The habits for healthy weight loss we often hear about can sound like we will need to face a daunting, possibly overwhelming rewrite of our entire lifestyles. That said, while what you eat, how much you exercise, the quality of your sleep, and your stress management remain core factors to consistently shedding pounds, this doesn’t mean that you need to turn your whole life on its head all at once.
Adopting Gradual, Realistic Healthy Habits for Weight Loss
Though the foundations of healthy habits for weight loss might remain the same, there is no “one size fits all” approach to adopting those behaviors and mindsets. There are lots of factors that can influence how your bodyweight fluctuates and what it takes to lose it or keep it off. These can include:
- Body type
- Age
- Sex
- Physical activity
- Genetics
- Underlying medical issues
- Past dieting experiences
- Food preferences
CDC research showed that between 2013 and 2016, around half of adults in the United States reported an attempt to reduce their bodyweight at some point during the 12 months prior to having been asked. That said, almost 70 percent of US adults are either overweight or have obesity. Clearly, it’s not just a matter of knowing the basic habits for healthy weight loss to actually achieve this goal and maintain it.
It’s Not About Perfection
It’s time to abandon thoughts that there is a perfect way to reduce your body weight. It’s not about perfection. Perfection – if it is even possible to attain it – is not sustainable, and sustainability is the key to your success.
Instead, focus on gradually adjusting and improving your behaviors to guide yourself in ways that can help you to get to where you want to be. Use tools like a fat fighting supplement to further support your efforts.
10 Healthy Habits for Weight Loss You Can Start Today
- Know where you are now – Even before you start, track your food for a few days. Even three days is enough. Record all food and drink as well as how much of them you had. Take note of whether you’re eating at home, while you’re at work, on the go, or wherever else you might be. This will help you to know your starting point.
- Create a plan to reach your goal – It’s all well and good to say that you want to start healthy habits for weight loss, but knowing what you want to achieve and how is something else. Understand what your goal is, why you want to reach it, and how you will do so.
- Identify your challenges – Don’t ignore them. Point right at them and come up with ideas to overcome them.
- Identify current habits – Spot the ones that lead to unhealthful eating, a sedentary lifestyle, poor sleep, or weak stress management.
- Understand portions – Take a moment to become familiar with standard serving sizes. That way, you can make informed choices about how much of each dish you’d like to eat at a meal or snack.
- Identify what drives you to eat or stop – What makes you feel hungry or satisfied by food? Learn the difference between physical and emotional hunger.
- Focus on Go, not Stop – Create a positive path forward. Instead of focusing on what you shouldn’t do, focus on positive replacement behaviors instead. Healthy habits for weight loss aren’t a punishment. They’re something you need to want to do over the long term.
- Leave room for indulgence – Accept the fact that you’re not going to want to give up your favorite treats forever, even if they’re packed with sugar, unhealthy fats and calories. Instead, leave yourself some wiggle room to indulge so you won’t feel deprived or guilty.
- Make overall health a primary focus – Skip the idea of “dieting” and focus on healthy habits to lose weight. You’re doing this for your long-term wellbeing, not just to wear one outfit one time.
- Eat mindfully – Since you’re taking care to choose the right foods, give yourself the opportunity to enjoy the experience of eating. Slow down, appreciate the smells, tastes and textures. It will be far more enjoyable and will better satisfy your hunger too!
