Losing weight and maintaining a healthy diet does not have to be about intense work-outs, miracle celebrity diet pills, or following the latest fad diet plan that makes you feel hungry all the time. It’s true, a healthy diet plan and moderate exercise are two very important elements to losing weight, boosting your metabolism, and reducing your chances of medical conditions; like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be a dreadful-dismal-disaster. It can be a new and exciting adventure.
One of the biggest problems people encounter when trying to lose weight is not having a realistic weight loss regiment. Your mind set is “I can do this!” And that is great, because believing in yourself is the first step to achieving weight loss success, but in so many cases, we want to be healthy, but have no idea how to actually achieve this goal. This fact can and has resulted in following fad diet plans that taste like cardboard, purchasing a gym membership—but not wanting to go, because people are looking at you. That “I can do this” attitude begins to slowly diminish if you do not have a clear and realistic weight loss plan to follow.
Creating a Weight loss Road Map that works for you.
If you were going on vacation and visiting a new city for the first time, you wouldn't just get in your car and go right? You would take the time to have your vehicle checked, get clear and precise directions, and possibly research tourist attractions of the vacation destination. You would have a complete road map of your vacation and things you want to accomplish. You should think about creating a weight loss plan in a similar way. In order to achieve weight loss success you have to believe in the weight loss solution.
Gas Up Your Metabolism:
Having a “running on empty” metabolism can actually effect your weight loss efforts. There are many factors that contribute to your metabolism not work correctly; such as age, thyroid, and even vitamin deficiencies. The good news is that you do not have to spend tons of money to fill up your tank and kick start your metabolism. You can just make a few adjustments to your diet; think of it as a “tune up.”
� Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.
� Eat a healthy breakfast that is high in protein
� Add green leafy vegetables and lean cuts of meat; like chicken, turkey, tuna, and salmon to your meal planning.
Setting Short Term Weight Loss Goals:
With all the miracle weight loss advertisements flooding the internet advertising that you can lose 20 pounds in one month, it’s no wonder that people set weight loss goals that are unrealistic. The goal is to lose weight and live a healthy happy life. That is why setting a realistic healthy weight loss goal is imperative to healthy weight loss. Remember you didn't gain twenty pounds in thirty days. By being realistic and setting goals that are obtainable, you will actually increase your chances of long-term weight loss success. According to the Mayo Clinic a healthy weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week. Think about setting your weight loss goals that work for you, your lifestyle, and body type.
Exercise Goals: The Beginning should not be the End
You’re excited about losing weight and living and making healthy lifestyle choices—that’s great, but take a moment and determine an exercise regimen that will work for you and your lifestyle. So many people purchase expensive gym memberships or those intense in home work-outs that are nearly impossible to complete. This could be the end of your exercise commitment—before you have even begun. That is why adding moderate exercise to your lifestyle should be based on “how activate” you are.
One of the hardest parts of adding exercise to your schedule is committing. It’s so easy to say, “I am going to exercise three times a week.” Actually achieving this is where it can get difficult. This can result in the famous all too familiar saying, “I’ll start next week.” But, there is way to schedule—commit—and achieve adding movement to your daily activities.
Think about your commitment to moderate exercise like you would an appointment. You’re not going to skip a hair appointment or Doctors appointment unless there is an emergency, right? You should approach your exercise plan the same way. Remember start at a pace that will challenge you, but not overwhelm you.
Healthy Meal Planning
In today’s modern families, it’s difficult to plan and prepare healthy meals every day. It’s so much easier to call and order a pizza or stop by one of the many fast food restaurants on your way home from work and pick up some quick sandwiches. This can be an overwhelming obstacle when trying to make healthy lifestyle changes. But, it does not have to be difficult. You can lose weight and implement healthy meal choices into your diet by simply removing or limiting these foods from your diet.
Carbonated Drinks: By reducing and limiting the amount of soda you drink you can increase weight loss. If you drink a lot of soda, try limiting your weekly consumption first. Just like other caffeine drinks you might experience withdraw symptoms, which is why it is always best to gradually limit carbonated drinks from your diet?
White Carbohydrates: By limiting the amount of pasta, bread, and potatoes from your meal planning you can increase weight loss, which will result in another successful step to making healthy lifestyle choices. We all love bread and pasta and mashed potatoes—who doesn't! And making healthy choices does not mean that you can Never eat these foods again. The idea is to consume these foods in moderation.
Processed Foods: These foods have no nutritional value and are loaded with additives and calories. Many people purchase processed foods like; hot dogs, pizza rolls, and bologna because they are inexpensive and only take a few minutes to make. Throw them into the microwave for a few minutes and dinner is served.
Living a healthy lifestyle and finding weight loss success is not about gym memberships, magic weight loss supplements, or the latest fad diet plan. Find a plan that works for you and commit to it. Remember to set realistic goals, make healthy food choices, and never forget that “You can do this, one goal at a time!” Losing weight is about creating a weight loss road map that works for you and your life.
