Losing weight is likely the most common resolution that people make in the new year, and for good reason. Losing weight can make a person healthier overall, take stress off joints and decrease their risk of conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, sticking to resolutions in the new year is often difficult, and that’s especially true if you’re trying to overhaul your diet and exercise regimen. In today’s blog, we share some tips for sticking to your weight loss goals in the new year.
Hitting your weight loss goals requires both patience and persistence, and it won’t happen by accident. If you keep these tips in mind, we’re confident that you’ll be setting yourself up for success in keeping your weight loss resolutions.
1. Set Small Goals
We understand that you may want to lose 50 pounds, but setting that as your only goal can be daunting and make it hard to see your short-term progress. Recognizing and appreciating your short-term progress helps to keep you motivated to continue losing weight, so while you may have a long-term weight loss goal, it’s important to also have short-term goals. Strive to lose 1-5 pounds a week, or to lose five pounds a month. Hitting these small goals will fuel you to continue making positive choices and working towards your ultimate goal.
2. Be More Active
Being more active in the new year will help you burn more calories and in turn lose weight faster. Carve out more time in the new year to get to the gym or do some exercises in your basement, but also look for ways to be more active when you’re not specifically exercising. Walk around while you’re taking that phone call, take the stairs instead of the escalator, or join a recreational soccer league so that you spend more time moving and burning calories.
3. Eat Healthier
Aside from exercise, the other key pillar in helping you lose weight is your diet. If you consume fewer calories, your body will start to burn fat sooner, spurring weight loss. It’s easy to say “eat healthier,” but that’s not always easy to do. Two ways that can make healthy eating easier is by shopping smart and meal planning. If you shop on an empty stomach, you’re more likely to choose more unhealthy options, so make sure you eat a meal before you do your shopping. Also, start meal planning in the new year. If you know where your next meal is coming from, you won’t be tempted to stop at and grab fast food. Meal plan for the week or just for the next day, whatever works best for you and your family.
4. Have The Right Mindset
Successful weight loss also involves having the right mindset. If you expect the weight to fall off or you’re only half-committed to making the necessary diet and exercise changes, you won’t hit your weight loss goals. Get in the right frame of mind ahead of time. Know that it’s going to be a slow process, but also know that it will be worth it in the end. Don’t let a minor setback derail your progress. Know that there will be obstacles to success, and know that you can reward yourself if you hit one of your short-term weight loss goals, but make sure you don’t let either derail your long-term vision.
5. Speak With A Professional
Finally, if you’re really serious about hitting your weight loss goals in the new year, speak with a professional. The team at the Bhatti Weight Loss Center would love to sit down with you, conduct an individual assessment and set you up with a treatment plan that is specific to your needs. We can help tailor a diet or exercise regimen to your strengths so that it’s easier to achieve progress and keep with the program. And if non-operative options fail to provide relief, we can also discuss weight loss surgery and which options might be right for you. Let the experts at the Bhatti Weight Loss Center help you achieve your weight loss goals this year.
