Do you feel like you’re in a constant battle just to keep weight off, let alone lose some? Over the last decade, obesity rates have shot up over 10% to 42.4% in the USA.
That’s a scary figure, but awareness of this issue is on the up. From personal responsibility to government incentives, there’s a wave of people getting off the sofa and into shape.
Are you one of these people? You might be wondering how to be successful losing weight. How do you give yourself the best chance? Keep reading for some tips!
Set Realistic Goals
We get it—you want to be in the best shape possible. Maybe you’re overweight and have dreams of being a cover model, or you might only want to lose body fat and drop a few dress sizes as quickly as possible.
These goals are admirable, but make sure you don’t put them so far out of reach that you’ll give up on them at the first hurdle. Be honest and realistic with yourself. Maybe the first step is just to start exercising a little without tracking your weight or trying to cut out one bad dietary habit.
Find Exercise You Enjoy
There’s no use in pounding a treadmill if you hate running, or doing class after class if you’re not a fan of group exercise.
Do you enjoy sports? Start there! Maybe you could play tennis with a friend or even kick a ball around in a field. Find what you love and do that!
Don’t Over-Restrict
One of the biggest myths around dieting is that you need to cut out all unhealthy food and eat salads or dry meat and stick to a nutrition program by the letter.
While there are benefits to cutting down on calorie-dense or unhealthy foods, cutting them out altogether is setting yourself up for failure.
Cravings will come, and only the most dedicated and motivated people will be able to withstand them every time. And when you give in to a craving, this often leads to a complete falling off the wagon!
One dietary tip that you certainly should stick to: drink water! And plenty of it.
Lose Weight While You Rest
There’s a fancy scientific-sounding term—non-exercise activity thermogenesis. Thankfully, you can just call it “NEAT levels”.
This is calories burned through non-exercise-related activities. Working, walking around the house, and even bouncing your knee while sitting at your desk will add to your NEAT levels.
Now You Know How to Be Successful Losing Weight
With so much information out there, it can be hard to know how to be successful losing weight. The internet is full of would-be health and fitness gurus, but the best advice you can listen to is to find what works for you and do not be too hard on yourself!
If you enjoyed this article, check out some more tips and advice on the website.
