You may have tried one diet after another, lost some weight, but gained it back when you stopped dieting. Although diet fads come and go, there are several things you need to know before starting any diet plan.
Here Are the Things to Know Before Starting Your Diet Plan:
- Set Realistic Expectations.
Setting realistic expectations is one of the first steps you need to take before embarking on a diet plan. Why? Because without really knowing what to expect, you may find yourself giving up or feeling defeated after only a short time. Define your goals. Before even thinking about a diet plan, you want to set realistic expectations. Who is your target weight? What is your time frame? What are your reasons for losing weight?
- Establish Small Goals.
If you are just starting out on your weight loss program, here are some things you should know. First, it is important to set small goals. This helps you stay motivated and helps you reach your main goals. Truthfully, you will probably fail a few times. You will set a certain goal of losing weight, but you may end up gaining some weight. That is okay. Dieting can be challenging, but it’s important to find small goals you can work towards that are easy to accomplish. At the same time, you must be realistic. If you keep setting goals that are unattainable, you will lose motivation and give up.
- Abandon Old Habits.
Diets are popular and effective, but keep in mind that there is no “one size fits all” approach to losing weight. If you’ve been dieting for a while, you might be tempted to jump in and get started right away. But you need to ask yourself a few questions before you get started. Losing weight and getting in shape are goals we all have, but with all the fad diets and crazy workout plans out there, it can be difficult to know what is the best way to achieve your goals. If you are starting an exercise program, your diet may derail you. It is important to have a plan, and sometimes that means making a lot of changes to your daily eating habits. So, how should you approach your diet, and what should you be prepared to give up?
- Keep Track.
Losing weight can be a real challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. To get started, start with a simple plan that you stick with long term. That’s why it’s important to track your progress. The best way to do this is to keep a detailed food diary. Doing so helps you identify which foods you eat trigger your overeating and which make you lose weight.
- Seek Support.
Eating right, exercising, and losing weight is about much more than making changes to what you eat, how much you exercise, and how much you weigh. Making a change to improve your health means changing other aspects of your life as well, like eating habits, exercise, and your daily routine. Many people find that having the support of others makes things easier and helps them maintain motivation and success.
- Make a Detailed Action Plan.
Before you even start your diet, you should first know exactly what you are going to change in order to achieve your goal. This is generally where most people fall off the wagon—they have a strict idea of what they want, but when they sit down and start to eat, they change their minds. Instead, make a detailed action plan. Design a menu with meals and snacks, choose your exercise plan, and outline your plan for success. Start by mapping out your current lifestyle and diet. This will serve as a guidepost for how you will make adjustments. For the next week, write down everything you eat and drink. Monitor your caloric intake and portion size. Develop a good understanding of how many calories you consume per day. Then, plan your meals and snacks. Use food diaries, smartphone apps, or kitchen scales to track the number of calories or macronutrients you consume.
- Reward Yourself.
Dieting can be a real chore. You find yourself eating the same bland meals over and over again and can easily lose interest. But, like most things in life, there’s a big difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it. So, how can you stay motivated for the long haul? After you’ve completed your workout for the day, reward yourself with a post-workout snack. A snack like an apple or banana, pre- or post-workout, will help keep your energy levels constant throughout the day. Another way to motivate yourself is by rewarding yourself with non-food items. You can reward yourself with a massage or manicure, new workout equipment, or a new book to read.
When you start a weight loss plan, it’s important to remember that there is no magic bullet; it takes patience, persistence, and discipline. When you embark on your weight loss journey, these are things to know about before you begin.
