Six Tips to Help You Achieve Lasting Weight Loss
By Jolene Snyder
Losing weight can be tough. Many people who manage to lose weight will eventually gain it back again. Before you give up on your goals to achieve lasting weight loss, you may want to consider that being overweight could greatly increase your risk of experiencing serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer or stroke. By maintaining a healthy weight, you can help reduce these health risks along with boosting your energy levels and helping you to look and feel your best!
Below are six healthy weight loss tips to help you lose your extra weight and keep it off!
1. Set reasonable goals:
Do not expect to lose twenty pounds your first week. Break down your long term weight loss goals into small weekly goals. Be specific on what steps you are willing to take to achieve your goals to lose weight. Then write them down!
2. Keep a log:
Statistics show that by writing down your weight loss goals, you will be more likely to achieve them. This will also help you track of your weekly progress so you can celebrate each small success and help you obtain your long term goal. It also helps to record what you are feeling when you experience food cravings. Are you stressed or feeling lonely or fatigued? Try to find healthy substitutes for that donut or double fudge brownie. Have a small hand full of nuts or a piece of fruit, or make a fruit smoothie.
3. Get moving:
Exercise will help you increase your metabolism and is the fastest way to achieve weight loss. Exercising is simply getting your body moving with something you enjoy. The easiest and best form of exercise is to simply walk. Take a stroll during your lunch break. Walk up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. Park your car away from your work or the stores entrance so you will have to walk further. Walk instead of driving or taking the bus or subway or get off a stop early. By staying active, you will burn more calories all through your day making weight loss easier. Vigorous exercise has also been shown to be effective toward helping you reduce unhealthy food cravings. If you make it your goal to get at least three hours of exercise or physical activity a week, you should be able to lose weight, if you also incorporate a healthy eating plan.
4. Make healthy food choices:
You should not think of this as a diet plan, but rather a healthy eating plan. Fill your plate half full with healthy fruits and vegetables. This should be the focal point of your meal. Cooked vegetables are fine, but raw is even better. Add smaller portions of meat and starchy foods. Rice, pastas and bread turn into sugar in your body. Limit yourself to smaller portions of these and choose whole grains. Stay away from processed foods and foods additives. This is very important because additives such as high fructose corn syrup will sabotage your weight loss efforts.
5. Invite a friend-Stay accountable:
When you participate with a friend, you will be less likely to make excuses for skipping your workout. Knowing you will be joining someone at a certain time can make a huge difference in your commitment level. Do something fun that you both enjoy. Join a walking club, yoga class or exercise group. If you do experience small setbacks, do not get discouraged. Just start again, keep moving toward your goals and do not give up. You will soon be losing those extra pounds and feeling better than ever about your body and your self esteem.
6. Celebrate each success:
Each time you achieve a goal, give yourself a small reward. For example, I like to put a dollar in a jar each day that I stick to my healthy eating plan and exercise plan. By the end of the month, I have enough money saved to buy a new pair of jeans (in the next smaller size). Yippee!
I hope you found these weight loss tips helpful. By applying them, you will soon be on your way to losing weight, keeping it off and feeling great about your health and your new appearance!
If you enjoyed these weight loss tips, you can learn more about how you can experience permanent healthy weight loss with my Lose Weight to Feel Great Plan.
Jolene Snyder enjoys helping people learn how to live healthier and more productive lives. Learn more at: http://www.LoseWeightToFeelGreat.com.
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