It’s no secret that we’re obsessed with fashion on the blog world. From daily fashion news to runway shows to Instagramming our favorite styles, we’re constantly inspired by what’s hot and what’s not. But while fashion plays a huge role in my life, I also want to focus on the fitness and health side too. After all, we all need to remember that style and fashion should not come at the cost of our health! So I decided to start a series dedicated to helping you achieve your style goals while also feeling healthy and motivated to keep off the pounds. Whether you’re trying to lose weight for a special event like a wedding or just want to be able to fit into your favourite clothes more often than not, this series is for you. In order to lose weight, you have to set a goal and a timeframe to achieve it in, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Setting Achievable Goals
One of the first things you need to do if you want to lose weight is set achievable goals. Now, you might be used to setting goals that are far away, especially if you’ve been trying to lose weight for a long time. After all, the more you set a goal for, the more you’ll probably want to achieve it. But setting an unachievable goal can have some negative impacts. For example, if you want to lose 20 pounds in three months, you might end up discouraged when you don’t lose that exact weight in that exact time. And when that happens, yo-yo dieting is usually the response, which can lead to even more weight gain. So instead of setting an unachievable goal, it’s better to set a timeframe for yourself and focus on the achievable goals within that timeframe. In my case, I decided to set a goal of losing 7 pounds in the next four weeks and then another 7 pounds the following month. Setting smaller goals like this helps you stay motivated and engaged in your weight loss endeavor, and it also gives you something to work towards.
Decide On The Approach
The next thing you need to do is decide on the approach you’re going to use to lose weight. There are many different approaches that you could take, so think about what’s motivating you to lose weight and then choose an approach that matches up with that motivation. In my case, I decided to use a calorie restriction diet. As the name suggests, this diet involves limiting your daily calorie intake. There’s no need to count the calories or to deprive yourself of anything because that might make you binge, which defeats the whole purpose of losing weight. If you want a quick and easy way to lose weight, this is the perfect approach for you because it forces you to make healthier choices without completely depriving yourself of the things you love.
Choose The Right Time
Another essential factor to consider when you want to lose weight is the right time to do it. Now, if you’re an adult and you want to lose weight, there’s no need to rush. You can start now and then revisit this goal whenever you’d like. If you’re a parent, you might want to consider postponing the start of this diet until your child is older, so they don’t get upset by the changes in their eating habits. Just make sure they understand why you’re going through this, and that it’s for their own good. It’s also a good idea to consult with your doctor before starting any weight loss regimen. He or she can advise you on how to proceed and whether or not this is the right approach for you.
Create A Roster
To get the most out of a weight loss regimen, you need to make sure that you’re prepared. It’s easy to lose motivation when your schedule gets filled with social events and you have too many commitments to keep up with. Create a roster to follow and make sure that you check it often. Knowing what your priorities are and what’s most important to you can help you stay motivated. If losing weight is a priority, but maintaining your social life is also, then you might want to re-evaluate your approach. Perhaps you need to put some more focus on staying consistent with the diet, or join a weight loss support group to get some extra motivation.
Get Enough Sleep
It’s well-known that sleep plays a crucial role in weight loss. Studies show that getting at least seven hours of sleep each day will boost your metabolism and make it easier for you to burn calories. So if you want to lose weight, make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night. You’ll be more motivated to work out and stick to the diet when you’re feeling tired, so make sure you’re getting the best night’s sleep possible. There are plenty of sleeping pills and other sleep aids available over-the-counter, so if you’re finding that staying asleep is a struggle, then it might be time to consult with your doctor. He might be able to help you get the best night’s sleep possible so you can start burning off those unwanted pounds.
Don’t Binge
If you want to lose weight, you must have heard of the ‘binge’ diet. The basic concept behind the binge diet is that by restricting your food intake in short, intense bursts, you’ll lose more weight. The theory behind this is that your body’s natural hormone, leptin, drops when you’re hungry, and then increases after you eat something. When it reaches a certain level, your body begins to ‘rebound’, seeking out food again and again until the level goes back down. This, in turn, can lead to severe health issues like diabetes and heart disease. So if you want to lose weight and don’t want to risk harming your health in any way, then the binge diet isn’t for you. Don’t get me wrong, the idea behind a binge diet is to take your health into consideration and make healthy choices, but you need to be aware of the risks before you start.
Create Healthy Eating Habits
Making healthy eating choices doesn’t mean you need to be bland or boring. There are many different ways you can incorporate more vegetables and fruits into your diet without needing to radically change what you eat. Instead of having one glass of wine with dinner, try having two or three. Instead of ordering fish every Tuesday, try ordering fresh fruit and vegetables more often. Incorporating more vegetables and fruits into your diet will help you accomplish your weight loss goal without risking your health in any way. Plus, most people who adopt this lifestyle report that their food tastes better too! So not only is it good for your health, but you also feel better when you eat it.
Track Your Calories
Keeping track of your calories is essential if you’re going to lose weight. Simply multiplying your weight by 9 and then dividing the result by your caloric intake should give you an idea of how much weight you’re losing per day. If you’re not losing a significant amount of weight after three to four weeks, then it might be time to reevaluate your approach and choose a different tactic. You should also track your nutrition so you can see how much you’re actually gaining or losing. There are many different ways to keep track of your calories, so find one that works best for you.
Choose A Supportive Partner
If you want to lose weight and are looking for support, then it’s important to choose a partner that understands and is willing to work with you. If you’re seeking support from family and friends, be sure to include them in your strategy too. Everyone in your support network should be helping you, and no one should be asking you to give up or go down any particular path. Choose a partner that will be there for you no matter what and make sure that everyone around you is too. Setting yourself up for success and having a team behind you makes all the difference. You can’t do this alone – you have to be willing to listen to and support those around you as you navigate this new, sometimes difficult, world of body positivity and weight loss.
Make Changes Step-by-Step
If you’re really committed to losing weight, then you need to make changes one step at a time. Starting with simple things like cutting out junk food or eating healthier will help you achieve your goal more quickly. If you’re trying to change your eating habits, then it might be a good idea to cut out carbs for a while and then slowly introduce new, healthy foods into your diet. There are plenty of weight loss supplements available that can help speed up your results too. If you’re looking for the quickest route to weight loss, then this might be the option for you. Cut out the bad stuff, and then concentrate on incorporating more vegetables into your diet. You’ll be surprised how simple it can be to lose weight once you have the right approach and the right mindset. Just remember to be patient, and make changes step by step, so you don’t overwhelm yourself.