Nearly every woman wants to lose weight. While some people look at this and shake their heads, claiming people need to be more satisfied with who they are, there’s really nothing wrong with wanting to shed a few extra pounds. It simply shows you care about how you look and feel. The problem is that very few people are able to consistently lose and keep off weight because they don’t understand the basic principles.
4 Practical Keys to Losing (and Keeping Off) Weight
The issue with the modern weight loss industry is that it gives dieters false confidence. The majority of diets tell users that they need to do X, Y, and Z in order to lose weight, while failing to mention that both X and Y are unsustainable in the long run. So, while dieters may lose five or six pounds in the first couple of weeks, these pounds will inevitably return at the conclusion of the diet.
If you really want to lose weight – and keep the pounds off for years to come – you need to understand the practical keys and principles to weight loss. It’s a lifestyle, not a three-week cure-all. Keep the following points in mind and you’ll be well ahead of the majority of dieters across the country:
1. Healthy Eating is the Most Important
Let’s be clear about one thing: healthy eating trumps all else (including exercise). That’s why you’ll frequently hear people say, “abs are made in the kitchen.” If you’re consuming a terrible diet, even the most rigorous exercise regimen will be rendered useless.
“Portion and calorie control is the key to weight loss. Not taking a jog or an exercise class or swimming laps in the pool,” writes Seattle Sutton, BSN, RN. “Those are all helpful in keeping one healthy, but not key to weight loss.”
2. Exercise Should be Regular and Sustainable
That’s not to say exercise doesn’t matter at all, though. Physical exercise clearly burns calories, something that matters when you’re trying to lose weight. However, it’s critical that you develop sustainable exercise routines that can be maintained for months at a time.
If someone convinces you that you need to try a crazy one-month spin class that’s designed to help you lose 10 pounds, politely decline. You may lose 10 pounds, but what happens when you stop the class? Exercise routines should be steady and sustainable if you want them to last.
3. A Supportive Environment Helps
Don’t underestimate the value of support. While nobody can lose the weight for you, there are people who can encourage and motivate you throughout your journey. In fact, many dieticians, doctors, and professional trainers encourage their clients to establish accountability groups.
These are groups of close friends that stay in touch and request updates about your progress. Having this support group to fall back on can really keep you going during the tough times. It also ensures you don’t slip back into bad habits for prolonged periods of time.
4. Smart Shopping Habits are a Must
One problem you’ll hear people talk about is the cost of losing weight. They claim eating healthy is expensive – especially when visiting the supermarket for groceries. The real problem is that people aren’t used to shopping for healthy food, so they don’t have the right habits. By developing smart shopping habits, you can make healthy eating cheaper, which naturally makes it a more sustainable lifestyle.
Losing Weight is Practical
In the end, losing and keeping off unhealthy weight isn’t an unachievable goal. With these practical keys as the foundational pillars of your lifestyle, you can and will be able to finally lose weight.