Losing weight is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions. However, most people do not stick to their plan and end up giving up. Finding the right plan, can help you reach your goals so that you’re not dieting every January.
Here are 5 tips to help you actually achieve your New Year’s resolution this year.
1. Don’t do a diet that you don’t see yourself doing in a year.
If you don’t see yourself following that diet in 1 year, then don’t start it. Any weight loss will be gained back. If you talked to people that have successfully lost weight and kept it off, they have one thing in common. They lost weight because they stopped thinking they were on a diet and started making lifestyle changes. These changes include eating balanced meals that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. They limit fast food and instead do some meal planning.
2. Stick the basics.
Don’t make it complicated. Start with making sure you are eating on a schedule that includes 3 meals a day and 1-2 snacks. If your meals are more than 4-5 hours a part, then you need to add in a snack. Also, eating healthy does not just happen. You need to spend some time planning your meals.
3. Set realistic goals but don’t let the scale be your measure of success.
A realistic weight loss goal usually ranges from 1-2 lbs loss a week. This does not give immediate results and can be discouraging if you are just focusing on the scale. Instead, focus on how much energy you have, how much better you are sleeping and how much better you feel overall.
Keep in mind, it took you years to establish the habits you have now, so it will take some time to change your habits. Establishing healthy habits is not going to happen overnight.
Set weekly goals that help you reach your overall goal. Set 3-5 action goals that help you meet your overall goal. Action goals are specific, measurable, actionable, relative and time specific.
For example, an action goal could be, “I am going to go for a walk for 30 minutes around my neighborhood after work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week”. Action goals keep you moving forward and give you focus for the week. It can be discouraging to make a lot of changes at one time.
Setting 3-5 goals a week helps you focus on a few changes at a time. Make sure you write your goals down. This will help keep you accountable.
4. Don’t just focus on what you are eating.
To lose weight and keep it off, it takes a holistic approach. Focus on overall health. Try to be more active, work on healthy ways to management stress, and make sure you are getting good sleep.
5. Get someone to help keep you motivated.
This could be a friend, family member or health professional. Tell someone what you are doing and “check-in” with them often. Most people that have successfully lost weight and kept it off, had some kind of weekly accountability.
Want to join an online community that can give you support on your weight loss journey? Join my free Facebook group “Weight Loss Support with DF”. I share recipes and meal ideas, and also host “5 Day Challenges” to help keep you motivated and on track.
Ready for a structured program that will help you lose weight and keep it off. Check out my DF12 program. This is not just a meal plan or a low carb diet. For long term success, it takes weekly check-ins, personalized plans and actions to keep you accountable.
This 12 week coaching program includes all of that. You get meal plans and weekly activities that show you how to make healthy eating habits fit into your lifestyle. You’ll get meal planning tips and tricks to you save time. You get 1:1 support and weekly action plans to keep you accountable. Sign up today!
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