5 Steps to Safely Losing Weight

It's no secret that losing weight is one of the toughest mountains to climb. In fact, some medical experts believe that losing 50 pounds a year - and keeping the weight off - may be more difficult than kicking a cocaine addiction in the same time frame. However, there are plenty of success stories, and with the right strategy and tools, you too can begin your journey of safe, healthy weight loss.

Commit to modify your life

Losing weight is a journey that starts with a commitment to permanently and radically alter your current habits into a lifelong journey to stay healthy. Along the way, there are emotional and physical roadblocks - but if you do your homework, you'll be able to beat those odds.

When you make the decision to lose weight, make the decision to permanently change your life. You will never be able to go back to the life that led you to your current situation - but why would you? The life you have been leading has only led to you being overweight and unhappy. Decide to turn your life around and your weight will follow.

Start with an appointment

Before you begin, make an appointment with your doctor(s) to ensure that your body is healthy enough to exercise. You'll also, hopefully, obtain a medical confirmation that there isn't a medical ailment interfering with your ability to lose weight. If an examination finds a biological cause for your weight, obtain a treatment plan before you begin your new life with your weight loss.

Develop a time-sensitive series of goals

After you've been given the approval for exercise, stop and look around at your life. Figure out your immediate, short term and long term goals. Research shows that human beings are better prepared to handle weight loss when we plan a specific short-term goal and then write it down. Each timeframe depends upon your individual circumstance. Two-weeks may be suitable for you, but too long for another individual. In addition to writing down your goal, tell somebody else about what you hope to achieve. You will add in a level of accountability and that will help your motivation.

Seeing the emotional link of weight loss

In addition to making goals, you will also need to take a long look at yourself. What's been holding you back? What do you need to overcome in order to have long-term success? Very often, there is an emotional component to being overweight. If that's the case with you, you may well benefit from counseling in order to get to the root of your emotional food issues.

Beginning with small steps

Once you have your goals planned, it is time to take the action to start your new lifestyle. For most people, starting with small steps and building a foundation is the lynchpin of long-term success. Too many dieters become over-ambitious initially, burning out quickly and limiting their progress. Remember, you are more likely to achieve permanent weight loss if you start small and build a solid foundation.

Eliminate one or two "unhealthy" foods from your diet at first, and then build from this foundation. Perhaps you will switch from regular soda to diet. You may then substitute whole or 12 grain bread for white bread. Instead of cookies for desert, opt for chocolate mousse made with low-fat yogurt. Overhauling your entire overnight is difficult, usually leading to binging and cravings. By slowly exchanging your regular foods for healthier one, you can mentally, physically, and emotionally become accustomed to the changes - meaning they will more likely stay permanent.

Just as you made small changes with your diet at first, you'll want to begin the same way with your exercise. Instead of immediately starting to run three miles daily, start with a quarter mile jog, working your way up to a healthy level. Don't try to run for 45 minutes on the treadmill - perhaps you'll get a good workout by walking for 15 minutes. In this case, take the advice literally to walk before you can run. After all, the goal here is to get and stay healthy, not to hurt your body!

Gradually build up your healthy lifestyle, and before you know it, you'll lose weight and become the healthy, fit person you've always wanted to be - permanently.

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