Break Bad Habits to Lose Weight

Weight loss requires lifestyle changes. Learning how to break bad habits by replacing them with healthier new habits can help you shed some extra weight.

There certainly can be genetic, medical or other reasons people become overweight or severely obese. The reason for many people, however, is having bad habits that contribute to their weight problem.

Analyze Bad Habits that Contribute to Weight Gain

Closely analyze your lifestyle to determine if your bad habits are the cause of your weight gain. Notice your activity level. 

• Do you purposely avoid exercise because you hate to sweat?
• Do you have trouble motivating yourself to get to the gym? 
• Do you spend 20 minutes driving up and down parking lot aisles to get the closest spot so you don't have to walk? 
• Do you look for excuses to avoid exercise?

Start logging your exercise online or in a notebook to see exactly how much exercise you are getting in each week. Aim for at least 30 minutes 3-4 times per week. Drop your excuses and commit to making lifestyle changing that will make you look and feel better.
Next take a look at your bad food habits.

• Do you skip meals in an attempt to save calories?
• Do you binge over large portions of food? 
• Do you eat mindlessly in front of the TV or computer screen? 
• Do you frequently snack before bed? 
• Do you eat out of impulse or for emotional reasons? 

Track your daily calories long enough to get an average. Look for destructive eating patterns and conscientiously work at eating to fuel your body for energy. Practice mindful eating, control your portion sizes and make it a priority to make healthier food choices.

Identify Bad Habits to Lose Weight

If any of these sound familiar there is hope. The good thing about these bad habits is that they are easy to change. Identifying bad habits and owning up to them is the first step towards creating positive change and losing weight. Journal about the bad habits that cause you to gain weight, be unhappy and unhealthy. Then choose a bad habit that you will work on changing. Write out a goal statement of exactly how you will break the habit. It's best to choose a new, healthier habit to replace the old behavior.
If you normally hit the vending machine to cure your mid-afternoon slump, for example, allow yourself a different type of energizer. Take a brisk walk, do some light stretching, have a cup of tea, have a healthy snack on hand, etc. It doesn't important what you choose to do as long as it is a healthy distraction.
Eliminating a bad habit and creating a health new routine takes time, but permanent change can and will take place with diligence and commitment, The final step is to return to your goal bad habit list and write out another goal statement for the next habit you want to change. The more bad habits you can eliminate, the easier it will be to lose weight.