Successfully reaching your weight loss goals can depend on many things - here are 3 simple steps to help tip the balance in your favor!
Step #1: Start out Small...
When you get all fired up about losing weight, it´s easy to get caught up in the rush of the moment. In that initial burst of motivation you set grand goals and focus on the big picture. You´re convinced this is it - you´re finally going to lose that fat, once and for all!
And though there´s nothing wrong with setting big goals, what often happens is you begin to feel overwhelmed - sometimes even intimidated - as time passes... and progress is slow.
You wonder why you´re punishing yourself. You feel tempted to throw in the towel and trade your sneakers for a gallon of Ben & Jerry´s...
Stop right there!!
Yes, losing weight means making changes. Changes in your habits and changes in your lifestyle. But you can´t expect to make those changes overnight.
Trying to change a long-time habit from one day to the next can be a recipe for disaster. Yeah, you may be able to walk away from your favorite comfort food for a few days, maybe even a week or two but, in the end, the temptation may become too great.
Instead of trying to cut those (less than healthy) foods out of your diet all at once, choose ONE... and replace it with something healthier.
Do you like butter on your morning toast? Try substituting it with some natural peanut butter for a little added protein. Replace your white bread with a low-fat, whole-grain alternative. Reach for some fruit instead of that muffin when it´s time for your coffee break.
Start small. Make the changes bit by bit. And as days turn into weeks and weeks into months, you´ll be amazed at how much closer you are to achieving the weight loss goals you set out to begin with.
Step #2: Swap Bad Snacks for Good...
We all have bad habits but, when it comes to wanting to lose weight, snacking on the wrong things can be one of the worst!
Ideally, you should cut back on the snacking you do, but cutting it out completely often isn´t an option - especially in the beginning.
So, what can you do instead? Try modifying what may have been bad snack choices in the past so your snacking becomes a healthier habit for the future.
For example, if you´re like me, you may feel the (often overpowering!) urge to snack in the afternoons. Instead of trying to force yourself not to eat, try swapping bad snacks for good - substitute yummy fruit yogurt for that high-calorie chocolate pudding or a handful of sweet, juicy grapes for those fattening cookies.
Remember, snacking, itself, doesn´t have the power to sabotage your weight loss - it´s the choices you make that determine your success in the end.
Step #3: Knock Temptation Flat
When it comes to food, even the most determined dieter can feel threatened by temptation.
Have you ever had a piece of cake just sitting there on your kitchen counter? And every time you walk by, you swear you hear it calling your name? That´s temptation.
Or what about that unfinished bag of chips in the cupboard? Ever find yourself thinking, there are only a few... what harm can eating them do? Don´t fool yourself.
In fact, you don´t even have to battle temptation - if you take steps right from the beginning to knock it flat with this one-two punch:
First, get rid of those foods that keep calling your name! If you can´t eat just a little bit of something and feel satisfied, just make a point of not having it in the house at all.
And second, if you do feel the urge to splurge, choose an activity you enjoy doing and get moving! Dance, walk your dog, take your kids to the park, challenge yourself to a set of sit-ups, or grab that big basket of ironing you keep putting off and get to it!
All of these things will help you refocus your energy. Take your mind off food. And move you one step closer to finally reaching the weight loss goals you set for yourself!
The mother of 3 plus a husband, dog and cat, Kate is also what she likes to call a "fat loss survivor". She battled with her weight on and off for years before finally finding the answer she was looking for.
If you´re ready to stop looking and start losing, visit her website at FatLossSavvy.com where you can find smart fat loss tips & resources for the perfect you. Be sure to join her on Pinterest as well.
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