One way to establish your weight loss programme is to keep a food diary. Start a full week before you plan to commence dieting. Enter every single piece of food and every drink you have into the diary. A log of seven days consumption will tell you a lot about your eating habits, and how you can make positive changes.
Patently if your record shows a higher consumption of alcohol or fatty foods than you’d realised, you might begin by reducing those initially. Maybe your diet looks pretty good. But if you’re too heavy then you’re probably eating too much of it. Whether it’s the first or the second situation, you’ll be able to see how to adjust your intake from the entries in the diary.
Make notes about how you intend the following seven days to pan out. This should include food, drink and exercise. If some foods are to be forbidden or limited, write that down. And follow on with the food that you will be eating plentiful supplies of.
As far as alcohol is concerned, keep it to a minimum. Write down when it’s not allowed, and when and how much it is allowed. Cans of soft drinks containing sugar are out. Next comes physical exercise, and whether it’s a walk in the park, or visits to the gym – write it down.
Get on the scales just before you’re about to start your program. Then repeat the process each week. If necessary, modify parts of the plan for better results. Don’t be tempted to weigh yourself too often – once every week at the same time is sufficient.
A plan such as this will allow you to manage your weight loss programme and adjust it to suit yourself. Make comments as you go – keep the diary as a working document. Also enter the exercise you’re doing, to make sure this isn’t getting left out. A diary is a very simple way to monitor your progress – and a remarkable tool for staying with the program!
It’s vital however not to look for an instantaneous result. Although you may not be able to see evidence of weight loss in the first couple of weeks, you should be starting to feel fitter. Try to exercise patience, and do persevere. Motivating yourself over a long period has it’s challenges – but if you concentrate on the prize instead of the price it becomes much easier.
If you do get demoralised with your results, analyse what’s been happening. It’s possible your programme needs some adjusting. Exercising more regularly can do a lot for your metabolism. Why not take a twenty minute walk every lunch time, and increase the pace each day?
Be proud of your achievements. Your efforts will be much more sustainable if you do. New clothes may need to wait until your goals have been reached. But what about booking the best seats in the house when you’re quarter or half-way there?
(C) Scott Edwards. Visit WeightLossDietWar.com for the best diet tips on diet food and quick weight loss diet.