"I need to lose X pounds by (this date) and then my life will be perfect."
Next thing you know you're paying more attention to infomercials for battery operated waist bands that do your work out for you while you sit. Dr. Oz suddenly has you mesmerized and whatever flies out of his mouth is the God-given fact to weight loss. You stand in GNC/ Vitamin Shoppe/ (Insert your supplement store of choice here) in awe of your options for fat-blasting aids and metabolism boosters. These are the answers you have been looking for! These will finally help you lose that pesky weight you have carried for so long!
At least that's what you think.
But why invest your money in pills with more ingredients than what goes into a loaf of bread? Why strap and battery powered belt yourself? Why put the stress of one, inconsequential day on yourself?
Setting a date/ goal is a preliminary step in weight loss. But having just that and no real idea of what it takes to lose weight will only set yourself up for failure. And no, buying pills and products does not count as a plan. These are "quick fixes" if they deliver what they promise. But odds that it will last you a lifetime are not so high. The thing is, many of the products promise results in conjunction with a healthy diet and exercise!
I have seen/ heard from too many people who have said "I want to lose weight, I just don't want to change." (In all fairness, the phrase "I don't want to change" in its entirety was not stated. With that out there, the statement "I don't want to change the way I eat," or some variation of it, has been expressed.)
What You Need to Realize About Weight Loss
YES You will need to change. If you don't, how can you expect things to be any different?
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."- Albert Einstein.
NO You don't need the "latest and greatest" pill/ gadget to do it.
Someone once said "Your body is 80% what you put in your body and 20% what you do." Considering how far you have walk to burn off a doughnut, there is some truth to that.
NO You don't need to starve yourself. But...
DO Pay attention to what you're putting in your mouth; its the best place to start.
Tip: Look at the nutrition label to see what a serving size is and use that to put what you're eating in perspective. For instance, pour yourself a bowl of cereal. Then measure out a proper serving from the bowl you just poured with a measuring cup or a kitchen scale. How does this look compared to what you usually eat? Is there cereal left in your bowl or is the measuring cup coming up short? Do this for everything you eat for at least for a week. Some items you may be eating under a serving, but with others you may be eating double. Pay careful attention to items you are going over board with. Having too many vegetables isn't bad for the calorie bank, but too many chips can send you over your limit quick.
Pro Tip: Avoid eating straight from the package, things can quickly get out of hand.
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| Image of the LoseIt! App |
Bonus: Most of applications out there can let you know how many calories you need to maintain, lose, or gain weight.
DON'T Wait! Why put weight loss off for a special occasion? There may already be enough pressure on that special day, why add to it? Get out of the mindset of "now is not the time." My dad was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes two days before Thanksgiving. Two days, talk about "now is not the time." The holiday of gorging oneself was now him asking what he could eat and my mom scrambling to alter recipes. Chronic diseases don't wait for the "right time", why should you wait for the "right time" to be the healthiest you can be? Put yourself first and go after it!
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