How to Lose Weight in a Healthy Way

Do you want to lose weight in a healthy way, and that will help you to sustain your results? If so then you need to follow the steps outlined below. If you do then you will be able to avoid any bad habits while also making sure that you embark on your weight loss journey with a positive mindset.

Make Sure You Are Ready

The first thing you need to do is make sure you are well and truly ready. Long-term weight loss will take a great deal of time and effort. While you don’t want to put it off too long, you do need to make sure that you are ready. You need to prepare yourself for making permanent changes to your routine and your activity habits. Ask yourself, are you motivated to lose weight? Do you have too many pressures going on in your life? Do you use food as a way to cope with stress? Are you willing to change your habits? Do you have time to spend on making changes? Talk with your doctor if you feel as though you need help addressing the stressors or the emotions that may seem like obstacles to you. When you are ready you will then find it easier to set your goals and to stay committed.

Find your Motivation

Nobody can help you to lose weight at the end of the day. You have to make sure that you are willing to change your diet and that you are also willing to workout. Out of everything, what is going to give you the burning desire you need to make a change? What is going to make you stick to your weight loss? While you do have to take responsibility for your behavior, you need to make sure that you have a good amount of support. Pick the right people and make sure that they are going to encourage you without embarrassment, or shame. Ideally, you need to find people who are going to listen to your feelings and your concerns. Spend time creating healthy menus and also make sure that you sign up with a support group, as this will help you to be more accountable. This can be a strong motivator if you want to stick with your weight loss goals.

Set Realistic Goals

It may seem a little bit obvious, for you to set goals. That being said, you do need to make sure that the goals are realistic. Over the long term, you ideally need to aim to lose 1-2 pounds a week. If you lose more than this then you may end up burning yourself out. Depending on your weight, 5% of it may be a realistic goal to lose. If you weigh around 180 lbs then this would equate to around 9lbs. Even this amount of weight loss can help you to lower your chances of developing heart disease or even diabetes.  When the time comes for you to set your goals, you need to try and think about the process, as well as the outcome goal. Walking every single day for a total of 30 minutes is great. Losing 10lbs is also another example of an outcome goal.

Eat Well

Adopting a new eating style that promotes weight loss, has to include you counting calories. Decreasing calories doesn’t mean that you have to give up taste. It also doesn’t mean that you have to complicate your meal prep either. One way for you to lower your calorie intake would be for you to focus on eating more plant-based foods. Vegetables, whole grains and fruit are all good options here. Ideally, you need to focus on variety and you also need to strive for taste without giving up nutrition. Eat around four servings of vegetables every day and replace any refined grains you may be having with whole grains. If you know that you consume a lot of alcohol then now is the time to limit your consumption. If you want some help then one thing you can do is click here: https://rdoutpatientrehab.com/.

Get Active

​While it is entirely possible for you to lose weight without exercising, it’s not something you should try and do.  Regular exercise, when combined with calorie restriction, is one of the best ways for you to get an edge when it comes to your weight loss. The great thing about exercise is that it can offer you numerous health benefits. You will soon find that your mood is boosted and that you can also strengthen your heart. Your blood pressure will reduce too, which is great, to say the least. Studies have shown that people who maintain their weight loss over the long term are much more likely to partake in regular, physical activity.

Change your Mindset

It’s not enough for you to eat good foods and exercise for a few months. If you want long-term results then you need to make your habits a way of life. Changes start with you taking a good, honest look at your eating patterns and your daily routine. After you have assessed your personal challenges, it’s wise for you to try and work out a strategy so you can change your habits gradually. Plan for how you are going to deal with everything and also how you are going to succeed. You will probably have a setback occasionally, but instead of giving up, make sure that you reset the next day and look at it as if it’s a new start.  If you can do this every time then you shouldn’t ever find that you give up, which is a major worry for most people. 

If you want to lose weight healthily then making small positive changes is key. You can then build things up over time, which will help you to see the results you are going for. Having a good support network is also key, as you may find that when you start to struggle, you have people who have your back and who have your best interests at heart.

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