Losing weight is one of the easiest goals to give up!

 

Most people who made a resolution to lose weight in 2007 and set out all guns blazing on a strict diet and exercise regime will have given up already. They will have broken their diet on several occasions and missed an exercise session or two.

All but a tiny minority will have given up within a few weeks. Witness the crowd at the gym in January when you can't get near a machine turning into a trickle of gym goers in February.

But you know I don't advise big lifestyle changes anyway. They are designed mainly for those superhumans with a will of iron and a life which allows them to dedicate a lot of time and effort to achieving their goal.

Most of us would do better to take our desire to lose weight and use it to start changing our habits one by one, moving gently but consistently towards a healthier lifestyle.

We might never get to the gym - it really doesn't matter as long as we move our bodies.

We might never follow a detox routine to the letter (or at all!) it doesn't matter as long as we move towards a healthier diet with good delicious food in the right quantities to suit our needs along with the odd treat or blow-out.

It's not so dramatic (though it will bring about a major change in your body) but it's achievable no matter how busy you are with families, work, friends and hobbies.

Yet whatever kind of weight loss effort you are making this year, there are ways to help keep it going.

1. Rekindle Your Desire Regularly

Get a vivid picture in your head of how you will LOOK and how it will FEEL when you lose weight. Remind yourself of this whenever you have a few moments and use it whenever you're faced with the temptation to eat too much or to lie about on the sofa when you were going to go for a walk or visit the gym or whatever.

2. Plan Ahead

Make it easier for yourself to keep to your program by having everything to hand. Shop in advance for food to make healthy delicious meals (or gather together the food for your diet plan if that's the way you've chosen to go). Always have your gym or swimming bag packed and ready to grab as you go out the door. Or arrange in advance to meet a friend to go for a walk. Do what you can to make it harder to find an excuse to fail at your program.

3. Set your Intentions

At the start of every meal, set an intention in your mind for how you will eat - whether that is to follow a prescribed diet plan that you have chosen or simply to follow healthy eating principles and habits.  At the start of every day set an intention for how you want the day to go and then remind yourself about it throughout the day.

4. Back on Track

No use crying over spilt milk. If you strayed, don't give up for the day, the week, the month - you'll not be perfect then either so just get right back on track straight away and do the best you can for the rest of the day, week or month.

If you say to yourself "I might as well give up for the day" (or whatever) it's far harder to keep the momentum going.

Forgive yourself for your slips as fast as you possibly can too. Beating yourself up never did as much good as encouraging words. Just say to yourself "I can do this" because you can!

Copyright 2007, Janice Elizabeth Small

 

By putting in place my simple system you will lose weight steadily week by week and stay in great shape without dieting for the rest of your life. 

Discover the 24 keys to permanent and healthy weight loss at http://www.simplyslimming.com/dietexitplan.