Many tips and diet plans are available on the Internet that promise to shed off that nasty extra weight. Unfortunately, these fixes are temporary, and as soon as you leave them, you again put on weight. Shedding weight needs a lot of hard work and dedication, and we don’t think anyone loves to do the same process again. So, if you too want to shed weight once and for all, we’ve got you covered.
So, appreciate yourself for all the hard work you’ve done, and while you’re at it, why not trying tips to shed your weight permanently? For this to happen, here are nine practical tips on how to lose weight and keep it off permanently.
Make Yourself Ready For The Change
To shed off the weight permanently, you need to make a life plan you can stick with; you must be truly ready to commit. As you know, it’s going to take both time and effort, so make sure you’re ready to get started.
For this, ask yourself a question: Are you aware of all the changes you will need to make to lose weight, and if yes, are you ready for them? Don’t force yourself into anything you don’t want.
Don’t Rely On Just Diets
Within two years of dieting, around 30 percent of people can regain half of the weight they lost. Want to know the reason? It’s because they all have lost weight with the help of a specific diet, and this way, you can only get the short-term effect. To get long-term results, you need to alter your eating habits and not just diets.
Track Yourself
If you’re following any diet or workout regime, it’s best to keep track of it. For this, you can maintain a journal and start recording your progress. Write down how much weight you’re reducing, what food items you avoid, which diet is working for you, and all the cheat meals you have treated yourself with.
Remember, self-awareness leads to self-motivation. By keeping track of your activities and changes, you motivate yourself to change by becoming more accountable.
Eat Mindfully And Only When You Need To
Healthy eating is not cutting down every calorie possible but balancing all the essential nutrients and eliminating certain ones. You can follow a simple rule for all your meals – your plate should consist of 1/2 = vegetables,1/4 = whole grains, and 1/4 = lean protein. If you get stuffed at five on a scale from 1 to 5, aim to stop eating at 3 or 4. The aim is to feel full, not stuffed.
Another thing to consider while trying to lose weight is that you eat only when you’re hungry. Constantly eating out of habit or boredom is a major contributor to weight gain. So next time you feel the urge to eat, ask yourself – are you really hungry or just sad, angry, stressed, or anxious. If you’re not hungry and still want to eat something, eat a bowl of sprouts, beans, salad, etc.
Workout In The Morning
As you know, keeping up a certain weight also needs a particular workout routine. But this doesn’t mean you should work out whenever you’re free. It’s best to work out in the mornings as the plan of working out after having a busy day never really goes well for anyone.
The best way is to wake one and a half hours early and work out in the first half of the day. You can either go running, do strength training, or go to the gym. The more time you delay, the more you feel tired from working out. Also, if you plan to work out at random times during the day, it is more likely to don’t work because you may have last-minute plans or some important task to complete.
Get Yourself A Fitness Partner
If you think you can’t maintain a specific routine, get yourself a partner. It is beneficial to have a partner for workouts because if you ever feel like skipping the session, your friend will motivate you. Also, knowing that someone is expecting you to come will encourage you to attend the sessions. Apart from this, you can have a healthy competition to run more distances, lift heavier weights, and so on. It’s always great to have someone you can celebrate your progress with.
Avoid All The Triggers
You might have heard that eating everything is okay as long as you eat in moderation, but this is not the case. Though it’s impossible to avoid the foods you love, you can keep addictive items away from yourself. It’s best to avoid sugary foods as you will find yourself eating more and more of such items, which can slow down all your hard work.
If you still want to eat something sweet, try healthier options like berries, smoothies with dates, etc.
Stay Consistent With Your Habits
Vacations, festivals, crazy work trips, don’t let anything be an excuse to cheat your routine—people who always stay healthy and fit stick to their workout routine and eating habits. Don’t let anything get in the way of that. Sticking to your routine should be like brushing your teeth or taking a bath, things you cannot skip on.
Walk When You Can
On the days when you don’t gym or every once in a while, skip the car and walk to places you can. If your workplace or college is far away, you can also cycle your way. The more steps you walk, the better it is for your health.
The Bottom Line
Maintaining a particular lifestyle needs continuous efforts and dedication. Keep patience and don’t get disheartened even if the scale swings a bit upwards. Stress, workload, vacation, celebration, or anything could be the reason for your weight fluctuation. You can reduce it again by following a healthy routine. Always remember, maintenance is a marathon, not a sprint; you’re in this for life!
