CHAPTER 1 –5 STEPS TO ENSURE A SOLID
FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT LOSS.
Once you decide to start taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle, it’s important to follow some certain criteria in order to ensure success. From experience, the following things are what I think are imperative to any successful weight loss plan
Set Reasonable Goals-
If you have 50 pounds to lose, don’t plan on losing it all in two months. Losing 1-2 pounds a week is reasonable and maintainable, but not much more than that. So if you want to lose those 50 pounds, plan on doing so over a course of 6-7 months instead. This will not only be much easier for you to maintain if you drop at a steady rate, but it will also be a much healthier approach.
Practice Patience-
Remember that it took some time for you to get to where you are today. So don’t expect to see progress happen magically, and don’t get discouraged when things are taking longer than you hoped or anticipated. The most maintainable results are those that are achieved in a healthy fashion and not in a crash-diet style.
Acknowledge Mistakes and Move Forward-
In the perfect world, we’d never fall off track or make mistakes, but that’s just not reality. There will be times where you will experience setbacks-you’ll sneak in a slice of cake, skip a workout, find yourself at a McDonald’s drive thru. The only time mistakes will make a dent in your progress is if you let one turn into ten. Acknowledge it happened, understand the trigger, forgive yourself and move on.
Share your Goals-
We tend to feel most accountable when others around us know what we’re working towards. For example, if you tell your coworkers about a weight loss goal, you’ll be less likely or at least think twice before having dessert at a company luncheon. You may even be able to find support groups in your community where other individuals with common goals meet.
Celebrate Small Accomplishments-
Let’s go back to the example of wanting to lose 50 pounds. Perhaps part of your weight loss plan is to start working out, something you’ve never really stuck to doing. Set a goal of working out three days a week for a month straight. Once you accomplish that, reward yourself with something non-food related, like a trip to the spa or a new gym outfit. It’s the small steps that get us to the finish line, so celebrate them!
*** PLEASE NOTE****
Seek Medical Clearance First-
People tend to think they only need to be cleared by a doctor before exercising if they have a known medical condition or old injury, but that’s not necessarily the case.
Oftentimes the majority of exercise-induced injuries are a result of an unknown heart condition of some sort in combination with vigorous exercise. It’s not a bad idea any way to see your doctor for an annual checkup or physical for general well-being purposes.