When it comes to losing weight and keeping in shape there are so many different methods and opinions. Everyone has an idea of the best way to lose weight quickly or has an opinion on what you should or shouldn’t be doing or even eating! It can be a minefield as you sift through the information out there! But losing weight in a healthy and sustainable way that works for you is something only you can decide on. If you are confused or unsure, then consulting your doctor will help you find a plan that is safe and healthy for you.
If you are looking at losing a little bit of weight for the holiday season or a bigger amount for sustained weight loss, there are some things you should keep in mind to help you stay the course.
Remember Who You Are Doing This For!
If the answer is anything except for yourself then you may have issues keeping to your new regime. First and foremost, you should always want to lose weight for yourself. This will be your biggest motivation. Doing it for the wrong reasons will make you resent what you are doing and potentially cause you to fall back into old, bad habits.
For some people, they find it helps to write down their goals, targets and experiences so far. How do you feel at different points and can you pinpoint the positives of your new weight loss regimen? This can help spur you on during the tough times and push you to hit each and every new goal!
Don’t be disheartened if things don’t go your way. Find a support group for people in the same situation to help give you advice and support. it may be that they show you things you didn’t even realize could happen. For example, some people need tummy tuck surgery to remove excess skin after losing huge amounts of weight.
Break it Down
Telling yourself you need to lose 5 stone in 6 months can make it seems like an impossible task. As is forcing yourself to go from inactive and unfit to dedicated gym bunny in a week. So don’t do it.
Instead, make smaller more achievable targets. Give yourself 6-8 weeks to lose that first stone. Take it slow and steady. When you hit that goal, make a new one. Are you trying hard to motivate yourself to go to the gym? Don’t go all in, you may do more damage than good. Build up to it slowly. Start with 15 minutes on a treadmill 4-5 times a week and then when you feel confident, make it a little longer.
As you progress you can smash your smaller goals and before you know it, you can move on to other activities to help you improve on your fitness.
Look to the Future
What are you expecting to happen after you lose weight? Do you have a goal such as a wedding or other special occasion you are losing the weight for? Focusing on that can help boost you when motivation is waning. We all need support and encouragement. If you don’t have anything you are losing weight for, why not create something anyway. Give yourself something to work towards!
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