Your success in losing weight largely depends on your willingness to rise to the challenge. If you take the plunge before you’re ready, your weight loss program could fail at the first hurdle.
Knowing that you need to make changes in your life and actually making them are two different things.
Use these questions to gauge your willingness to lose weight.
Are you motivated to change your lifestyle permanently?
Successful weight loss depends on permanent lifestyle changes, such as: B. Eating healthy, lower-calorie foods and incorporating physical activity into your daily routine. This could represent a significant departure from your current lifestyle.
You may need to revise your diet, such as eating more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Eating a variety of healthy foods will be important. You also need to find time for physical activity, ideally at least 30 to 45 minutes — or more — most days of the week.
Find your motivation and focus on:
Your true motivation is the best guarantee of success, but what is it? To make these changes, first ask yourself why you want to lose weight, all these changes for:
- have better health
- a better look
- to feel better
- better shape
- Start a new love story
Have you noticed something in your life that might distract you from your weight loss goal?
If you’re struggling with major life events like marital troubles, job stress, illness, or financial worries, you might not want to add the challenge of overhauling your eating habits and the time you spend eating. Perhaps it is better to wait until the right time to start your weight loss program to limit the risk of failure due to external factors that are too severe.
Do you have a realistic idea of how much weight you will lose and how quickly?
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is a lifelong process. First, make sure your weight loss goal is safe and realistic, e.g. B. Losing 5 percent of your current weight.
Aim to lose 0.5 to 1 kilogram per week until you reach your goal. This means that every day you burn 500 to 1000 more calories than you expend through diet and exercise.
You could lose weight faster if you changed your habits significantly. But watch out. Radical changes that are not sustainable are unlikely to have long-term effects.
Have you solved the emotional issues related to your weight?
Emotions and food are often intertwined. Anger, stress, sadness, and boredom can trigger emotional eating. If you have a history of eating disorders, weight loss can be even more difficult.
To prepare for challenges, identify emotional issues related to eating.
Do you have support around you?
Any weight loss program can be difficult. You may experience moments of temptation or discouragement. Having someone close to you to encourage you can help. If you don’t have friends or family to rely on, consider joining a weight loss support group.
If you keep your weight loss efforts to yourself and don’t want to tell anyone about it, that becomes more difficult. But maybe you are ready to take responsibility for yourself: Then make a date with yourself. In short:
- – regular weighing
- – Monitoring your diet
- – Tracking your physical activity
Did you really accept the weight loss challenge?
If you don’t have a positive attitude about losing weight, you might not be ready yet. And when you’re scared of what’s to come, you might be more likely to find excuses to get off course.
Instead, try to take a pleasant look at your new lifestyle and stay positive. Focus on how good you will feel as you become more active or weigh less. Imagine celebrating all of the accomplishments along the way, whether it’s enjoying a new meal, completing another workout, or shedding your first few pounds.
If you answered yes to most or all of the questions
You’re probably willing to make lifestyle changes that support permanent weight loss. Start moving forward with healthy eating and regular physical activity starting today!
If you think you need help, see a nutritionist or join a reputable weight loss program. If you need to lose a significant amount of weight, you may benefit from follow-up care with an obesity therapist or specialist.
If you answer no to more than one of the questions
You may not be ready to start a weight loss program just yet, and that’s okay. Find out what’s holding you back and face those obstacles.
Consider seeking help from a professional weight loss tracker to help you overcome any obstacles. Next, reassess your readiness for your weight loss program so you have the best possible start.
On your marks, get set, go
If you can’t answer all of the questions with a simple yes or no, but overall feel positive and confident about your answers, start now.
You may never have definitive answers in your life. Don’t let this take away your chance to achieve your weight loss goals.