There are many programs out there that promise if you follow their particular steps that YOU WILL lose weight. For the most part, that's true. But as the growing waistlines of America can attest, it's much easier said then done. For many years I have tried and failed more "diets" then I like to admit. It wasn't the diet plans themselves that were the problem, it was the lack of time, or rather effort, on my part that was my biggest obstacle. So here are a few tips that I have created to bust my own diet busters.
STEP ONE: Be realistic
I don't know about you, but a diet based solely on tuna and broccoli gets old real quick. Yea, you'll see results IF you stick to it. Unfortunately, the longevity of sticking to such a diet for me is impossible. I love food way too much. So focus on a more flexible plan that allows you to still eat the foods you love, but not feel like a fat ass after your finished.
STEP TWO: Count those damn calories
There's no amount of flexibility in the world that can account for grossly going over your caloric intake, it's as simple as that. There are many great calorie counting apps available for your phone or online. It's tedious yes, but it's by and large the most effective thing you can do to for your diet. If you do it enough it will become a habit, and any healthy habit is a good habit.
STEP THREE: Get to a gym!
You can give me 1000 reasons why you can't a gym, time restraints, money, you go play ball with your boys on the weekend, that's enough excercise right? WRONG. There is no substitute for physical fitness, if your doing yoga, your ahead of the curve. Science has proven that building muscle burns fat, ignites your metabolism, and just plain makes you feel better. So for all the excuses in the world you can give me why you can't join, "your life" is the most important reason to go. On top of that, going only 3 days a week for 45 minutes is enough to give you great health benefits. Do I have to keep going with this one? Join a damn gym, like today.
STEP 4: Prepare and plan your days
I'm not too good at meal planning for a week, just too structured for me. Fortunately I'm good at planning my next day of eating/ working out the night prior. Even now as I'm writing this on my phone, I planned to do it while I got dinner in the crock pot, and ready to go the gym when I'm finished. Planning and preparation stops you from going off script when your buddie decides to show up with beer and pizza, and if you partially have your day, you can have some wiggle room in your meal plan. So even simple 5 minute planning the next day can help so much in a successful diet.
STEP FIVE: Track your progress often and readjust weekly
I think in the past month I readjusted my diet 4 times, with varying degrees of success... Adding to my caloric intake, subtracting from it, eating more protein, working out more or less throughout the weeks. No diet/workout plan is one size fits all. Every body is different, so taking that into account you have to figure out what works best for you. You may have to eat slightly more calories, or less to get your metabolism fired up. Tracking your progress semi daily is a great countermeasure to keep your progress going and your waist line shrinking
These are just a few steps to begin any particular diet plan you wanna try. I myself deprive myself of very little, and my results are so far pretty good. Every diet is a work in progress, we are just works in progress. Every journey starts with a single step, but only IF you take that first step. Whatever the reason you want to lose weight, these simple tips should help you take a step in the right direction.
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