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According to a recent poll of New Year’s Resolutions, 21% of resolutions are about losing weight and eating healthy. Most people are unsatisfied with the way they look and how their diet is structured and make a resolution every year to do something about it.
However, less than 10% of people feel successful in their resolution! Why do so many people fail in their quest to lose unwanted weight? Simple– their resolutions make them miserable.
Too often, weight loss is associated with deprivation or punishment. People are constantly told that they must quit their favorite food and hit the gym for a miserable sweating session if they want to shed the pounds.
But it’s not true!
Whether your goal is to fit into old clothes, reduce stretch marks, or get bikini ready, you can lose weight without going insane. Use these 5 tips to create a long-lasting lifestyle change that will leave you happier, healthier, and lighter on the scale.
Make specific goals
Before you even begin trying to lose weight, remember that how you phrase your goal matters. Just saying “I want to lose weight” is not enough. Setting a goal like “I want to lose 5 pounds by the end of the month” is better. However, it will be much easier to change and lose unwanted weight if you are more specific.
Set out a clear, well-defined plan that you know is achievable and use dates and frequencies. For example: “I am going to run for 30 minutes three times a week and eat a vegetarian meal twice a week.”
Then, take a few minutes each Sunday night to plan out your meals for the next week. Meal planning is a great way to exercise control over your diet and make sure that you aren’t making bad decisions steered by your hunger.
Figure out which healthy foods you love
Although both diet and exercise are vital to weight loss, research shows that diet influences your weight more. Being mindful about the food you put in your body is one of the best ways you can improve yourself.
Unfortunately, healthy food has gotten a bad reputation. Truth is, a healthy diet isn’t necessarily a tasteless and punishing one. Start out by brainstorming your favorite fruits and veggies and aim to include one of those in each meal. Then expand your list to other healthy foods.
Finally, keep your house stocked with healthy food so it’s easier to make good decisions.
Go for healthy swaps
Sometimes diets are associated with deprivation. You hear advice from everyone to cut out fried food or soda or refined sugar or alcohol or– the list goes on. Pretty soon it feels like all your favorite foods aren’t allowed. It doesn’t have to be all restriction! Balance out every unhealthy item you cut from your diet by adding a healthy food. You can even make it a game to be creative as possible with your swaps.
For example, instead of grabbing ice cream for dessert, try fro-yo. Even better, make a frozen treat that’s naturally sweetened by fruit, like this creamy one-ingredient banana ice cream.
Stumped for great swaps? Browse this list for inspiration.
Pace yourself
Although going cold turkey is a method that works for some, it can be jarring to make a drastic shift. To cut back on some of the diet hatred, try easing yourself into your new routine by making adding a new food swap, exercise, or commitment a week.
This principle is especially important when it comes to exercise. Doing too much too fast can lead to dangerous injuries or fatigue and make you hate your weight loss regime.
Ensure that you don’t burnout on your new lifestyle by making changes at a rate that’s right for you.
It’s not all-or-nothing
One of the most pervasive habit breakers is the tendency for people to give up because of one mistake. Don’t think you’ve ruined your diet just because you gave into temptation and had a slice of birthday cake.
Be forgiving of yourself, let go of crushing guilt, and remember that mistakes happen. Celebrate the small victories instead of dwelling on slip-ups.
Check of Gretchen Rubin’s list of other habit loopholes and remain aware of the mental patterns that can trip you up.
When you’re embarking on a quest to lose unwanted weight, remember that the goal is not just about weight. Focus on making a lifestyle change for the better. Create a specific plan that harnesses the power of what you already like and always pace yourself.
Weight loss isn’t a race, it’s a journey. And it can be an enjoyable one too!
Find more everyday weight loss tips here.
Author bio: Managing www.HomeRemedyShop.com, Mike Jones is a polyvalent writer and editor who’s highly interested in the science behind home remedies for all sorts of pestilent problems. From how to naturally remove stretch marks to the best steps for following a heart healthy diet, he’s on a continuous pursuit to cover it all.
