While sliding into a smaller size may be your long-term goal, try to approach it one day at a time. Set short-term goals for yourself – it will make the task less daunting. Track your progress and reward yourself as you reach milestones. Have a plan, and know what you have to do to meet your goal.
Don't try to lose too much – or too little.
For weight loss to be beneficial to your health and to have a long-lasting effect, you should aim to lose 2 to 4 pounds a month for the first 3 to 6 months. A reasonable goal may be to reduce your body weight by 5% to 10%. But make sure to put a realistic time frame on achieving your goal. Talk to your doctor about a realistic goal for you.
Your doctor, a dietitian, and other professionals can help you to determine your ideal healthy body weight, introduce you to healthy weight-loss strategies, teach you sensible weight-maintenance tips, and help you with expectations.
Don't despair.
If you have an occasional setback by overeating or eating foods that you should
avoid, don't despair! There is no such thing as a "forbidden" food,
and your diet should reflect that. You can get back on track with your next
meal. If it happens more often, identify the issues or triggers that made you
overeat. Replace tempting unhealthy food choices with healthy alternatives by
focusing on a variety of foods that are healthier instead of on what you're
"not supposed to eat."
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2023. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Weight-Management-Why-is-it-so-hard