Losing weight may not seem difficult to someone until they embark on the journey themselves. While weight loss can be very challenging, receiving the right guidance is essential for success.
Here are some tips to help you lose weight in a healthy way.
Set Achievable Goals
Many people struggle to lose weight and achieve their desired fitness goals because they set unrealistic targets. For instance, most experts suggest that losing between 4-8 lbs per month is a realistic and safe goal. If your aim is to lose 20 lbs in a month, you might be resorting to extreme measures that could be harmful.
The general recommendation is to aim to lose 20 percent of your body weight within a year and strive to maintain the weight loss long-term. If you are able to see beneficial results with lifestyle and dietary changes, you can keep on this path to lose more weight and achieve your desired body shape.
Consider Your Lifestyle
Just because a level 4 gymnast goes to the gym about 4-5 days a week does not mean that you have to follow their lead. Everyone has a unique body and a different lifestyle. Your weight loss plans should be made after considering your lifestyle.
For example, if you cannot dedicate 4 days of the week to the gym, you can try adjusting your diet to boost your weight loss journey. Simply downsizing your portions can help you make up for the limitations of your lifestyle.
Create a Plan
If you have a vivid imagination, you can create great plans in your mind regarding your goals and how you plan to accomplish them. However, all of your plans are at risk of being forgotten if you do not write them down. Like any successful venture, your weight loss journey also deserves a robust plan.
A weight loss plan helps you track your journey, from the starting point to the desired goal, and outlines how you will achieve it. You must set achievable and realistic daily, weekly, and monthly goals to be able to track your success effectively.
It is always a good idea to also include the reasons you want to lose weight. This practice helps you become motivated any time you look back at the plan.
Stay Committed
Remember, giving up on your goals is always the easy way out. During your weight loss journey, you may feel hopeless at many stages. This can happen when you see your weighing scale stuck at the same position, or when you feel guilty about having a chocolate bar. Things can become very challenging at times.
While these challenges can weigh you down, you must always rise back up with a stronger commitment to lose weight. You can always consider making promises to yourself to feel more motivated.
If you are not good at keeping promises to yourself, you can always make commitments to your friends or family members to uphold your promises and meet your goals.
Avoid Comparisons
Everyone has felt self-conscious several times when looking at pictures of supermodels and fashion icons. Even knowing that many of these pictures are altered, it can be hard not to draw comparisons between them and yourself.
If you believe that looking at pictures of these models will motivate you, you are mistaken. In fact, viewing unrealistic body types can hinder your weight loss progress. You do not need to look at someone else to find motivation. You can achieve your goals more effectively by believing in your progress and going at your own pace.
Look at the Bigger Picture
There are moments in the life of everyone on a weight loss journey when they feel that all the effort is not worth it. Many people unfortunately revert back to bad eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. You can understand the feeling if you have ever failed at achieving your weight loss goals before.
As mentioned before, giving up on your weight loss journey can be the easiest step. You must be resilient and always look at the bigger picture if you really want to lose weight.
One of the best practices is to fill your room with pictures and sayings that make you feel motivated and remind you about your final goals.
Celebrate Every Milestone
You do not have to lose 20 lbs in order to consider yourself worthy of a celebration. Every bit of accomplishment matters and deserves to be celebrated. Do not deprive yourself of the pat on the back that you truly deserve. It can help you stay motivated in the long run.
Instead of waiting until you have accomplished the goal for weight loss, focus on small goals and reward yourself along the way. Whether a celebration means going for a pedicure or spending a day outdoors with your friends, silence your inner critic and go for it.
Enlist an Accountability Partner
When it comes to losing weight, feeling vulnerable is not uncommon. Many people are unable to follow their goals because of moments of weakness. In such circumstances, having an accountability partner can make a significant difference in your life.
Whether you ask a friend or a family member for help, having an accountability partner can help you stay motivated and look at the better picture. They will always help you fight self-doubt and bring out the best in yourself.
Ask a Professional
It is not uncommon for people on the weight loss journey to be disappointed after not seeing any visible results. Even restricting their diet or going to the gym regularly may not seem to make a notable difference. However, it does not mean that you cannot lose weight. It simply means that you need a professional’s help.Weight loss experts can help you explore options such as ozempic weight loss programs to lose weight healthily and see a visible difference. They can also help you if you struggle with feelings of depression, anxiety, or insecurity and ensure that you stay motivated.
