After nine months of attempting to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle, these are my main learnings for success. There are many different approaches to lose weight and different stages throughout your journey, so while I have been focused on losing weight, I will shortly start more on just maintaining my current weight. These are just general pointers rather than specific advice that U have discovered or learnt. And of course, everyone’s aims and objectives are different.
- Monitor your food intake by tracking what you eat at the very beginning. This will help you become aware of what you’re eating and the quantities. You can do this by reading and understanding labels, nutrients, and ingredients, or by calorie counting. There are many ways to achieve awareness.
- In my experience, some daily exercise has made me feel physically active and has helped reduce stress and improve my mental health. I walk at a pace daily, and to keep my exercise varied, I alter my walks and routes. A little exercise, combined with a monitored diet, has helped me.
- Using weight fitness tracking devices like an Apple Watch and scales can increase your awareness of your activity and wellbeing. I used to be afraid of stepping on the scales, but make sure to weigh yourself regularly. Kit like the Apple Watch is amazing.
- Compete with others to track and maintain your progress, whether it’s weight loss or other goals. Make sure to keep a log of your progress.
- It’s okay to eat treats, but don’t eliminate all foods. Instead, try to restrict the quantities you eat. For example, eat a chunk or two of a chocolate bar instead of the whole thing in one sitting. Remember, it’s all about moderation. I’ve also learned to drastically reduce my intake of unhealthy food options like McDonald’s.
- Eating out and takeouts are lovely treats, so focus on them being just that – a treat – rather than a regular behaviour. Reducing eating out also saves money.
- I still eat calorie-loaded foods like sweets and bread, but I do count the calories. If I’m counting calories, I log everything. Sometimes difficult to remember to try to log as soon as you can.
- Recognise and tune into the benefits of living a healthier lifestyle, such as increased energy, improved mental health, smaller clothes, and overall better appearance.
When it comes to losing weight, these tips are just from my experience. There are many ways to achieve your goals, and if you have any learnings or tips to share, please feel free to do so.
