My Weight Loss World

So you want to lose weight eh. Let me start off by saying that there’s no point in looking for any quick, fast-tracked weight loss schemes here. Because that’s NOT how you lose weight.

Hard work, dedication, persistence and eating healthy food is going to get you to your goal weight.

So first things first.

SET GOALS
No point in starting something if you don’t know where you want it to take you, how you are going to get there or have any deadlines to help drive you.

• SET A GOAL WEIGHT - Figure out what your ideal weight is and write it down. Go and weigh yourself and work out how many kilograms or pounds you have to lose to get there.
• SET MINI-GOALS - It might take a few months or years for you to get to your ultimate goal weight, so don’t rob yourself of the little victories. Set mini-goals or milestones so that you can celebrate your short-term goals instead of getting lost in the big picture.
• SET FOOD GOALS - When it comes to changing your eating habits, it can be hard. If you make a promise to yourself (aka: a goal) you’ll have it in the front of your mind and will watch what you are eating. Setting goals such as “I won’t have any takeout foods” or “I’ll only have 1 packet of m&ms once a month” are good ways to keep your eating in check. Trying new things may also be a good food goal to have. I personally hate trying new foods so when I find the occasional new thing that I actually like, and its healthy, I feel awesome.

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT
Sounds simple enough right? But it’s very important to know what you are putting into your mouth.

• WEIGH YOUR FOOD - If you want to keep a close eye on what you are eating I recommend weighing your food. It gives you an accurate account of what you are eating so you know if you are eating the right amounts of food. Or just as importantly, weigh your food to make sure you’re eating enough food.
• COUNT CALORIES - It may seem like a daunting thing to attempt but trust me, it gets easier with the right tools and with practice. Find out what your calorie limit is for your weight/height to loose weight and go from there.

* Note: It’s not realistic to do this as a permanent thing, but a great way to start to understand the energy that is in your food. Eventually you will be able to go on your instinct when it comes to portion sizes and food that will work for your body as energy, not turn into fat.

• READ FOOD LABELS - This is something that I believe is quite essential to losing weight. Knowing your serving sizes and the amount of kilojoules, fat and carbs that are in that serving size is important when trying to lose weight. You should also check the ingredients while you’re reading the label. Opting for organic, healthy foods is always the better way to go.
• PLAN YOUR MEALS - Trust me. Weight loss is so much easier when you do this. Plan your day’s intake either the night before or in the morning and stick to it. No sneaking snacks that haven’t been accounted for. Having a plan and being prepared is a sure-fire way of staying energised, focused, in control and on track.
• EAT - Seriously. Don’t skip meals. It wreaks havoc on your metabolism and doesn’t do you any good. Eating healthy and regularly will ensure you lose weight. Having a healthy metabolism will shed kilos. Make sure you eat breakfast, a small snack, lunch, another small snack, dinner and every now and then, dessert. Eating = weight loss. Starving = failure.

READ
Being educated about food, weight loss and exercises is vital for success.

• MAGAZINES - Get a copy of Women’s or Men’s Health. They are great magazines filled with tips, tricks, inspiration and motivation.
• ONLINE NEWSLETTERS - Subscribe to any decent health-related newsletters you come across. It’s a lot easier to learn new things when the information is delivered to you.
• BLOGS - There are several weight loss blogs out there. Read them. They have inspiring personal stories as well as great information and facts on losing weight. 

START A BLOG
Really, do it. Writing about your weight loss journey makes it that little bit easier. And having a community to share it with makes it fun. Holding yourself accountable is a great way to keep yourself in check and on the path to achieving your goal.

GET OFF THE COUCH
Being active increases your metabolism, which is essential for losing weight. Having a varied cardio and strength workout regime will give you the weight loss and toning results you’re after.

• GYM - A lot of people, like myself, get really motivated at the gym. There are lots of great gadgets around the place to help you get the results you’re after. Read more about working out at the gym here.
• AT HOME - Don’t have a gym membership? Don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to be active in your house. Read more about working out at home here.
• GET OUT OF YOUR HOUSE - You can burn calories just by going shopping and visiting your family — provided you don’t eat the tempting available foods when you get there! It’s nice to do some exercise that is incorporated into your every day life instead of being at the gym. Go ice skating or play some basketball with your kids or friends. Anything to get your legs moving.

DON’T GIVE UP
No matter how hard it is, don’t stop. Don’t turn back and take the easy way out. Nobody ever achieved anything by throwing in the towel. Yes, it’s going to be hard. Yes, it’s going to take time and effort — but it will be worth it, I promise.

~ K.Girl