Burn away the fat and keep it off
We know that burning fat can be easily done, but keeping it off is a whole new game for some of us. Why is it that we work so hard to achieve these great results, but can’t keep the weight off? There are some theories out there. One is, that when we desperately want to lose weight we engage in activities that are too difficult to maintain consistently over time. For instance, we radically reduce our caloric intake to drop some pounds fast, but crash and burn in the end and gain it all back.
We start an exercise program that is too physically tough and demanding, takes too much time, is too expensive, and is unrealistically added to our already insane schedules knowing that it can’t work its way in there on a normal basis. Soon thereafter, we just stop the routine all together because we cannot maintain the original set up. We most often punish ourselves emotionally and physically by overeating, not exercising at all, and basically giving up. Then, a few weeks or months or years later, we become desperate to lose weight again, and we start another, too difficult program to take the weight off, and once again it fails. This cycle goes on and on for so many people.
Here’s some ways we suggest not falling into those traps above:1. Take a good hard look at your past attempts and assess what is realistic and what is just too unlikely for you to sustain.
2. Don’t be hard on yourself about the past, it’s done, it’s gone, it’s over with, but useful for informing your future attempts.
3. Accept the fact that work is involved. You are going to have to change your ways, give up some things, adjust, adapt, and accept that a new way of eating and a new level of activity will take a concerted and focused and deliberate effort, and take up some of your time.
4. Give yourself realistic goals and build yourself a support system, but remember that you and only you can make this happen, do not put the blame off on others if you fail.
5. Don’t let a lapse, or setback; in your new plan become a relapse like it has in the past. You will make mistakes, miss workouts and have
bad meal choice experiences, but that is all part of the program when you are doing something for the long haul. Being able to stick with it means allowing room for lapses.
6. Your life is in session now; so don’t act as if it will begin when you lose the weight. Getting yourself to engage and take action in all areas of your life will help you achieve your own fitness/weight loss program to success.
I know you can do this if you start off with a realistic idea of what your plan should and shouldn’t look like. If you are kind to yourself you’ll be more likely to keep going when the going gets tough (and when your plan doesn’t work out exactly like you thought it would). Your desire to change must be matched by an strong willingness to change. Progress moves forward and back and now is the time to make your commitment to not just lose weight but live healthfully from here on out!
