Many of us worry about our weight. Perhaps you have been keeping an eye on yours for a while? If you have decided to lose weight, there are several things you need to do first. Losing weight takes a lot of commitment and hard work. It’s not always a good time in life to be making changes either. But if you are determined to lose weight, and you think now is the time for action, then here is what you need to do.
Start by making a journal. You need to record your weight so you can keep track of your progress. Once you have your starting weight, you can check with your doctor what options are available to you. If your BMI is quite high, your doctor may discuss weight loss surgery with you. Whether you are eligible for this or not, you might still have to work to lose weight through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes first.
Now is the time to set a goal. It needs to be achievable and realistic. Anything more than a pound a week is likely to lead to disappointment. There will also be weeks when your weight won’t drop, and you might even put on a pound or two. Look to set an average weight loss over a period of a month. You can still keep track each week, but don’t lose sight of your overall goal.
Weight-loss often requires big changes in our lives. If your lifestyle includes lots of sitting in a chair, why not try to cut that down by an hour each day? Stand to do the ironing, or go for a walk each evening. Are there any car journeys you could walk instead? Make a list of the things you do that are sedentary. You could watch TV on the treadmill at the gym, or on an exercise ball at home.
If you’re not using any particular healthy eating plan, then make a list of what you currently eat in a day. Stop buying the things you know you shouldn’t be eating. If they’re not there, you can’t eat them. Swap one unhealthy treat per day with a piece of fruit. Try to drink a glass of lemon water with every meal, and swap one can of fizzy pop for a fruit smoothie. These little swaps could add up to some real health benefits.
If you want to see some quick results, why not take a week off work? You can book yourself into an intensive boot camp. Or you could hire a personal trainer for the week to kick-start your exercise program. Of course, you will need to find a level of exercise you can easily keep up in your regular lifestyle.
Losing weight should be a long term goal, supported by healthy lifestyle choices. Eventually, you will reach your goal weight and be ready to maintain that level for life. Take the time to take care of you this summer. Your weight, health, and fitness should be a single goal for you to achieve.
