The holidays often take a hit on our fitness goals. From the homemade baked goods to the cold weather, this season is perfect for snuggling up and treating ourselves. With the new year rapidly approaching, now is a great time to map out your 2018 fitness plan. Here are some tips to make your weight loss journey a little easier:
- Be realistic. It is crucial that you create a plan that is attainable and healthy. It should incorporate both a balanced diet and frequent exercise. For example, if you are a busy mom balancing work, driving your kids, making dinner, and keeping the house clean, don’t plan 3-hour workouts at a gym across town. Aim for goals that are challenging but also doable. Otherwise, it may cause frustration that could lead to abandonment of the plan altogether.
- Get your family and friends involved. Share your weight loss plan with the people close to you. If they are aware of what you are trying to do, they can be more helpful. They’re likely to refrain from offering you a second slice of pie and be more inclined to invite you to walk their dog with them. Often, they will want to join you on your journey, which will help you stick with it.
- Find a workout you love. If you hate running on the treadmill, then don’t schedule it into your workout. Try new classes at your gym; maybe you will fall in love with spin, Zumba®, or Pilates. You won’t know until you try. Once you find something that you truly enjoy, it will be that much easier to get yourself to the gym. Working out is not only good for your body but also your mind.
- Avoid gimmicks. Try to stay away from diet fads and over-the-counter weight loss supplements. Commonly, these gimmicks either don’t work or aren’t safe. Sometimes they do aid in weight loss, but the second you stop taking them, you gain all the weight back and more. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Keep a food journal. This is a great way to hold yourself accountable. It will also help you be mindful of everything you are putting in your body. At the end of the week you will be able to look at what you consumed and identify how you can improve. It will provide perspective and allow you to see the bigger picture.
- Reward yourself. Enjoy your life. If you deprive yourself of your favorite foods, you will resent this new healthy lifestyle. You should not feel guilty for treating yourself every once in a while. However, this doesn’t mean that you should indulge in large quantities of sweets.
- Don’t skip meals. When you get too hungry, you are more likely to make unhealthy choices. People who eat breakfast tend to eat fewer calories during the day. Pack some healthy snacks to hold you over until your next meal.
- Eat slowly. It takes a while for our brains to tell our bodies that we are full. Chew slowly and take small bites. This will help you not overeat and feel sick after a meal. Drink a glass of water before, during, and after your meal to fill yourself up and help you slow down.
- Bring lunch to work. Usually if you bring your lunch to work, it will have fewer calories and be healthier overall. Buying lunch makes portion control more difficult, and when you eat out, you can’t control added sauces, oils, and salt.
- Remember to hydrate. Keep a bottle of water at your desk as you work, always bring water to the gym, and remember to drink water with every meal. This will make you feel fuller during the day, so you will snack less.
Sometimes following a strict diet and workout regimen is not enough. You might lose a substantial amount of weight and be within 10 pounds of your goal, but not be able to get rid of loose skin. You may have done everything you can to achieve a defined abdomen, but your efforts are unsuccessful. One of your options in Pasadena is a tummy tuck. This procedure can take care of sagging skin, fat deposits, and weakened, separated muscles, making it the final step in your weight loss efforts. The main point to remember is that you should be embarking on this journey for your own health and well-being. You must want it before anything else.
