Before You Diet, Prepare With These Tips
By Rachel Carver
Healthy eating and regular exercise are important parts of a weight loss journey. But before you make a new grocery list or join a gym, you need to prepare.
Preparation is a big part of weight loss success. You need to set the right mindset and create a weight loss plan individualized to your needs and goals.
Have you ever reached for chocolate when you were hungry because you didn't have healthier food handy? Did you ever skip a workout when you felt too busy and stressed because you were not seeing results? Preparations can help you avoid these issues.
Start your weight loss journey with these tips.
Learn From the Past
Think about effective pieces of your previous experiences. Maybe your afternoon snack kept you from eating chips while cooking dinner. Or maybe enjoying a small, sweet treat at lunch prevented evening snacking.
Remember your failures also. Maybe eliminating your favorite snack just made you crave it more, or expecting yourself to work out five days a week burned you out. Decide not to make the same mistakes this time.
Start Small
Set small goals that will help you accomplish your ultimate goal. Aim to lose one to two pounds each week until you have reached your ideal weight. Set limits on foods you enjoy, such as soda and popcorn. Planning for occasional indulgences will keep guilt away and make you less likely to over do it.
Get Quality Sleep
Even with a balanced diet, poor sleep can slow weight loss. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Create a bedtime with meditation, reading, or a shower.
Track Your Current Eating Habits
To create a successful weight loss plan, you first need to understand your eating habits. Track your food in a journal or app. Note times when you feel hungry, how foods make you feel, and what foods keep you feeling full.
Clean Your Kitchen
Once you know what unhealthy foods caused the weight gain, it is time to eliminate them from your kitchen. Take the rest of your cookies to the office, or take the ice cream to the next gathering with friends. You don't need to banish these foods from your life, but not having them readily available will help you cut down on how much you consume them. For example, your nightly ice cream treat can become a once or twice a month outing to an ice cream shop.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Waco, Tex.