Make Lifestyle Changes Weight Loss

To begin with, in choosing to follow a strict diet, you aren't really focusing on lifestyle changes. Sure, you can follow a diet for several months and lose a bunch of weight if you are strict about it but what if you decide that you don't want to follow some rigid plan concocted by someone else for the rest of your life? You might decide to go off the diet and then you will most likely gain back at least some of the weight. So, what are you to do if you really are serious about losing weight but are skeptical of dieting? Make lifestyle changes.

* Commit to win – When planning new weight-related lifestyle changes remember that permanent weight loss takes time and effort, it will not be an overnight success.

* Set realistic goals – Think about the process and the outcome when setting goals. Use the word SMART when creating goals; which means to make them Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Trackable. To say that you are going to lose 5 pounds a week might not be attainable where as to set a goal to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week might be more realistic.

* Make a decision to enjoy healthier foods – Decreasing calories does not have to mean giving up all good tasting foods. Sometimes a simple switch can be to prepare your favorite meal at home verses picking it up from a restaurant or fast food establishment.

* Find exercises you enjoy – It is important to get active and stay active. One must find ways to burn calories through physical activities that you can enjoy.

* Seek emotional support - Find others to provide emotional support to help you through the stressful times when you want to stop and or get discouraged. You have to be responsible for your own actions, however having support of a loved one can assist during times when your nutritional diet appears not to be working.

* Make the decision to change your lifestyle – Gradual changes of habits like reducing the number of times that one eats out and changes in attitudes that say, “you can’t lose weight” can begin your journey into making lifestyle changes toward the weight you want to lose and keep off. Eating healthy foods and exercising vigorously for a few weeks and then stopping will not work.