If you're like most people who have tried to shed extra body fat, you've no doubt experienced the frustration that can accompany that effort. Getting your body into better shape is certainly no easy task. In fact, millions of people each year start diet and exercise regimens only to abandon the struggle after only a few weeks or months. The key to avoiding that failure is to understand a few basic tips for motivating weight loss success.
The first key is to have expectations that you can really meet. You didn't gain all those extra pounds overnight, and they're not going away that quickly either. You have to make smaller, measurable goals that you can achieve consistently. Most dieters find that they can only safely lose a couple pounds a week at most.
Another key is to incorporate your favorite foods into any dietary plan. If you try to deprive yourself of those things, you will fail. It is the rare person who has the willpower to see his favorites and refuse them day after day. Recognize that it is the amount you eat that makes you fat, not the food itself. With that in mind, treat yourself on occasion.
Calories are king, so count and record them daily. If you don't, you'll have no way of knowing what works. Maintain a journal that records meals, calories, exercise, and even your emotions. That data will be useful as you adjust your plan, and can prove to be extremely motivation when you look back on your progress and commitment.
Accentuate the positive, while avoiding negatives. It is tempting to be down on yourself over your fat, but that accomplishes nothing. Many dieters who constantly criticize themselves simply give up and resume bad habits. Remain focused, think about how good you'll look and feel when the process is done, and surround yourself with others who will focus on those same things.
Cook for yourself as often as you can. Believe it or not, learning to prepare your own meals is one of the easiest ways to develop good eating habits. You'll have more control over what is going into your body, and you'll also develop better insight into how different foods go together to create healthy meals. As you gain expertise, you'll find yourself more motivated than ever.
The last key is the most critical: failure is not an option. Make that your mantra, as you remember that everyone fails at some point in his or her dieting efforts. Most go back to overeating, and many put on even more excess pounds. If you break your diet, just forgive yourself and resume where you left off right away. Stay the course, and you will get to your destination.
The fact is that this type of commitment to losing those extra pounds requires a remarkable commitment of will. With these six keys to success, you can overcome the obstacles and persevere until you realize your dreams. In the end, you'll find the reward more than justifies the commitment you made, as you enjoy the new and improved body you worked so hard to obtain.
The first key is to have expectations that you can really meet. You didn't gain all those extra pounds overnight, and they're not going away that quickly either. You have to make smaller, measurable goals that you can achieve consistently. Most dieters find that they can only safely lose a couple pounds a week at most.
Another key is to incorporate your favorite foods into any dietary plan. If you try to deprive yourself of those things, you will fail. It is the rare person who has the willpower to see his favorites and refuse them day after day. Recognize that it is the amount you eat that makes you fat, not the food itself. With that in mind, treat yourself on occasion.
Calories are king, so count and record them daily. If you don't, you'll have no way of knowing what works. Maintain a journal that records meals, calories, exercise, and even your emotions. That data will be useful as you adjust your plan, and can prove to be extremely motivation when you look back on your progress and commitment.
Accentuate the positive, while avoiding negatives. It is tempting to be down on yourself over your fat, but that accomplishes nothing. Many dieters who constantly criticize themselves simply give up and resume bad habits. Remain focused, think about how good you'll look and feel when the process is done, and surround yourself with others who will focus on those same things.
Cook for yourself as often as you can. Believe it or not, learning to prepare your own meals is one of the easiest ways to develop good eating habits. You'll have more control over what is going into your body, and you'll also develop better insight into how different foods go together to create healthy meals. As you gain expertise, you'll find yourself more motivated than ever.
The last key is the most critical: failure is not an option. Make that your mantra, as you remember that everyone fails at some point in his or her dieting efforts. Most go back to overeating, and many put on even more excess pounds. If you break your diet, just forgive yourself and resume where you left off right away. Stay the course, and you will get to your destination.
The fact is that this type of commitment to losing those extra pounds requires a remarkable commitment of will. With these six keys to success, you can overcome the obstacles and persevere until you realize your dreams. In the end, you'll find the reward more than justifies the commitment you made, as you enjoy the new and improved body you worked so hard to obtain.
