At the beginning of every year you can count on several things: people partying, drinking, and shooting off fireworks. After the festivities that ring in a new year you can also count on people making resolutions in order to finally get themselves lean, limber, and healthy. The problem is that the resolution is short-lived because most people try to completely change their eating habits in a few days and expect to live with these changes for the rest of their lives.
This is not to say that you can’t make positive changes that will actually help you lose weight and make you feel better. It’s just that you need to figure out the best plan for your personality. If you love carbohydrates, trying to stay on a low carb plan, such as the Paleo plan or the Atkins diet, will only last a short time. If you don’t like to limit the kinds of foods that you eat you should embark on a plan where you count calories and focus on portion control.
While losing weight usually originates with a goal in mind of dropping a size or two in your clothing to look better, you will enjoy even more benefits in your overall health when you drop even just 10 percent of your weight. Areas that will automatically improve include your blood pressure, cholesterol readings, and blood sugar levels. When these statistics are normalized you will eliminate your chances of ending up with a heart attack, diabetes, and a stroke. You will actually add years to your life expectancy.
Here are 5 Ways You Can Reach Your Weight Loss Goals
- Research the popular diets that are available and select the one that suits your style. When you are eating the foods, you enjoy you are more likely to stay on your plan and reach your weight loss goal.
- Write down everything you eat. You will be surprised to see how much you actually consume on a regular basis. A little taste here and there can add up.
- Use visualization to help you see yourself thinner and happier. If you can see it, you can achieve it.
- You don’t have to join a gym but if you just work yourself up to a 30-minute walk three times a week you will help keep your heart healthy.
- Allow yourself one splurge day a week. Make it one meal so that you don’t feel like you are missing out on some of your old favorites.
The good news is that as you lose weight you will feel better and in turn you will be less likely to overeat and return to your old habits. The longer you maintain a healthy lifestyle the better chances you have of avoiding many unhealthy conditions that you do not have to endure as you get older.