Give yourself a great start to the new year by losing weight and sticking to a diet plan. Here are ways to set up your weight loss goals:
Be Consistent
Get into a routine of exercising 20 to 30 minutes a day. Commit to it and be consistent. For high intensity exercise within a period of time one can exercise on a treadmill and set it at various speed levels from a brisk walk to a slow but steady run. Alternate between the two paces of walking and running. If you don’t have access to a treadmill you can walk up and down the stairs. You will be able to burn a similar amount of calories within the same time frame.
Find Motivation
Ask yourself why you want to lose weight and create a list of all the advantages that you will get from sticking strictly to a diet. This list can keep you motivated when you don’t have the willpower to keep going. The reason why many people fail to stick to their plan is due to their surface level understanding of what actually motivates them to slim down. It’s also helpful to come up with a list of all the reasons on the adverse effects of not sticking to the diet. Having a plan will allow one to reject junk food and introduce foods that are healthier.
Focus on Process - Not End Results
Though diets may seem to be a means to an end, an individual can lose sight of the process easily if he or she is too focused on the end goal. Do not think of it as a task, make the diet plan your habit so that you can become a lifelong healthy eater. Focusing too much on the end result may cause one to revert back to their old eating habits once they have lost their desired amount of weight. While change is the only constant in life, it is crucial to learn how to make gradual changes. Big changes can be very overwhelming and stressful. Start small and gradual change will eventually lead to a huge change. It has a lasting and effortless impact this way. Tell yourself that you are a healthy eater and make changes to your diet gradually.
Conducive Environment
Make sure that your environment is conducive enough for you to stick to your diet plan. It doesn’t help to have a house filled with junk food if you intend to embark on your weight loss diet. Replace them with healthier options like raisins, nuts and dried fruit. Surround yourself with positive influences. Do not be influenced by the words of your friends, colleagues and family members. It is highly suggested to have a diet buddy to motivate you and to keep you on track. Share your action plans and goals with your diet buddy and update each other on your progress, successes and failures. This should help you to attain your fitness goal as well as inculcate good dietary habits in the long run.
Virginia is a fitness & health writer from Southern California. She currently blogs for Northwest Pharmacy.
