It can seem impossible at times to achieve weight loss goals. One of the hardest things to do is to get started. The next hardest thing to do is to do it again. What can you do to make sure you’re successful?
First, you need to develop specific goals for losing weight. Is there a particular clothing size you need to fit into? Do you have a weight in mind which you would like to achieve? Are you interested in overall fitness and health?
Make sure to track your weight loss progress weekly. Keep a diet journal so that you can make a note of your weight loss. Record what you eat in the same book. Keep track of everything you eat to serve as a record of your daily consumption. By forcing yourself to write out your food, you will become less apt to eat junk.
Do not let yourself get too hungry, or you may find yourself choosing unhealthy food. In order to avoid this from occurring, prepare some healthy food options to take with you when you go out. Packing lunches to eat while at the office or at school makes far more sense than dining out. If you bring your lunch to work with you, it is easier to eat healthy. In addition, bringing your own lunch usually saves you more money than eating out at a restaurant; therefore, you will be saving money and dropping weight.
You need exercise and healthy eating habits in order to lose weight. Find the workout that you enjoy doing the most, and do it at least 3 times a week. If you are having difficulty exercising consistently, consider what it is that you like to do, and turn that into a workout. Go for a walk or bike ride when you get together with your friends. If you have an interest in dancing, take a dance class. Use a variety of trails and explore new terrain if you enjoy hiking.
You must take a stand and ban junk food from your house and office! It may be painful to hear, but if the junk food isn’t available, then you can’t consume it. Turn your workplace and your home into healthy food zones. Be prepared for sudden snack attacks by having plenty of ready-to-eat foods on hand, such as carrot and celery sticks, fruit, seeds and other nutritious treats.
Bring a friend when you workout. We can often make excuses if we only answer to ourselves and ignore our responsibility to stay healthy. Working out with friends helps keep you motivated to keep going, especially when you start feeling fatigued or discouraged. You will always have someone to turn to when you feel discouraged and exhausted by the sheer effort of weight loss.