| |
The process of eating healthy and losing weight isn't a straight shot path without any bends, turns, or speed bumps. Along the way, you're going to make a food choice that isn't on your diet plan. It isn't a question of "if" more than "when." Dieting isn't meant to be rigid and inflexible. There are times that you're going to eat off your program and make less than healthy choices. That is reality and this thing called "life."
The key to success is what you do the majority of time. Dieting and losing weight isn't shining a spotlight on a single choice, a specific day or two. It is a zoom out perspective of what you do over the period of a few days, weeks, and months. We didn't become overweight with one bad choice or even "going for it" for a few days. We've become overweight through multiple unhealthy choices over a prolonged period of time. Don't let a bad choice derail you. You don't have to wait until Monday or the following day to start again. When you make a bad choice, pick yourself up and begin again right then. You don't have to beat yourself for a bad choice but congratulate yourself for getting right back on track. Now that's reason to feel proud of yourself.
Many of us expect perfection of ourselves when it comes to our weight loss program. We feel discouraged and disappointed in ourselves when we go off track. It's your consistent eating patterns over weeks and months that matter and add up to weight loss. Those occasional slip-ups are merely speed bumps in the road. When you get past the speed bump of a food slip up, put your pedal t the metal and move full speed ahead to continue your weight loss success. The occasional slip-ups do not determine your weight loss success.
When you find yourself getting back on track, here are some suggested strategies to stay on track:
* Eat only fruits and vegetables for between meal snacks.
* Drink at least eight glasses of water (64 ounces total) per day. This will help you feel less hungry and your metabolism running efficiently and at its maximum.
* Do not skip meals to make up for an earlier calorie indulgence. Skipping meals only serves to slow down your metabolism.
* Keep a food and activity record. Record everything you eat including a taste of this or a bite of that.
* Sugar-free and fat-free choices count. These choices are not calorie-free. Make sure you're not eating excessive amounts of these types of foods and thinking they are free of calories.
* Make sure that you exercise and are active to gain that feeling of control and being back on track.
* Don't beat yourself up for choices you can't take back. Take note of why you made the choices you did and learn from them. You can use these speed bumps as lessons for future choices.
The journey to weight loss success isn't determined with one choice. Zoom out in your perspective and know that your weight loss success comes in consistent healthy choices. Persistence with your weight loss plan is what is important. Look at your weight loss as a continual journey that has a few speed bumps along the way and has the most beautiful scenery that is your life. Enjoy!
Cathy Wilson is a weight loss life coach. Cathy lost 147 pounds six years ago. Her passion is helping clients achieve their weight loss and life goals. Cathy works with clients to create a weight loss life plan that is customized to each client. Cathy is a member of the International Coaching Federation, International Association of Coaches, and Obesity Action Coalition.
Visit Cathy's website:
http://www.LoseWeightFindLife.com
 EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here
More articles by Cathy Wilson
- Metabolism Boosters - The Secret To Increasing Natural Weight Loss (Phil Hixon)
Everyone wants to lose weight but nobody wants to exercise. Here is a way to boost your metabolism so you lose weight without exercise - Important Decisions a Woman Must Make When Having Breast Enlargement Procedure (Tomer Harel)
The article talks about some of the important decisions a woman must make before having breast enlargement procedure. - Ambler Personal Trainer Teaches How To Use Body Weight Exercises For Fat Loss (Blair Baxter)
This article argues against traditional strength training protocols and is designed to teach you how to build body weight circuits for rapid fat loss.
|