Are you trying to lose weight? If so, are you feeling discouraged because you aren’t losing the weight as quickly as you would like? Are you feeling discouraged? Are you having a hard time staying motivated? Are you feeling outweighed by the amount you have to lose?
Take heart, you are not alone in how you feel. Losing weight isn’t easy. You can’t undo months or years of poor eating habits in a day or in a few weeks. Losing weight is a process. Expect to have ups and downs.
Here are some key points to remember along your weight loss journey:
1. Celebrate the fact that you are taking the steps to get healthy. Realize that the journey is more about how you feel inside from treating your body right than about how you look on the outside.
2. Eat to live, don’t live to eat. The majority of time you should eat foods that nourish your body. Eat less of the foods that will harm your health (i.e. processed foods, fried foods and foods with excess salt or excess sugar).
3. Surround yourself with folks who will support you and not sabotage you.
4. Invite your friends, family and coworkers along your weight loss journey. Chances are they need to lose weight too.
5. Keep it simple. There is no secret to losing weight. Plan to exercise regularly and eat less.
6. Fad diets work, but only for a time. Chances are you will regain the weight and more when you resume your normal eating habits.
7. Don’t deprive yourself. It’s more than okay to have your cake and eat too. But don’t plan on eating that cake everyday and expect to lose weight.
8. When you fall off the wagon, don’t beat yourself up. Get back up and undo the damage by doing an extra 30 minutes on the treadmill.
9. Find an exercise you enjoy. You are more likely to keep up with your workouts if you enjoy it.
10. Learn to make low calorie versions of your favorite foods.
11. Don’t compare yourself to others. Some folks will have an easier time losing weight than you. Keep in mind you are an individual. We are all at different fitness levels. We have different rates of metabolism. And we have different health requirements and limitations.
Bottom-line
Losing weight is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. Don’t give up. Stay positive, you can do it. Remember that it’s not about the weight you lose, it’s about the health you gain.