Create a Plan to Achieve Successful Lasting Weight Loss

You have likely noticed that those who join groups for weight loss often have success, but there may be a variety of reasons you cannot or do not want to join one of these groups. Often they are expensive, and they aren’t always conducive to family meals, etc. You don’t have to join one of these programs to experience success in weight loss, however. The reason that plans such as Nutrisystem or Jenny Craig work is because they supply you with a plan. They allow for splurges on low calorie snacks, they tell you how many calories (or points as the case may be) you need to consume, etc. But you can use this method to create your own plan to experience success in weight loss on your own.

The first steps in a weight loss plan are often some of the most important. Sure, if you don’t stick with your plan, it won’t work, but you likely have no hope of sticking with it if you don’t have a plan in the first place. The first, and one of the most important, steps to create a weight loss plan is to decide what type of diet you will use. You can do research on the Internet or in a library or bookstore to find a wide selection of diets available. When deciding on the best type of low calorie or low carb diet for you, be sure to choose one that: you can stick with for at least six months; is affordable for you; is possible to stick with considering other factors in your life, such as children. Any diet can be successful if you stick with its plan, but if you choose one that will not mesh with your lifestyle, it will be impossible for you to stick with it long enough to achieve lasting weight loss.

Consider this: if you were planning a vacation for six months from now, there would be many requirements in the meantime. You would know that, as long as you take certain steps regularly, this vacation will most definitely take place. You will put in the time it takes to research hotels, activities, make reservations, purchase plane tickets, etc. You will put a certain amount of money away every week so that you can have the exact amount of money you need saved in time. Weight loss is no different. You have to have a long term plan to achieve success. Once you determine how much weight you want to lose within six months or a year, you will need to determine what it will take to lose the required amount each week or month. A great resource that can help you determine this number (and can even help you keep track of it daily) is My Fitness Pal. If you prefer to physically write things down, invest in a small planner, calendar, or journal. Pencil in your weight loss goal and date to make it seem more set in stone (this is also helpful for writing down intake of foods and scheduling exercise times).

Just as a vacation plan has to allot for situations that might interfere (such as a child’s prom expenses taking away from vacation funds), you have to anticipate situations in which you might have a setback in your diet plan. It will happen at some point, and if you plan for it just as you plan for other parts of your weight loss journey, you will not view it as detrimental, it is simply one minor thing to overcome. Planning for cravings by finding a great low carb, low calorie treat to have on hand is one great idea, as is planning exercise opportunities with children when they are out of school for summer.