People always say that losing weight is as difficult as achieving it. You’ve probably heard that 100 times by now. Well, it’s absolutely true. No matter if you’re an obese person looking to lose a few pounds or even a lot of pounds, the idea of changing your diet and hitting the gym regularly to lose weight can feel overwhelming.
How many times have you heard that a few pounds can make a difference in your overall health and well-being? If you’re not sure, check out this cool infographic by Fitbit which illustrates the many benefits of losing weight.
Now, if you’re really motivated to lose weight, there are ways you can do it in just three weeks. With a little bit of planning and research, you can develop a diet plan that will help you shed those extra pounds in a hurry. Let’s look at how you can get started.
Understand Why You’re Losing Weight
As difficult as losing weight can be, it’s actually quite simple to understand why you’re losing it in the first place. When you eat food, you’re giving your body nourishment and energy. You may not have realized this, but your body actually functions on a calorie-counting system. Each person is different, but on average, we expend about 3,500 calories per day just to maintain our current body weight. So when you start losing weight, it’s usually because you’re consuming fewer calories than you expend. That’s all there is to it!
You might be wondering why your body isn’t adjusting better to these new food intake levels. Sometimes this can happen, especially if you’re restricting yourself to a single food group. For example, if you’re cutting out carbohydrates (chips, biscuits, pasta, rice, etc.), you may not be taking in enough fiber, vitamins, or minerals from the food you’re eating. This can make it harder for your body to adjust and shed the extra pounds. To avoid this, make sure you’re eating a well-balanced diet and getting the proper nutrients.
Set A Realistic Goal.
If you really want to lose weight, it’s important to set a realistic goal. Just because you’ve decided to change your diet and start exercising doesn’t mean you have to lose a certain amount of weight right away. It takes time for your body to adjust to these new food intake levels and exercise regimens. Plus, everyone’s situation is different. If you’re used to eating a lot more meat than vegetables, for example, you may not be doing yourself any favors by suddenly putting a massive amount of vegetables on your diet. Your body may not be used to it and you could end up with nutritional deficiencies if you don’t introduce a new food group gradually.
Instead of setting a specific weight loss goal, consider what’s realistic for you. If you’re really happy with how you look and feel, you can set a weight loss goal of 1 or 2 lbs. per week. If you’re not exactly sure how you’ll feel once you’ve lost the weight, you can set a higher goal. Maybe you’ll feel better than you do now and you want to hit the gym more often or eat healthier? Whatever it may be, set a goal that’s challenging yet realistic and you’re sure to reach it.
Once you’ve set your goal, it’s time to figure out how to lose the weight. The best way to do this is by developing a detailed plan. You can use the 3 week diet plan below to get started.
The 3 Week Diet Plan
Now that you’ve got your goal in mind, it’s time to work out a plan to get there. If you’re already doing some of the below, great! Keep going and you’ll be on the right track to healthier living in no time.
The idea behind the three week diet plan is to restrict yourself to a single food group for the first two weeks and then slowly start incorporating healthy alternatives. When you first start out on this plan, you may want to take it easy by avoiding strenuous exercise or trying to cut out a few foods all at once. Instead, focus on eating healthy alternatives such as vegetables, fruit, and lean meats to gradually wean yourself off of your old eating habits. You can also supplement with vitamin D and calcium to promote healthy bones and teeth. Avoid consuming sugar, grains, and processed foods.
During the first two weeks, you’ll want to cut out foods that are high in refined carbs and sugars such as white bread, pasta, and biscuits. These foods, along with dairy products, are common sources of empty calories which you’ll want to cut back on. Instead, focus on eating whole foods such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat. When you eat foods that are high in fiber, it will help to slow the digestive process and make you feel full for longer. This, in turn, will help you avoid unnecessary overeating. When you cut back on these foods, you’ll have to eat more frequently to achieve the same level of nourishment.
After two weeks, you can start incorporating more complex carbohydrates into your diet. These are the carbs which are more slowly digested than simple ones. This will help to keep you satisfied for longer and prevent unnecessary weight gain. Instead of having a bread based diet like many people do, try to eat fruit, roots, and tubers instead. Even better, opt for natural products which have been freshly washed and cut back on foods with added sugar and preservatives.
After three weeks on this diet, you’ll start to see major differences. Not only will you feel stronger and more energetic, but you’ll also start to shed those extra pounds. Keep working at it, and you’ll be on your way to healthier living in no time.
Avoid Negative Thinking
Avoiding negative thinking is vital in order to lose weight successfully. It’s easy for your mind to play tricks on you when you’re trying to lose weight. If you have a few pounds to lose, it can seem like a monumental task to change your entire eating routine and start exercising. Naturally, this can seem overwhelming. Seeing the scale every day and thinking you’re going to fail is the most damaging form of negative thinking. Don’t let your mind play tricks on you; believe you’re capable of changing and that you’ll succeed.
It can be frustrating trying to lose weight only to find yourself falling off the wagon after a while. When this happens, it’s usually because you’ve adopted a negative attitude towards weight loss. Tell yourself that it’s not over yet and that you’ll get back on track soon. Seeing this as a daily struggle may make you discouraged and eventually sabotaged your efforts to lose weight. Instead, focus on the positive changes you’re seeing and know that you’re capable of achieving your goal.
Take Care Of Your Health
Taking care of your health is crucial if you want to lose weight successfully. It’s no secret that not eating healthy foods and not getting enough exercise can cause you to gain weight. The issue is that many people don’t know how to take care of their health in a proper manner. To lose weight, you have to be willing to make some changes to your diet and exercise regimen. If you want to keep the weight off, you need to make sure these changes are sustainable and that you’re not sliding back into your old eating patterns. This is where a lot of the issues arise. If you have an unhealthy lifestyle, it can be difficult to change your habits suddenly and incorporate a new diet. Going to the doctor and getting a physical isn’t a bad idea either. Getting a blood test to monitor your cholesterol and blood pressure levels can help you determine the best course of action. If you do need to make some changes to your diet and lifestyle, make sure you consult your physician first so he can suggest the right supplements and treatments for you.
As you start to change your eating habits and start losing weight, it’s important to keep in mind that this isn’t a diet which will solve all of your problems. If you want to keep the weight off, you’ll have to maintain this new eating pattern. To do this, it’s important to be conscious of what you’re eating and make sure you’re incorporating a healthy alternative into your diet on a regular basis. If this sounds like a lot of work, it’s probably because it is. But if you’re passionate about changing your life for the better, you’ll find a way. Just remember to enjoy the journey.