Reaching your weight loss goal can seem almost impossible sometimes – whether you’re just beginning your weight loss journey or need help losing those last 5 stubborn pounds, here are some tips to help you lose weight and, most importantly, maintain that weight loss.
1 – Get real about your weight
Ask yourself the following questions:
Do you have a point of reference for when you were at your ideal weight?
How do you measure your weight now? Is it the same as before?
How do you determine what your weight should be?
How recent is your weight gain?
These will help you form a realistic point of reference and help you determine a successful path forward. The best weight loss plans are the ones that are sustainable over a long period of time and help you achieve your goals in a healthy way.
Avoid fad diets that are difficult to maintain. Diets that quickly take off water weight may help to jump start the process, but it is important to have a long term plan that you can easily adopt to maintain the weight loss you’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Consider researching the Mediterranean and DASH diets – both of which have been extensively researched and heralded as the best overall diets you can follow.
2 – Look at your eating plan
Ask yourself if you have one. Do you schedule your meals and snacks?
Are you willing to follow a regimen on paper? Are you hungry before your meals?
Consider keeping a food diary or creating a schedule to follow. It will help you
Extra tip – eating fiber with your meals is important for weight management as it helps you feel fuller after your meals
3 – Look at your drinking plan
Do you have one? Are you drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water per day?
4 – Look at other factors that affect your weight
Stress, alcohol intake and sleep are all important factors
5 – Make a Schedule
Our brains loves habits – research has shown that it takes 66 days to form a new habit so take the time to create a schedule to help you form new habits that create a healthy relationship with diet and exercise.
Break up your day into mini habits and form a plan to build a foundation for healthy habits
Focus on the behavior, not the outcome. Guarantee success by making your first goal easy and build from there.
Measure your progress visually – using any marker that is meaningful to you
Ask yourself this:
When I _________________
then I will ___________________
Feel like you could use a little extra help? Consider jump starting your weight loss with a customized meal plan. Unlike other companies, we do not take a ‘one size fits all’ approach to weight loss; our plans are personalized to your goals, schedule and needs. Our founder, Jackie Keller, is not only an expert nutritionist but also board certified health and wellness coach, with years of experience coaching clients and helping them achieve success.