Tips for Weight Loss
So you say you want to lose some weight: maybe 5 pounds, maybe 15. But is weight as a number really the only thing that matters? Of course not! Weight loss is not only about the numbers on the scale; it’s about looking and feeling good. Dropping pounds in a healthy, effective way involves a lot more than fasting for a day to see a couple of pounds disappear from the scale’s reading.
You don’t just want to lose weight. You want to lose fat. And the best way to accomplish that goal is (surprise, surprise) through a combination of a reduced calorie diet and exercise. If it’s that simple, then why is it so difficult to get the results you want? Here are a few tips for weight loss that will help you on your way to the leaner body you’ve been wishing for.
Tips for Weight Loss #1: Be Realistic
Weight loss is a process—a lifestyle change, really—not an overnight event. 2 pounds per week is a healthy rate for weight loss. If you’re just starting a new diet or exercise program, you may initially see more rapid results. Occasionally, you might lose less or even show a slight gain in weight. But if you want health and consistency, this is a good average to shoot for.
Being honest and realistic with yourself also means acknowledging that weight loss requires sacrifices. If you want to lose weight, you may have to give up having desert every night, or eating steak multiple times a week. If you’re not willing to make those sacrifices now, then maybe it’s not the time to begin trying to lose weight.
Tips for Weight Loss #2: Set Goals
Is your goal to look good in a tank top or swimsuit next summer, or to be able to keep up with your kids outside? Whatever your personal reason for wanting to lose weight, it can be an excellent motivator. But sometimes the ultimate goal seems so distant that we are overwhelmed by the mere thought of all of the time and effort it will take to get there. It’s important to set interim goals—stepping stones that are more immediately attained—on the way to the big one. The feeling of making progress will keep you motivated and headed in the right direction.
Tips for Weight Loss #3: Do NOT Let the Scale Own You
If you’re really ready to lose fat and become a leaner, more healthy version of yourself, you cannot let a scale dictate the way you feel about your body. Commit to weighing yourself only once a week, ands stick to that. In the interim, focus on finding gratification in other places: prepare and enjoying a healthy, well-balanced meal, or have a fantastic workout at the gym. Lifting a heavier dumbbell, doing one more push up than last time, or finishing a mile with a faster time than yesterday can all be extremely gratifying; much more so, in fact, than simply looking at your feet and seeing a slightly smaller number on the scale.
Tips for Weight Loss #4: “Moderation in Everything, Including Moderation”
Sometimes it’s ok to splurge. Everyone likes to go out to dinner and get exactly what will taste the best (not what will have the fewest calories), or have desert to celebrate a special occasion. But make these splurges the exception: not the rule. Ice cream really does taste better if you don’t get it every day. And it tastes best of all on the beach, in that tank top or bathing suit you’ve been saving for just such an occasion.