Did you know that by far the most common New Year’s resolution is to lose weight? In this day and age of increasingly sedentary lifestyles, it is not surprising that weight loss is a popular goal, although actually succeeding in the quest to lose weight is fairly rare. Why, exactly, do most people fail when it comes to this particular resolution? Read on for the details and for what you can do to avoid becoming a part of the negative statistics.
Going Solo
For whatever reason, be it financial or out of embarrassment, many people who vow to lose weight try to do it all on their own. When you workout and diet by yourself, it is all to easy to decide that you are too tired or too busy to eat right or go to the gym, and this is equal to setting yourself up for failure. A better option is to team up with a spouse or friend to keep each other committed and motivated. You may also decide to enlist the help of a trainer, because it’s really hard to skip out on a training session when you are paying good money for it.
Looking Too Far Into the Future
Sure, your end goal may be to lose 100 pounds, but that is going to take some time. If the big goal is your only goal, then it can be hard to see the success in a pound or two of weight loss. Instead, break your big goal into a series of smaller goals, rewarding yourself for each milestone you meet. Make sure to keep your goals realistic and bite sized for the best success rate, and keep your rewards in the non-caloric category.
Cheating & Meal Mistakes
Two issues with eating often ruin many a good diet and weight loss program. First of all, some people choose to skip meals, thinking that the lack of calories at meal time will tip the scales in the fat burning direction. Instead, they find their metabolisms suffering and their bodies storing fat instead. Other people allow themselves too many indulgences, cheating by taking in too many calories or empty calories. To make the most of your diet, be sure to eat three meals a day composed of a balance of healthy, unprocessed foods. This will keep you full and maintain your energy levels throughout the day.
Losing Motivation
Doing the same old thing day after day can be boring and zap your motivation to continue the program. A good way to keep your motivation is by mixing things up, varying your routine from day to day. You should also garner support from friends, family, and others striving to lose weight so you can lean on them as a source of encouragement. Working out needs to be a part of your daily schedule, rain or shine. Write it into your calendar.
Canning the Cardio
Men in particular fall into this trap, focusing primarily on strength training as they ease cardiovascular activity out of the regime. If you are trying to lose weight, cardio workouts are the single most important part of your plan aside from eating a clean diet, so cardio must be included to keep the needle on the scale moving downward. Try running, swimming, cycling, walking, basketball, soccer, or hiking to mix things up if you are tired of the regular machines at the gym.
In order to lose weight, balance is key. Keep your diet clean, do your cardio, call a friend, and keep things going. Pretty soon, you will start noticing changes in your body as well as your mindset. Weight loss is a process, and you should reward yourself for each little achievement along the way.
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