7 Essential Tips Before You Start Your Weight Loss Journey
Hey Angels and Alphas,
Whether this is your day 1 or day 100 of your weight loss journey, you’re probably well aware losing weight is no walk in the park. You don’t just need the right resources and execution, but you also need the right information and the right mindset.
You might be on a successful diet and a great exercise regime, only to end up gaining back what you lost and then some – all because mindset or information were lacking their vital presence in your regime.
If you’re like everyone, you’ve probably wondered why diets don’t work permanently. Diets produce the exception to the diet rule – that they may work in the short term in obtaining a quick result, but once you’ve attained it, that benefit is lost.
The root problem is the dieter doesn’t know they have a problem. There are so many diet programs out there that can Starbucks your weight right out of your goal range.
But when information is right there, organized in front of you, and always available to bring your mindset on track to where it’s supposed to be, you’re guaranteed to win.
For this reason, let’s talk about 7 of the most vital, essential tips you should know before you take the first step on your journey to your dream body and goal weight.
#1 SET YOUR GOAL… and get excited about it.
Think about an end destination in which you’ve achieved what you want and you feel better than ever. For some, this could mean fitting in your old size 4 jeans. For others, this might mean losing enough weight to stay healthy and have energy for playtime with your children.
You decide how big or small that goal is – but you have to make sure it’s a goal you can get excited about when you imagine yourself already having achieved it.
#2 FOCUS ON INCREASING ENERGY LEVELS (at first)
This does not mean along the lines of exercising. It simply means get out and do things that will cause you to feel great. If walking around the block sounds enjoyable to you, take a walk.
Energy is motion, and the more you move, the more energy you’ll have. By starting out slow with brisk walks, and then moving on to a friendly team sport, and finally hopping on that treadmill in the gym, you’ll follow a natural progress that will keep your energy levels where they need to be.
#3 HYDRATION, HYDRATION, HYDRATION
Keeping up your water intake and avoiding sugary drinks (that cause you to put on more weight) is probably rule number one in the weight loss world. Hydration is vital to all bodily processes, and especially when you start working out, you’ll notice that you’ll start needing a lot more water than you usually did.
#4 DON’T CUT OUT “BAD” FOOD… ADD NEW, HEALTHY OPTIONS TO YOUR WEIGHT LOSS DIET.
If you love fried chicken, for example, you can still eat it, but cut the batter and don’t eat it with all of that breading on it. Some diets will advise you to stop eating foods such as banana bread desserts or chocolate brownies. If you love them, don’t neglect them. It will only cause temporary weight loss and lead you to a cycle of self-deprivation, cravings, and overeating.
The best weight loss advice someone could give you is to try out new, healthy food options every week and discover new healthy recipes that can fuel your body for the journey you’re about to go on… deprivation won’t do that for you.
#5 READ (AND UNDERSTAND) ALL FOOD LABELS
And we’re not just talking about checking out the protein, carbs, and fat contents on a food label. We’re talking about watching out for added sugars, sweeteners, chemically-processed ingredients, and other substances that are not only counterproductive to your progress, but will actually backfire on you hard.
#6 HEALTHY SNACKS ARE BOTH DELICIOUS AND PRODUCTIVE. ALWAYS LOOK FOR NEW OPTIONS!
If you have a hectic lifestyle and don’t think you can fit in a lot of healthy low fat and healthy snack choices all at once, then try to break it up every day.
For example, you could have a low-fat breakfast, a low-fat snack in mid-morning, a piece of fruit in the afternoon, another low-fat snack around five (however many you are allowed), a chicken breast or lean meat dinner, and then a low-fat dessert for, well, dessert.
It is better to eat five (small) healthy meals a day than it is to eat three large meals as this will keep your metabolism going. Burning fat and losing weight are best accomplished through consistently consuming quality calories throughout many meals. That’s why healthy snack options such as protein pancakes, nuts, Greek Yoghurt, celery sticks, flax seeds, and others will go a long way to not only helping you fuel your body with quality calories, but also satisfy your need for sugary sweets and quick dopamine.
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