You wake up one morning and decide it’s time to shed those extra pounds. But when you arrive at your wardrobe, you realize there’s no time for a drastic step–you’re already 30 minutes late for work! Instead of giving up, you decide to bring your coffee and work out some plan to achieve your goal. But then your phone rings and you glance at the screen. It’s your mother—she’s sick! You decide to cancel your workout session and rush home. This is when you realize that life does not stand still, even when you want it to.
When you arrive home, you give your mother a kiss and ask her if she’s feeling better. She smiles and says she is, but your heart sinks: your grandmother died a few hours ago! Now you have double the reason to celebrate: your mom’s birthday and the passing of your grandmother. Nothing else matters but these two events. You decide to make this year the best year ever, for your mom, yourself, and your family. You want to do something special for her with your friends, and maybe even surprise her with a small gift.
This is when you decide to set a goal to lose weight, but it does not come without its challenges. To get your body in the best shape possible for your mom’s birthday, you need to lose some weight. But how do you go about doing that? Where do you start? How much weight should you actually lose? Is it even possible to lose weight without risking your health? These are the kinds of questions you need to ask yourself, and the answer to every single one is, “it depends.” But the good news is there are guidelines. Take note of these five steps, and you will be on your way to a truer love for food and a healthier lifestyle.
1. Set a Date for the Event
You cannot create a healthy habit for yourself if you do not set a date for the event. You want to lose weight, so you decide that it’s time to start decluttering your kitchen. You look at the calendar and notice that there’s a five-week gap between now and your mom’s birthday. You decide to schedule your first trip to the gym in order to lose some weight. But you need someone to walk you through the steps! That’s when you call Maria, a friend who is also a personal trainer. You tell her you need help preparing for your mom’s birthday, and she agrees to meet you for coffee. You set the date for the next week, and from that point on, it’s a commitment.
Your first step in losing weight is to acknowledge that it’s a difficult journey. Everyone experiences obesity differently, and while there are guidelines, nothing can prepare you for the lifestyle changes required to lose weight. You will have ups and downs, but most importantly, you will learn to cherish and enjoy your time with your family and friends. It is not easy to make this lifestyle change, but once you do, you will never look back!
2. Identify Your Own Motivations
You’ve decided to lose weight, and that’s a great first step, but now you have to figure out why you want to lose weight. The truth is, there are many reasons why someone would want to lose weight. Some people want to lose weight to fit into a certain dress, others want to look like a model, yet others wish to be healthier, etc. This is why it’s so important to try to identify your own motivations. When you are aware of what drives you, you can take steps to correct the issue. Since you have made the decision to lose weight, it means you are self-aware of your own insecurities. A big part of the work towards a healthy lifestyle is mental. You have to be willing to change, for yourself, and that’s an extremely difficult thing.
3. Establish How You Want to Feel
In addition to identifying your own motivations, it’s important to establish how you want to feel. Do you want to feel happy? Do you want to feel confident? Do you want to feel like a slimmer, healthier version of yourself? Once you know how you want to feel, it’s easier to determine what you should and shouldn’t eat. Since you are starting a new lifestyle, it is essential to find the right advice and support. You can start by finding a buddy, someone who shares the same goals and is willing to help you reach them. After all, nobody knows you better than yourself, and the person you admire the most is the person you are closest to: your mother. She is the person you need to look up to most, and if you want her to think highly of you, you need to do everything in your power to become the best possible version of yourself.
4. Create A Routine
Once you have set your date for the event and have decided how you want to feel, it’s time to create a routine. You know, like those amazing women who wake up at 5:00am every morning, eat a healthy breakfast, and then head to the gym for an intense workout? That’s how they maintain their incredible figures, and you want to be like that, too! So, you decide to get up early every day and workout, and maybe even catch some sun. It’s time to create a new habit that will bring you closer to your goal. Now, it’s not about eating healthy all the time or avoiding fat food, it’s about creating a new routine, something that will enable you to feel better, both mentally and physically. Create a checklist for yourself, and be sure to follow it, no matter what. This is how you keep yourself organized and on track.
5. Be Confident
You cannot become the best possible version of yourself if you don’t feel like it. A huge part of the work towards a healthy lifestyle is mental. You have to be confident in asserting your strength and skills, regardless of whether or not you feel like it. Everyone has bad days, but you cannot let that interfere with your goals. You set the date, you establish a routine, and now you are ready to be confident. It’s not easy to show the world your best side, but you know what—it’s worth it. Your mom will love you for all your confidence.
Maria has agreed to help you lose weight and ensure you have the tools to succeed. She has walked you through the steps to establish a routine and has helped you identify your own motivations for wanting to change. As much as you want to succeed, it’s not easy to lose weight and maintain the changes that come with it. But with determination and proper guidance, you can change your life around for the better. Congratulations!