For your weight loss journey you can start by having the goal of losing 4 lbs. each month. It may not sound like a lot, but it is definitely a realistic goal that can be easily achieved by any person, no matter their age and previous experience in fitness. The numbers will differ from one person to another, and many people (especially obese people) will lose much more than 4 lbs. in the first month. 3 years ago I weighed 211 lbs! I lost 65 lbs. in a little less than two years, and I've kept it off.
2. Measure Everything
Successful people keep track of their progress and carefully measure different aspects over time. They don't just settle with measuring their weight. They also measure the percentage of body fat and muscle mass, measure their waste or thighs over time and take before and after photos. Most people focus way too much on their actual weight. You can judge weight loss by how your clothes fit, without ever getting on the scales.
3. Have Patience
Patience is one of the key elements when it comes to losing weight. A successful person will have patience and will keep on going no matter what. Like everyone else you will also have moments of disappointment, but continue the journey and don’t stop until you reach your goal. You didn't gain that weight overnight and it's not going to come off overnight.
4. Don’t Feel Guilty
No matter how strong you are mentally, your body will not enjoy severe calorie restriction and will crave any kind of food, especially high-calorie junk food. (Not to mention all the temptations that are around and all the people who will innocently try to sabotage you.)
It may happen that you will have a slip once in a while, but you need to know and BELIEVE that it’s not the end of the world and that you can easily fix this in a few days. Don’t feel guilty about a pizza or a piece of cake on a special occasion. Keep sticking to your diet 90% of the time. Actually, it’s even recommended to have a cheat day once in a while to keep your metabolism revving. As long as you eat clean most of the time, don’t feel guilty about the occasional slip-ups. Sometimes I just HAVE to have a Hershey bar (or two). I absolutely love pizza. Let's not even talk about chocolate gelato!
5. Feel Proud and Confident
No matter what everyone around you tells you, be proud of your progress so far and confident that you can reach your goal and the body you have always wanted. Even if Mom says that you look just fine and you don’t need to lose any more weight, keep on going and stick to the original plan. Be proud of how far you’ve come and don’t hesitate to share your achievement with everyone around you.
6. Help Others
Someone who is proud of their weight loss journey will gladly help others and offer them information and support. They won’t hesitate to share their diet or their workout plan and they will try to take as many people as possible along on their journey to a fit body and a healthy life. Even if they get a lot of turn-downs, they will still continue to preach their new lifestyle and help others whenever they need it. My office manager talks to anyone who will listen about how she lost her weight and has kept it off. It has consisted simply of healthy eating and walking. I try to get anyone I can into running. It releases endorphins, and builds a sense of teamwork and is a great way to socialize.
Hang in there. Don't be too hard on yourself, but make sure there is SOME self discipline there. Anyone can lose weight quickly, but you have to do the things listed above to do it right and KEEP it off.
