According to several studies, one of the best ways to lose weight and keep it off over the long term is the right attitude. According to Doctor Pamela Peeke, author of Fit to Live, cutting what she calls “mental fat” is what eventually leads to cutting waistline fat. A healthy body has to begin with a healthy mind because excuses and workarounds are what cause many people to rebound.
First of all, long-term weight loss takes patience. Because our society often revolves around instant gratification, it can be easy to lose hope if you don’t begin to see immediate results when you start to diet and exercise. However, remember you get the best results when you lose weight slowly. Losing 1 to 2 pounds per week is normal; losing any more than that can mean you’re losing water or lean tissue, which can be damaging to your metabolism.
Along with patience comes realistic expectations. Don’t compare your goal weight to the goal weight of someone else with a different body shape or type. What is the best goal weight for your height, bone density, age, and so on? In order to be happy with your weight loss and keep from falling into depression after you don’t meet your goal, make sure you don’t have an unrealistic expectation for how many pounds you want to lose.
Many people might feel overwhelmed by the weight loss plan they are considering. It doesn’t hurt to start small, and it can actually be more advantageous. Making small shifts in your decisions can create safe and healthy habits. For example, instead of removing alcohol completely from your diet, think about drinking it only on the weekends.
One study showed, while weight management in the long term is difficult, those who have successfully managed it shared several factors, such as high levels of physical activity, low-calorie food, low-fat foods, frequent self-monitoring of weight, reduced disinhibition, satisfaction with results achieved, and confidence in losing weight without professional help.
For more information about how to develop a healthier attitude about weight loss, don’t hesitate to call us. Our Louisiana weight loss clinicians can help. Soza Weight Loss focuses primarily on the elimination of abnormal body fat through healthy means, so you don’t lose muscle mass through drastic dieting. Our programs are simple to follow and don’t require calorie counting. They are also targeted for long-lasting results and involves the intake of low-calorie but nutritionally dense meals. We can also give you advice on how to live a healthy lifestyle that can kick-start the weight loss process. Let us see how we can help.
Call us at (504) 475-9817 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation today.