Everywhere you look these days at any given moment there is an advertisement for some kind of diet or diet supplement. Some work. Some don’t, but they all have some things in common. They all promise to make your weight loss dreams come true, and to work better than all the plans you’ve tried before. And they all seem to have at least one thing about them that we don’t like. That’s what causes their ultimate failure. After all, they were designed by and for someone else, but we are all unique. We each need a unique plan in order to succeed.
First tip: Don’t use someone else’s plan. We all have things we can’t live without and we all have different health concerns. Your individual tastes and physical needs must be taken into account if you are to have any chance of success long-term. You may have friends, relatives or co-workers that have used different plans to lose weight. Don’t assume they’ll work for you. Remember, you know yourself better than anyone. You can do this!
Second tip: Prepare yourself mentally and physically. The single most important thing for achieving any goal is the decision. If you aren’t ready to make the necessary sacrifices and preparation, you will fail. Make no mistake, there will be sacrifices. And there will be things you have to accept. For instance, when you achieve your goal you will never be able to eat like you once did, or become sedentary again. Unless of course you want to weigh what you once did. Repeat the same behavior = get the same result. We’re not talking diet, we’re talking lifestyle. A healthy, fit life is what we’re after.
Third tip: Count the cost. Think about what you can afford to invest. Your success depends on this plan being something you can live with, both financially and time-wise. Consider how much you’ll need to change what you buy each week. Will you need to buy separate foods for yourself? Can your family join you in eating better, healthier foods? Should you join a health club or are daily walks a more affordable option? These are just a few of the questions you’ll want to ask yourself.
Fourth tip: Talk to your doctor. You’ll need to make sure you’re not making any adjustments to your diet that could be harmful. He or she should also be able to consider any medications you are on and how they fit into your plan, or make referrals to a nutritionist or weight loss coach. Your doctor can also help you devise a realistic goal weight based on your age, height and other unique factors. We sometimes tend to make goals that are based on what we see in the media, but may not be optimal for everyone, or anyone really! We’re just not one-size-fits-all.
Fifth tip: Get your plan on! Start by keeping track of everything you eat and drink over a week, and I mean everything. A bite of this, a handful of that, it all adds up. Then you’ll have a good idea of where the extras are that you don’t need, and can fairly easily cut them out. Evening snacking is a common culprit for extra calories, and most of us forget to even count them! Soft drinks can add hundreds of empty calories to our diet each week for example.
Besides cutting items from our diet, we can replace or substitute things. For instance, you can switch from whole milk to low-fat, or low-fat to skim milk. Look for things that can be switched with lower fat or lower calorie versions without changing the taste very much. Then you won’t feel deprived, and that means lifestyle changes you can live with over the long haul.
Sixth tip: Expect setbacks. So many times we set a goal for ourselves, only to give up the first time we slip up. It’s so easy to feel like a failure if we don’t get it right every time! Don’t be so hard on yourself because realistically, one mistake isn’t going to ruin everything you’ve accomplished. Just get right back on track. Giving yourself that little bit of flexibility will keep your spirits up, and help you to focus on the goal.
Be mindful of your overall daily intake. For instance, if you want to go out to lunch with a friend and you eat more than usual for your midday meal, adjust your dinner to a lighter option to make up for it. Remember however, you have the most control of portion size and nutrient content when you prepare meals at home. So while you’re losing weight reserve dining out for special occasions.
Seventh tip: Be committed to your success. Commit yourself to living the life of a healthy, fit person. It won’t happen overnight so you have to be in it for the long haul. Even when you reach your goal weight you’ll need to maintain it, and that means change – permanent change. It’ll be worth it. So go on that beach vacation. Try on that little black dress or suit. And give yourself a pat on the back!

Author's Bio: 

Evelyn was born in Geneva, New York, a small city at the north end of Seneca Lake, one of the larger of the Finger Lakes, in the western region of New York. Geneva is home to the historic Smith Opera House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and in The Smithsonian; and to Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Evelyn earned a B.A. in Communications and Sociology from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. She recently earned her Certified Professional Life Coach credential and specializes in weight loss and wellness, grief support and women’s fulfillment, although not limited to just these subjects.

She is also an ordained minister with certificates in Well Being and Pastoral Counseling. She has also done extensive research in interpersonal communications, grief effects, employee morale and turnover, stress management and women’s studies.

Her poetry, feature articles and stories have appeared in regional newspapers, magazines and online sites. In January 2012 her short play “Don’t Let Go” was performed at Writers and Books in Rochester, New York.

She offers workshops and individual and group coaching personally throughout the western New York area, and beyond the immediate area via telephone and internet. She makes her home in the greater Rochester, New York area.