- Be realistic.
The easiest way to make sure that you lose weight and are able to keep it off, is to be realistic. It’s not about finding the ‘perfect’ (aka extreme) diet that will help you lose an excessive amount of weight in a short time frame…it’s about creating a lifestyle change. The healthy goal to strive for is about 0.5-1kg per week, depending on how much you have to lose. Based on that, look at what your weight loss goal is and divide it up into smaller increments. Not only will this help you from getting discouraged as the weeks go on, but the smaller increments on a weekly basis will help keep you motivated! Being realistic about your weight loss goals will ensure that you are forming healthy habits, rather than destructive habits that will cause you to relapse later and put all the weight back on, plus more!
- Create a workout plan you LOVE
You will NEVER stick to a workout plan you don’t enjoy. Figure out what you love! Try out a few studios, take classes, and pay attention to how you feel. Pay attention to how you feel not only when you’re finished with your workout, but also to how you feel when you walk into the gym, when you’re greeted, and whether it feels like a community you would enjoy being in and around multiple times per week. Most people set big weight loss goals and then join the closest gym, or the most inexpensive one they can find. But it’s important to take the time to make sure you feel comfortable and welcome. If you don’t, you won’t be working out consistently enough to achieve your weight loss goals.
- Consistency is key!
Again, we are working on a lifestyle change. The way to lose weight and make sure you keep it off is finding the consistency in your workouts, and with the food you are eating. So rather than going for that “quick fix” diet, focus on eating whole, plant-based foods from the earth. While it is okay to have balance and indulge in your favourite treats, just keep an eye on your portions. If you want that cookie, really savour and enjoy one or two…rather than scoff five and then feel crappy. Finding a (mentally) healthy balance is one of the most important things you can do. Depriving yourself in order to lose weight quickly usually results in you gaining that weight right back. It’s important to focus on building good, healthy habits that you can stick to, long term.
- Find a solid support system.
The best way to ensure you are consistent with your food and fitness is to find a support system! This can be one of your friends, or even a friend you make at your new gym or studio. Getting fit and healthy with someone on your side, sweating it out along with you, is so important. It will keep you motivated on days you aren’t feeling like working out, and you can encourage each other when all you want to do is binge-watch Netflix and eat junk.
- Don’t be hard on yourself.
Most importantly, remember this is a journey. Your goal is to make this a lifelong habit, not a one-time thing. Sometimes you don’t see results in your first couple days, or even your first couple weeks. But this isn’t the time to quit. Remember that you are doing this for YOU, and you are worth putting the time in to see improved results in your health. No one can do this for you but yourself! Take it one day at a time, be kind to yourself, and you will see results.