Weight loss plans come in all shapes and sizes. Some are fad diets that are too restrictive to follow more than a couple of weeks, while others are provided by professionals that make customized plans for us. All of them give us some guidelines on what we should and shouldn't eat to ultimately reach our weight loss goals. No matter how many food plans we try, healthy or unhealthy, there are some fundamental things you must know in order to be successful in a weight loss program that, believe it or not, have nothing to do with food.
1. Readiness- Are you ready to make change in your life right now? How would you know? The reason many weight loss plans fail is because people are not truly emotionally ready for change. In order to have true lifelong weight loss you have to commit to trading your old habits in for a new, healthier lifestyle. This has more to do with readiness for change than a desire to shed pounds- there is a big difference. The good news is, as you start on the journey to change these old habits you will be amazed how much better you feel physically, psychologically, and emotionally. This is the place where the people who have experienced long term weight loss have entered and want to stay. When you are truly committed to changing your lifestyle you will achieve lifelong weight loss and so much more!
Ask yourself a few questions. Are you ready to make permanent dietary changes for you and your family? Are you ready to start exercising regularly? Are you ready to defend your new lifestyle changes to those who are undermining your efforts? Don't fret if you aren't completely ready to dive into change. This is the stage to keep up the learning process by reading articles and gathering information. You will know when the time is right and that will be when you answer an unequivocal "Yes!" to the above questions.
2. Developing a vision. When I ask people what their goals are for a weight loss program the answer is always, "to lose weight of course", or "to lose x amount of pounds". It is crucial to have another more, heart-felt reason to lose weight other than losing pounds and appearance. This is because when times are tough, and they will be during any change process, you will need a heart-felt or internal reason to lose the weight to keep you motivated. Losing weight for appearance is ok but it is an external reason and will not help to keep you motivated for long.
In the past my clients have chosen things like, being able to play with their kids, running a marathon, backpacking trip they have longed to go on for years, and a big motivator is often a health condition. I call this your vision. It is imperative to take a few minutes to learn what your vision is. What is important to you that you will be able to achieve with weight loss? Write this vision down and plaster it everywhere so you always see your end goal and it will always help to motivate you further when times are tough.
3. Self Talk ? is yours negative or positive? Unfortunately it's true that we are our own worst critics and like hearing any critic it often leads us to failure because we believe the critic is right. Furthermore, we start to believe things are true that are absolutely not true. For instance, if a child is told they are a klutz from an early age they will likely always think they are a klutz. We believe what we are told repeatedly.
What do you tell yourself? One common statement I hear a lot of these days is, "I can't eat carbohydrates because once I start I can't stop". This is a belief that you have set up from constant defeating self-talk and once you believe it then no doubt you will act it out. However, there is no scientific reason why a person would not be able to stop eating after having a bite of carbohydrates. Your belief makes it your reality. So whenever you hear yourself say I can't do something or any other self-defeating talk. Stop yourself and change the sentence to a positive. For example, I realize that carbs have been a challenge for me in the past but I can eat a portion and put the rest away for later. Keep working on your own positive reinforcement by being gentler with yourself and tell yourself all that you CAN do.
4. Be prepared for change. All weight loss programs require us to change a habit yet no one warns us about the process of change. The first thing to know is that the beginning of change is difficult and uncomfortable. This is because it forces us to get off autopilot and focus on our new behaviors. Luckily it takes about 21 days to make a new habit and the uncomfortable part goes away and our new habits become autopilot.
For example: Imagine you get your dream job and it requires that you have to get up at 5:30am. Yikes! You normally get up at about 7:30 am. So, what do you think will happen that first morning when the alarm goes off at 5:30? You aren't going to feel so great and your body is going to beg you to get back into your warm bed! This will go on for about 2-3 weeks until your body stops fighting you and realizes this is the new habit. The same thing will happen to you when you change eating and exercise habits. Just expect a little resistance and keep going! Your new healthy changes will eventually become your new habit. You just have to keep at it.
? Meri Raffetto, 2005
Meri Raffetto is a Registered Dietitian and a recognized professional in the area of nutrition and wellness. She is the owner of Real Living Nutrition Services providing interactive online weight management programs. Sign up for her free monthly nutrition newsletter at http://www.reallivingnutrition.com.
Elk Grove (east OF 53) car service from Midway .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareLose Weight - Grab A GlassIn childhood, we heard it:... Read More
I personal lost 60 pounds in 2003. Here are some... Read More
I wonder how much it is generally known that the... Read More
Food Cravings: How to Practice PatienceDuring holidays and parties you... Read More
Now this is the real American Dream! I'm here to... Read More
Foods that are high in fiber and protein are the... Read More
An article published in http://www.inch-aweigh.com mentioned, "If you are eating... Read More
I am so proud of you and your accomplishments. You're... Read More
The underlying principles of low carb diets are based on... Read More
The only way you will ever follow through on an... Read More
It is not recommended to lose more than 1 pound... Read More
Have I become invisible or are people just aiming right... Read More
The math is pretty simple. One pound of fat equals... Read More
"Your Eyes are Bigger Than Your Stomach""Your eyes are bigger... Read More
Whether coming from a close friend, the nightly news or... Read More
Cellulite is not a medical condition or an aesthetic mutiny... Read More
Today I stopped by my favorite coffee shop in Berkeley,... Read More
Obesity and overweight, weight reduction and weight management therapies, miracle... Read More
The Liver The function of your kidneys is to filter... Read More
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor; nor do I play... Read More
With the number of people suffering from obesity rising so... Read More
Changing habits is one of the most difficult challanges we... Read More
I made myself a sandwich today and thought I'd be... Read More
Have you been surfing the web trying to find a... Read More
Have you ever received those tempting ads that seem to... Read More
Green Oaks limo rental ..Most people who want to burn off some excess pounds... Read More
Generally, weight loss surgery such as the gastric bypass will... Read More
1. Quit snacking in between meals. Do not fall for... Read More
Any doctor worth their salt will tell you diets don't... Read More
"The sovereign invigorator of the body is exercise, and of... Read More
Dear BMTers,Low carb this and low carb that?that's all you... Read More
I'm sure you already know that weight loss and improved... Read More
Most of us are aware of the AA axiom of... Read More
New Years Resolutions do not work because you are really... Read More
Holidays and special events should be a time of great... Read More
Surprisingly, hair loss is one of the reasons female pre-operative... Read More
Quick, what's the first thought that pops into your head... Read More
Have you ever dreaded the idea of pulling weeds, planting... Read More
Most men and women put on weight differently. But on... Read More
If you want any weight loss program to work you... Read More
Repeat a lie often enough and people take it as... Read More
Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day... Read More
1. Increase your water intake to at least 1 gallon... Read More
There are several factors in winning at weight loss. Sometimes... Read More
WOW!! Here we are on lesson #10. Hasn't it been... Read More
According to a new study appearing in the American Journal... Read More
The Atkins low-carb diet consists of four phases: Induction, Ongoing... Read More
Weight Loss ? Basic Lessons for Sustained SuccessWeight loss is... Read More
Everyone from politicians to parents is talking about fighting the... Read More
In our society of fast food and long hours spent... Read More
Weight Loss |