. “If I can just get you to consistently do the things I suggest, you will see results.”
The diet’s magic number is 100. There are six so-called pillars on which it is based: eating no more than 100 grams of carbohydrates each day; adding 100 minutes of stress relief per week; drinking 100 ounces of water daily; exercising for 100 minutes weekly; incorporating 100 minutes of weekly movement (separate from formal exercise, such as taking the stairs); and getting 100 minutes more sleep every week.
Each of Josefsberg’s pillars is backed up by research.
For example, sleep deprivation can trigger urges as powerful as the “marijuana munchies,” leading people to feel hungrier and eat more sweet, salty and fattening foods, according to a 2016 study published in the journal Sleep.
But the real beauty of “Target 100” is its simplicity.
“Every time I [worked] on a research project, everyone always said the same thing: ‘Make it easier,’ ” says Josefsberg, a former Weight Watchers executive. “That’s what I’ve done.”
Another important factor is learning to prioritize your health.
“A lot of people put themselves last in the equation of where their role is in life,” she says. “They become so overworked, so stressed and so focused on others.
“Instead, they need to make time for food and exercise, scheduling them in the same way you would a meeting at work,” says Josefsberg, who shares suggestions for fitting in wholesome habits in the sidebar at left and on the next page.
“It’s time to make yourself a priority.”