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5 Things To Do If You Want To Lose Weight
Serious About Losing Weight?
Losing weight can be a challenge. People hear from every direction what’s the best and worst ways to lose. It can be very confusing, but the truth is there is no right or wrong way. Different things work for different people. The challenge is in finding what works for you. But no matter what direction people choose to take, I think there are five main things someone should do if they are serious about losing weight.
1. Make It Enjoyable
- The #1 thing to consider when trying to lose weight is that no matter how you choose to lose it, it should be enjoyable. A lot of people may not think losing weight will ever be enjoyable, but it can. For one thing, you can still eat foods you enjoy and lose weight. It’s the number of calories that count, not what you eat. Granted it’s not the best idea to eat foods that you are addicted to or have a significantly high amount of calories, because that will make eating less food harder. But you can still incorporate foods that you love in any plan. If you choose to exercise, do things you enjoy, and listen to your favorite music. If you hate going to the gym, take up a sport. There are many things you can do to lose weight that doesn’t include being a gym rat, and eating only chicken and broccoli.
2. Make Your Actions Consistent
- No matter what you plan to do to lose weight, you should do it consistently if you expect results. Sometimes the effort put in doesn’t show up right away. But as long as you keep it up, and you are creating a deficit, you will lose weight. I think a lot of people give up or are tempted to when the weight loss progress is slow. The only thing to remember is that losing weight is a slow process, but if you’re consistent and don’t change up plans whenever you’re frustrated, you can reach your goals. Changing plans is also starting over, and if you keep starting over you’ll never reach your goals (or it will take you a very long time to).
3. Make Mini Goals
- Sometimes people focus too much on the big goal, which for some may be far away. In order to not get discouraged, making smaller attainable goals is the way to go. You can lose 5 pounds fairly quickly, but trying to lose 50 to 100 pounds is going to take awhile. Don’t let the number scare you off. Even if you lose only 1 to 2 pounds a week, you’ll feel like it’s a bigger step towards your goal.
4. Switch Something Up Every Now and Then To Prevent Boredom
- Switching up something every now and then doesn’t mean changing your plan, but changing an aspect of it. This will help prevent boredom, and can help get you over a plateau if you reach one. Switching up your plan can be changing the music you listen to at the gym, taking a different path if you’re a jogger, changing up the foods that you are eating, or allowing yourself to eat more calories one day and less calories another. Especially if you have a lot of weight to lose, switching it up mid-way through can be the thing that gives you new life.
5. Take It Seriously
- If you really want to lose weight, take it seriously. This may seem like a no-brainer but if you catch yourself constantly cheating on your plan or skipping workouts, you can’t expect to lose weight in a timely manner. Just remember, cheating leads to not losing much weight (if any at all), which leads to quitting. If you’ve made a commitment to lose weight, do what you say you are going to do. At the end of the day, don’t give yourself excuses and realize you can make it though the day doing exactly what you say you are going to do. It’s not prison, and it’s not a death sentence, but something good you are doing for yourself and your body. If you think about the big picture and how much better your health, self-image, and confidence will be, you’ll realize it’s ridiculous to let a chocolate chip cookie get in the way.
What Do You Feel Is Your Biggest Challenge When Losing Weight?
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Disclaimer
Disclaimer: Before undertaking any diet or exercise plan, please consult your physician or healthcare professional. UltimateLife is not a doctor or trained health professional. Thank-you for your interest and support!
© 2013 Michelle V