The most dramatic changes don't need to be made all at once when it comes to weight loss. Actually, making small changes create momentum. By building on small changes, that momentum carries over and propels you to successful weight loss. Eating a certain way one day and then changing your entire eating plan by following a diet doesn't work. However, making small changes and adding to them will get you to the finish line of your weight goal.
Small changes add up. In changing your diet and exercise plan in small steps, you build successes to achieve your weight loss goal. If you undertake too much too quickly, it rarely lasts. Don't give up. Change your strategy to small steps rather than one huge leap. When you successfully incorporate one small change, move on to another. You build momentum by incorporating small changes in your life.
1. Water as your beverage of choice. After you've consumed your morning coffee or tea to get you going for the day, drink water. Water is critical in maximizing your weight loss. You can drink flavored water for a change of pace.
2. Fresh fruit instead of juice. If you drink orange juice or other juices, try switching to eating the whole fruit. Juice packs lots of calories in a small glass and doesn't provide you a sense of satisfaction the way eating the fruit does. You'll consume less calories, enjoy the sense of eating, feel fuller from the fruit rather than the liquid, plus you'll add important fiber from eating the fruit.
3. Write it down. Carry a small notepad with you and log in every meal, bite, taste and anything that you eat. By keeping track of what you consume, it will make you think twice before eating something. If you have to write something down in a log, many times you don't want to see it in your log so you won't see it on your waist either. Writing it down can also show you exactly what you are eating. A bite or taste sometimes doesn't register with us. In a log, you become very aware of what you're doing.
4. Check your steps. Buy a pedometer and wear it every day. Health experts recommend 10,000 steps each day for maximum health. Take your first day and use it as your base number. Set your goal to get in an additional 1,000 steps per day. Keep track how many steps you have each day. You can make it a game by logging the steps you make each day.
5. Lose your taste for soda. Soda scores a big zero in weight loss. Soft drinks contain astounding amounts of sugar and sodium. Plus, they are void of nutrition and do nothing to assist in filling you up. If you must drink soft drinks, go for the diet version. Just like many other things, you acquire a taste for something and you can lose it too. By cutting out soda from your day, you'll save hundreds of calories which result in weight loss.
6. Get a team of support. You don't have to lose weight alone. There are many resources available to you. First, turn to your family and friends and request their support. You can also hire your own weight loss coach. You can work with your coach to create a program that is best for you, what you like, what you prefer, and what works best for you. You can also join an online support group. There are many people waiting to partner with you to achieve your weight loss goals.
7. Make your coffee work for you. I used to love those flavored creamers. I would joke that I added coffee to my flavored creamer. Unfortunately, I was right. It wasn't until I kept a food journal that I noticed how much I was actually consuming. The flavored creamers, whether non-fat or in any form, are full of sugar. I was consuming enough carbs to count for one-half of my day. What worked for me is to use nonfat powdered creamer and sugar-free flavored syrups in my coffee. I returned to losing immediately upon changing this one small habit.
In another article, we'll add more little changes for you to review and consider. Small changes you make can be simple and quite easy. Small changes can be painless too. As far as little changes count for you: 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = Your own weight loss success!
Being Perfect On Your Diet As Set Up For Failure
It's very important that you begin your healthier lifestyle with an understanding that there will be days when you will stray from healthy eating and exercising. You will not be perfect in your diet and exercise program, nor should you be. Success doesn't come from being perfect. Success comes to you from a balance and moderation of healthy habits.
It Is About Why You Eat, Not What You Eat
Your weight and body issues don't have anything to do with food. It isn't what you eat but why you eat. One of the problems with weight loss surgery and diet programs is our belief that they hold the answer. If only we can follow them, they will work for us. Unfortunately for many of us, we didn't experience long-term weight loss success. Did we fail? No. Absolutely not! The diets failed because they are not the answer.
Commitment List versus Wish List
Do you want to lose weight? Are you hoping for a way of life that includes losing weight, feeling good in your body, wearing a smaller size, and have strong sense of confidence? You can have it. To reach any goal, you need to be committed. To lose weight requires persistence and consistency. It requires saying no to food choices when you'd rather indulge. It requires a commitment to your diet and along with a promise to yourself.
