Is there something that keeps getting in the way of your weight loss efforts? Can you not seem to kick those old, lingering habits that prevent you from really making the commitment that it takes to lose weight? Fear not. It is never too late to kick old habits, never too late to lose weight, and never too late to make a change. Make a commitment and stick with it, and you will reach your goal in no time.
Make an Assessment
To get to where you are going, you must first know from where you are starting. The first step to losing weight is to know where your starting point is so you must first hop on a scale, get your body fat percentage measured, and get a feel for your current physical condition. Your local gym should offer several methods for measuring your body fat percentage, many of which will be non-invasive, making it as comfortable as possible for you. The gym likely will also offer a full fitness assessment that includes recording your weight and running you through a series of tests that are used to measure your physical fitness level. If you do not have access to a local gym, you can do this at home. You can obviously measure your weight on your scale at home. You can purchase a fairly priced handheld bioelectrical impedance device that will measure your body fat percentage, and you can also do several tests around the house to measure your fitness level.
Make a Goal
Now that you know your starting point, you must determine where you want to go. What goal(s) do you have in mind? Setting goals for yourself is a great way to hold yourself accountable and keep you on track. Rather than blindly working your way through your weight loss program, offer yourself some direction by setting a specific, attainable, and measurable goal or two. By making your goal specific, you offer no gray areas on whether or not it can be reached. Be sure your goal is attainable, meaning it is not a goal that cannot be reached. Instead, make it a goal that challenges you and a goal that is realistic. Your goal must also be measurable. If you set for yourself a goal to "lose weight," you put yourself at a disadvantage because that goal is not necessarily measurable. A better goal than just losing weight is to be specific, "I want to lose twenty pounds in three months." That way, it is not only measurable, but also specific and attainable.
Make a Commitment
One thing that will help your cause is to commit yourself to this new goal that you have set. Do whatever it takes to ensure that you will be successful. You can write yourself a contract stating that you will commit to your program, place motivational phrases in areas of your home that you frequently visit, or get an accountability partner or someone who will help keep you on track. The key with this step is to commit, so do whatever it takes to make that happen. Set yourself up for success.
Make a Plan
It is very important to enter into your new program with a plan of action. You will make it very difficult to succeed if you take your first step into the gym without first knowing what you want to accomplish that day. During the fitness assessment that you performed earlier, ask questions to the person who is assessing you. Ask them what route he recommends you take to reach your goal, and do research by finding credible sources of information that can help get you on the right path. It is important to walk into the gym every day with a plan on paper. This plan will help hold you accountable and keep you on the right track.
Make an Effort
After you have gotten yourself committed to losing weight, it is extremely important that you always give your best effort. In your diet, in your exercise and just throughout your basic day, it is important to put forth your best effort. You will not reach your goals if you are not working your hardest in the gym and doing your darnedest to eat the proper diet. You will come to find that a great effort will bring great results.
Patience and Persistence
No good things ever come easy, and results do not come overnight. Losing weight is one of those things that takes a lot of persistence and even more patience. You will find that losing weight is not easy, but it is through this ongoing struggle that you will find your reward. Keep in mind that you lose weight one pound at a time, so every bit of effort in the gym and at the dinner table really does matter. Be patient and persistent, and you will be impressed by what you can accomplish.
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