Watch Your Lifestyle Not Your Weight

In our eat-and-run, massive-portion-sized culture, maintaining a healthy weight can be tough-and losing weight, even tougher.

If you’ve tried to lose weight before and failed, you may believe that diets don’t work for you. You’re probably right: most diets don’t work-at least not in the long run. However, there are plenty of small but powerful ways to avoid common dieting pitfalls, achieve lasting weight loss success, and develop a healthier relationship with food. All you need to do is tweak your lifestyle. We will tell you how:

To Begin With While there is no “one size fits all” solution to permanent healthy weight loss, the following guidelines are a great place to start.

Think lifestyle change, not short-term diet.

Permanent weight loss is not something that a “quick-fix” diet can achieve. Instead, think about weight loss as a permanent lifestyle change-replace high-calorie foods with healthier, lower-calorie alternatives, reduce your portion sizes, and become more active. Various popular diets can help jumpstart your weight loss, but permanent changes in your lifestyle and food choices are what will work in the long run.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Aim to lose one to two pounds a week to ensure healthy weight loss. Losing weight too fast can take a toll on your mind and body, making you feel sluggish and sick.

Set goals that drive you.

Short-term goals, like wanting to fit into a bikini for the summer, usually don’t work as well as wanting to feel more confident or trying to become healthier for your children’s sakes. When frustration and temptation strike, concentrate on the many benefits you will reap from being healthier and leaner.

Use tools to track your progress.