10 Tips for January Weight Loss
It’s that time of year where it seems like everyone is talking about being healthier and losing weight.
But if you’re like most people, the good intentions never seem to translate into success and each January you’re back wondering which diet to go on next.
So here are 10 tips for losing weight in the New Year.
1. Ask: What do I want to achieve?
Most people think purely in terms of losing weight.
But what’s the point losing weight and then gaining it all back a few weeks later?
In other words, think about what the real goal is. It’s not just to reach a certain weight. It’s to reach it and stay there!
2. Accept that it will take longer to lose weight than you expected.
Everyone is in a hurry but the fact is most people have unrealistic expectations about how fast they will lose weight.
If you’re expecting to lose weight faster than you actually can (and who isn’t influenced by fad diet claims of losing massive amounts of weight in a short time?) you are likely to be disappointed and more likely to give up.
Instead, the best thing you can do for yourself is accept that it will take a little longer and that’s ok.
3. Don’t overhaul your diet.
Completely overhauling what you normally eat might seem healthy and virtuous but these sort of changes are too drastic to maintain. If you’re replacing your regular diet with something that resembles rabbit food, ask yourself if you’re really going to be sticking with it for more than a few weeks.
Instead make small changes that are easier to integrate into your life.
4. Don’t do anything unpleasant.
Have you ever tried a diet that was so unpleasant that you couldn’t last on it for more than a week and then you blamed yourself for lack of willpower?
When it comes to cutting back the calories, there is no place for “no pain, no gain”. If it’s unpleasant, you won’t keep doing it.
5. Keep a food diary.
Everyone talks about writing down what you eat and with good reason. It works! If you have to choose one action to take, take this one. It’s that powerful.