Losing weight is, without a doubt, one of the most popular New Year's resolutions. People choose to eat less, eat better, exercise more, whatever it takes to drop the weight. However after about a month, the majority of people give up on their goal, and go back to the way things were, vowing that next year will be the year to get in shape.
Don't get caught in the cycle. By sticking to a few simple rules, you can meet and succeed your expectations this year.
Remove The Word "Diet" From Your Vocabulary
If you put yourself on a diet, everything you do becomes very black and white. When you are on a diet, a little setback will put you off that diet, and you will return to your old habits. Consider this a lifestyle change. If you have one bad day, it doesn't ruin everything, you just have to get right back to what you were doing, and make better decisions.
Don't Deny YourselfIf you cut all the foods you love out of your life, then you are setting yourself up for disaster. Instead, indulge. If you allow yourself a little treat when you have a craving, you are more likely to stay on track. By cutting these foods out all together, if you give in, you are more likely to binge, rather than savor. Some of the most effective weight-loss programs, such as Weight Watchers, allow people to eat whatever they want, just in moderation.
Water, Water, Water
Drinking water through out the day is one of the easiest ways to stick to your weight-loss goals. Not only does it fill you up, often times, thirst can be mistaken for hunger. Try drinking a glass of water before each meal, this way, you are more likely to get fuller faster, and consume less calories. Shoot for the recommended 64 ounces everyday.
Track What You EatBy writing down what you eat, you become more aware of what you are putting in your body and how it is affecting you. You are more aware of what grazing and picking does to your goals, and you are more likely to stop. Web sites, such as SparkPeople allow users to track the food they're eating, as well as water in take and exercise, for free. It even calculates calories for you.
Make Exercise Part of Your Daily Routine
Exercise is one of the toughest parts of a weight-loss program. It takes time out of your day, and if you go into it dreading it, it's not very much fun. It is also one of the easiest things to blow off. "I'm too tired," "I don't have time today," are excuses we've all used. But, exercise is a very important part of reaching your goals. By making exercise part of your day, like brushing your teeth, you won't need to find time to do it, because the time will already be set aside. And if you absolutely dread the gym, excerise in other ways. Take a brisk 30-minute walk after dinner, buy a yoga DVD, do crunches while watching TV. By doing exercise that is enjoyable to you, you are more likely to stick to it.
Listen To Your Body
If your body tells you it's hungry, then eat. If you're thirsty, drink, and if you're in pain, stop. By not listening to your body, you can hurt yourself and not just physically. If you don't eat when you're hungry, you are slowing down your metabolism, and risking malnutrition. If you don't drink enough water, you can become dehydrated. And if you don't slow down or stop exercising when you feel real pain, you can get stress fractures or pulled muscles. By staying in tune with your body, you are on your way to a healthier lifestyle.
Kristen Putch - Marley has been a freelance writer since 2006, covering travel, food, health, fitness and women's issues for a variety of publications. ...
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