“I Want to Lose Weight”
From Hopeless to Hopeful… Changing our concept of Health
“I want to lose weight…”
This is one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions that is tied to diet and exercise. However, in reality, this is a HUGE goal to accomplish, which is why so many people fail within the first few weeks of starting.
WHY?
We go on crazy weight-loss diets, trying to give up everything that is not good for us and eat new foods we haven’t even heard of. We join the gym and pump it to the max, ‘Biggest Loser’ style, but ultimately the buzz fizzles out as February approaches and we rebound into our old unhealthy ways.
Some people have the willpower to succeed in this all-or-nothing quest, but for most of us, it is a struggle to implement such a radical change into our lives.
Change the concept from the idea of “weight loss” to “healthy living”
With “Health” in mind, break the idea down into bite-size pieces…
1. What does ‘health’ mean to me?
- losing weight
- having good physical mobility
- clean bill of health at my yearly medical exam
2. How can I make that happen? — remember, start small! Add good habits into your life first
- walk more
- stretch
- buy a yoga mat and some dumbells and do a 1 YouTube workout on your living room floor
- add nutrient-rich foods to your diet
- drink more water
- add vitamins/supplements
- take food from home instead of eating out for lunch every day
3. Once you have developed some good habits, try removing a few bad ones… caution — go slow with this!
- cut out sugary drinks
- no snacking after dinner
- eat out only once or twice a week
- walk instead of driving, whenever possible
4. After 4–6 weeks of implementing some of the above habits, it’s time to ramp things up.
- Get a gym membership
- Implement a practical meal plan
Final thoughts
When it comes to weight-loss goals, the key is to start small and implement changes that are sustainable in the long term.
Be kind to yourself in the process.
Don’t set unrealistic weight loss goals. Failure to achieve them will only have you throwing in the towel.
Focus on health. How do the changes make you feel? Is walking more making your lungs feel stronger? Can you walk further with ease? Does your body feel more agile with your new stretching routine? Is your skin clearer and do you feel more hydrated with all the water you are drinking? Do You Feel Better?
It’s easier to maintain new habits and build new ones when you can feel and visually see the difference they have made. So start small and commit to the long haul and let’s have a happier and healthier 2022.
