It’s been said over and over again. Losing weight is difficult, frustrating, and often a daunting task. So you don’t need to add to the frustration by doing things that will make losing weight even more formidable. There are two common things that you may be doing right now that could be sabotaging your weight loss efforts; weighing yourself too often/too soon and giving up too early.
A proper exercise program should include aerobic exercise and weight lifting. Weight lifting increases muscle mass which will result in a temporary weight gain. After all, muscle weighs more than fat. But after a short period of time, the extra weight should start coming off. The new muscle will boost your metabolism, increasing the rate at which your body burns fat and calories. But the weight loss, even with an aggressive exercise program takes more than just one week to produce results.
Weighing yourself too soon and too often can be discouraging. Losing weight is an ongoing process. It doesn’t happen immediately and it certainly doesn’t happen quickly. The amount of weight you lose depends on your metabolism, your diet, and your exercise program. If you weigh in too much you may become discouraged. Try not to weigh yourself for the first month after you begin your weight loss plan. And then try to only weight yourself every two to four weeks.
Giving up is an all too common reaction after you ‘cheat’ on your diet or when exercising becomes too overwhelming. You think you’ve blown any hope of weight loss so what is the point of continuing. Don’t give up. Give yourself the time you need to lose the weight. So you ate a candy bar after lunch or gave in to a craving and ate a banana split. Don’t let that one diet slip or missed exercise session make you waste all of the other efforts you made and all the other times you didn’t give in. As time goes on it will become easier to battle your cravings and to push your body to exercise.
Losing weight isn’t the result of a temporary life change. Losing weight is the result of a permanent lifestyle change that will seem strenuous at first but, after a relatively short period of time, it will get easier. You just need to get used to the changes. If you allow more time between weigh-ins you will see bigger results and suffer less frustration. If you understand that even the most health conscious person is subject to cravings, you may not be as hard on yourself when you give in to one.
For those of you that are fans of the show “Biggest Loser” you should know that the people work out hard and stick to a permanent diet change. The weight loss results they achieve are due to hard work and the knowledge and encouragement of experts. Don’t give up on yourself or your weight loss goals. For every slip up you suffer, remind yourself of all the times you didn’t slip up and give your self credit for all of your hard work and determination. Losing weight isn’t easy. You should pride yourself on each accomplishment, no matter how small.