While you can get help and support from your doctor, friends and loved ones to lose weight, ultimately you have to be the one to change your lifestyle to drop the excess pounds and keep them off. However, before you begin, ask yourself some questions about why you are doing this. Find your motivation, whether it is getting healthier or warding off the diseases often associated with obesity and take steps to remind yourself of this incentive on a daily basis. Check with your doctor before you begin and do what is necessary to develop discipline.
Step 1
Ask your county health department or surgical society to explain what will happen if you carry excessive weight as you age. Hearing the sobering mortality rate that exists for the obese should provide ample incentive to shed weight. Plus, you also put yourself at risk for developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, heart failure and other diseases and conditions. If your doctor or the health department provide you with written materials, read all daily and post statistics where you can see them.
Step 2
Tape pictures of your children and grandchildren in prominent places. If your goal is to live long enough to enjoy them and watch them grow, this can help keep you motivated when you are tempted to cheat on your diet or forego your daily workout. Similarly, post pictures of your parents or grandparents if you are trying to avoid the early death they suffered due to obesity or a related condition.
Step 3
Put the invitation of the wedding, class reunion or other event for which you want to lose weight on the fridge or cupboard doors -- wherever you keep the food that tempts you the most. Perhaps you want to impress family friends or even an old girlfriend. Keeping such incentive before you will help keep you from sneaking snacks.
Step 4
Tear out a magazine picture of the dress or suit you want to wear to that wedding or reunion. Maybe it is a bathing suit you would like to sport on the upcoming family vacation. Post whatever it is in an equally prominent place. Picture how you want to look in that attire when you have dropped the excess weight as well as how you may look in it now if you don't stick to your weight loss plan.
Step 5
Remove the tempting foods from the house. Not having those cookies, chips and chocolates within reach makes it a lot easier to stay disciplined. On the other hand, do allow yourself a treat every now and again to avoid feeling deprived, which can also wreak havoc on your resolve.
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