8 Ways To Start Losing Weight: A Guide to Getting Started
At some point or
another, almost everyone feels like they need to lose a few pounds. Maybe you’ve found that your jeans are getting a little snugger around the waist, or maybe you keep catching yourself wondering if the people in the mirror are actually you. No matter when it happens, this kind of realization can be an awful moment for most people. The catch is that losing weight takes more than just acknowledging that you need to drop a few pounds and then hoping that something will magically happen. In order to start losing weight, you need to make a plan, get serious about your goals, and take action from the very first day onward. The good news is that with just a bit of preparation and motivation, we can help get you on the right track to losing weight in as little as 10 days!
1-Create A Fitness Plan
First and foremost, you need to create a fitness plan to get you started on the road to losing weight. This doesn’t mean that you have to go on a strict diet, but it does mean that you have to commit to getting more active as a part of your daily routine. A good rule of thumb is to try to get in 30 minutes of physical activity at least five times per week. If you’re really pressed for time, even walking for 20 minutes, three times per week is an excellent place to start. If you’re pressed for ideas on what types of activities to do, don’t be afraid to try something new. By trying new activities, you can help stave off boredom and keep your workouts fun and fresh.
2-Start Tracking Your Food
Next up on our list is that you need to start tracking your food. This doesn’t mean that you have to go on a strict diet, but it does mean that you have to take a good hard look at your current food intake and attempt to make improvements from there. Start off by writing down everything you eat for the next few days. After doing this for a short period of time, try to analyze your intake and see if there are any areas where you have room for improvement. From there, you can start to make changes to your diet by swapping processed foods for healthier alternatives, adding more fruits and vegetables to your daily meals, and getting more whole grains into your diet.
3-Develop A Nutrition Plan
Now that you’ve gotten a good idea of where your food intake is falling short, it’s time to develop a nutrition plan to get your diet back on track. If you want to lose weight, it’s important to get your daily calorie intake under control. Start off by figuring out how many calories you should be eating in a day. Get a good baseline calorie intake for your gender and age, and then add or subtract calories based off of your individual needs. After you’ve figured out how many calories you should be eating in a day, it’s time to start developing a meal plan. For best results, try to get a mix of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in your diet every single day.
4-Celebrate Small Victories
Next up on our list is that you need to celebrate small victories. It’s easy to get down on yourself when you’re trying to lose weight, which is why it’s important to celebrate your victories and accomplishments along the way. Start off by keeping a small journal by your bedside in which you write down the things that you’re grateful for every single day. Writing down three things you’re grateful for every night before bed has been proven to help you feel happier, more grateful, and less stressed, which is a great way to start your weight loss journey. Another great way to celebrate your small victories is to get a good progress tracking tool. Whether it be a weight loss app, a journal, or even something like a pedometer, having a tool for tracking your progress can help you stay motivated and keep you on track towards your goals.
5-Don’t Be Afraid Of Failure
Next up on our list is that you shouldn’t be afraid of failure. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that if you fail, you’re a failure, but the truth is that you’re human and failure is a part of life. The important thing is to pick yourself up, learn from your mistakes, and press forward. One great way to help keep yourself from letting small failures get you down is to set reasonable goals for yourself. Trying to lose 50 pounds in a month is a recipe for disaster, but setting a reasonable goal like losing 3 pounds in a month is a great place to start. Another great way to help keep failure from getting you down is to surround yourself with positive people. People who are always criticizing you, or who are generally negative about everything can be a huge source of frustration and stress in your life.
6-Get Help From Coaching Or A Support Group
Another way to help get you started on the road to losing weight is by getting help from coaching or a support group. Whether you’re looking for general advice on how to lose weight, or you are trying to figure out how to eat healthier, these resources can be a great place to start. Another benefit of joining a support group is that you’ll find people who are going through the same struggles as you are. Having someone to talk to who understands what you’re going through can be an amazing source of motivation when you’re feeling down or like you want to throw in the towel.
7-Commit To Your Fitness Plan For The Long Haul
Finally, it would help if you committed to your fitness plan for the long haul. Losing weight is a marathon, not a sprint, which is why it’s important to stay consistent, be patient, and understand that it’s a process. Getting fit is a long, difficult process, and it’s one that you can’t rush. It’s important to take your time, focus on your long-term goals, and understand that there will be some slip-ups and failures along the way. Another great way to help stay consistent with your fitness goals is to find a workout buddy. Having a workout buddy to help you stay consistent with your fitness goals can be an amazing source of motivation and can make the process of getting fit so much more enjoyable.
8-Conclusion
Falling off the weight loss wagon is easy. It only takes one day of poor eating for the progress you’ve made to disappear. But getting back on track is just as easy, as long as you remember these 8 ways to start losing weight. The key to losing weight is making changes to your routine that will help you shed pounds. Start by creating a fitness plan, tracking your food intake, and developing a nutrition plan. You can’t expect to lose weight if you’re not eating right and exercising. Celebrate your small victories, don’t be afraid of failure, and commit to your fitness plan for the long haul. With a bit of patience and consistency, you can help shed unwanted pounds and get into the best shape of your life.