If you want to be successful at losing weight, you must mentally prepare to change your lifestyle. Be positive about making the decision to lose weight so that you can look and feel great. After all, you deserve a healthy life. Often people who diet for anyone other than themselves do not reach their weight loss goals. You should make the decision to lose weight because you want to do it for your own health and happiness, and not because you are giving in to pressure from others.
Step 1
Take the time to evaluate why you are overweight. Identify possible reasons for your weight problems. Write down any physical activities in which you participate each day. Include a list of all the foods and beverages you consume. Do this for at least 3 days to help you pinpoint areas that need improvement. Be honest with yourself about the reasons why you are overweight.
Step 2
Picture the new and improved you as motivation for your dieting goals. Think about how great you will look when you are able to drop a few sizes. Do not simply visualize the way you want to look on the outside, but think about the changes you want to see on the inside as well. For example, imagine feeling more confident in life along with being able to make healthier food choices.
Step 3
Compose a list of both short- and long-term goals for your diet. Take small steps at first, since this will help you ease into the changing mindset you will need to lose weight. Start with your goals for the first few weeks of your diet and then move on to what you want to achieve in the months to follow.
Step 4
Weigh yourself weekly to track your progress. It works better not to be a slave to the scale, so set aside just one day to log your weight. If you fall into the habit of weighing yourself too often, you are more likely to become discouraged if you are not losing weight as fast as you think you should. Avoid this problem by weighing yourself only once each week.
Step 5
Find the right weight-loss plan for your individual needs and goals. Just because a particular diet worked wonders for a friend does not necessarily mean that it will work for you. Enlist the help of your doctor or a registered dietitian in finding the right diet plan for you.
Step 6
Locate a weight-loss support group in your area. You can benefit by receiving advice and insight from others who have lost weight or who are trying to lose weight. It will be easier for you to develop a positive attitude toward losing weight if you realize that you are not alone in your struggles. A study published in the February 2009 issue of the "New England Journal of Medicine" suggests a link between counseling and succeeding better at losing weight. Dieters who participated in the research attended both individual and group counseling sessions over a 2-year period.
Tips and Warnings
- Reasons people identify for being overweight include eating too much, consuming too many high-fat meals, eating when they feel low and leading a sedentary lifestyle. Consult with your physician to determine your ideal weight and body mass index (BMI).
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