If you’re overweight, you want to lose weight not only so you’ll be more attractive, but also so that you’ll be healthier and will have more energy. However, often dieters start a new weight loss program, and then give it up. They haven’t taken the time to ask themselves whether they’re ready to make changes in their life.
In my profession as a nutritionist, I see many people who say they want to lose weight, but haven’t considered exactly what the process will involve.
If you can answer YES to the following five questions, you may indeed be ready to lose weight.
1. Are you willing to change your diet? To lose weight, you’ll need to eat a healthy diet, which includes lots of fruits and vegetables, and lean meat and fish. This means changes in the way you shop, and in the way you prepare food and in mealtimes.
2. Will you make time for exercise? Yes, you can lose weight without exercising, but developing an exercise program will stand you in good stead for life. Exercise relieves stress, and stress leads many people to overeat. You need to make time for at least 20 minutes of exercise a day, every day.
3. Will you write down what you eat each day? You need to write down everything you eat and drink each day. This means you write down everything – even the milk in your coffee. Most of us are surprised when we see how much we eat, and exactly what we eat and when.
4. Are you ready to have fun? Chances are that over the years you’ve forgotten to make time to do the things you used to love to do. Perhaps you enjoyed playing tennis, or swimming each day. But a busy work schedule meant that you no longer took the time. Decide now that you’ll take a few hours every week, just for yourself, to do the things you love to do.
5. Can you commit to changing your image of yourself? We all carry around an image of who we are. To lose weight, you need to change your mental image to that of a slim, healthy person. Being attractive can be stressful — your expectations go up. If you’re not yet ready for that, be aware of this.
Losing weight, especially if it’s a lot of weight, brings changes. Family, friends and work colleagues will react in various ways. They may not like this slimmed down version of you.
Did you answer YES to all five questions? If you did, you’re ready to lose weight. If you’re not sure about the answer to some of the questions, think about changes you can make to make losing weight easier.
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