Everybody wants to lose weight, right? Okay, maybe not everyone. But almost everyone. The problem is figuring out how to lose weight.
Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. I promise. I know there are so many fad diets out there, so you might be skeptical. It seems like every week there’s a new product or plan that promises to get your body in shape in x-number of days. Some of them even promise to help you lose weight or get in shape with little to no effort. That sounds pretty awesome to me. I’d love to be model status without having to work for it. I’d love to not even think about how to lose weight.
But here’s the thing… it doesn’t actually work that way.
Most good things in life require some effort. That perfect body image is no exception.
So I don’t have a quick fix product to offer, but I do have a plan. I am going to tell you how to lose weight in three simple steps.
And this plan is one hundred percent guaranteed. I promise again. All you have to do is trust me and roll with it. We are friends, right? Friends trust friends.
Oh, and one more thing- you can’t just read the three steps and run. You have to keep reading, understand the steps, and commit to having an open mind. If you want to know how to lose weight, you can’t be close minded. I mean you can, but you won’t get very far. If you really want to change, you have to be willing. You also have to accept that true and lasting change in our bodies comes over time.
So here you have it:
Not what you wanted to hear? I know, me either.
I’d be lying if said I wouldn’t prefer to eat donuts and macaroni and cheese and never have to work out.
But that’s not reality. At least not for the large majority of us. Maybe something like 3% of the population is blessed with the genetics and metabolism for that sort of lifestyle, but the other 97% of us need a little help.
Now, maybe you are reading this and thinking, “I’ve been there, tried that. It didn’t work for me.”
With all love and respect, I’d encourage you to try again, try for longer, and be honest with yourself about how hard you are trying.
I think sometimes we have a skewed view of what is actually “clean” or “healthy” eating. I also think sometimes we are less active than we think we are.
So let me add just a little bit more depth to each of these steps.
- Eat Clean: Replacing French fries with a salad is great, but not if your salad is covered with ranch dressing, bacon bits, and croutons. Truly eating clean is initially a sacrifice, but over time, you’ll realize that it actually expands the possibilities for fun and creative meals! If you need a little help learning what clean eating really is, you can read this article. If you need it broken down just a bit more, read this one. Or, you can download this free ultimate clean eating checklist that makes it super simple for you to shop clean, plan your meals, or clean up your pantry. There’s an amazing book titled “It Starts With Food
” that is an excellent resource for understanding the importance of what you are eating. There’s a reason most healthy lifestyle plans start with food changes as step number one. Your body can only compensate for food poor choices with exercise for so long. Also, just like all things in life, moderation is key. Allow yourself to splurge. If you are eating clean and healthy 80% of the time, your body can handle a treat here and there.
- Exercise: This one is so important, but is secondary to your food choices. While exercise does aid in weight control, there are other benefits that are vital to your health. Regular exercise can help prevent or manage life threatening health conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndromes, depression, arthritis, and even strokes. Exercise also boosts your energy and improves your mood- something most all of us can benefit from! Exercising doesn’t mean you have to be at the gym lifting weights every day, although doing some of that is highly beneficial for your muscles. Simply taking stairs rather than the elevator or adding a brisk 30 minute walk every day can make a huge difference. There are so many ways you can really increase your activity level without having to be a body builder!
- Repeat: Consistency is key. We live in a culture that desires instant gratification. We try something and if we don’t see instant results, we give up and move on to the next thing. But reality is, most things that are good take time and effort. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Most things that happen fast are reversed even faster. That super fast weight loss plan might feel good in the moment, but it’s usually not true weight loss or change. The weight comes back just as quickly as it was lost. A consistent diet and lifestyle will, without fail, pay off over time. But you’ll never know if you don’t stick with it!
I promise you, if you consistently eat clean, exercise, and keep doing it with discipline, you will see results. BUT… you may not see them for six months.
And I think that’s where a lot of people get frustrated and say it didn’t work. But if you really want to know how to lose weight, this is it.
Give it time, remind yourself that it’s a process, and then celebrate when you look back a year later and realize how much you have changed.
Yes, yes, yes! Especially the repeat part!
Amen sister!
Losing weight and making healthy habits is not easy. It’s so important to break down your goals into manageable steps with clear outcomes. I like to use the acronym SMART-specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound. I find using this tool I’m not making goals that are too lofty or one’s I won’t follow through with. For example eating “clean” can be a huge commitment but if you break it down into eating at least 1 serving vegetables for an afternoon snack during the week, eventually it will become a habit and you can build upon that small step. Momentum is a huge motivator to keep going!
That’s a great perspective. I always find that eating clean is actually far less overwhelming than eating “paleo” or “low carb” or any of that stuff. THat’s why I break down in easy steps in the links I shared in step number one. I feel like people get overwhelmed because they have a misconception of what clean eating truly is! And yes, attainable goals are SO important!!!!!
You are absolutely right that we don’t always understand what clean eating is. I have also found that I have to change one thing at a time, otherwise it is too overwhelming. Living healthy is definitely a process.
EXACTLY. I talk about that in one of my clean eating posts! It is so important to take one step at a time, otherwise it’s too easy to get frustrated and just quit!
I know this actually works because I have done it before! Unfortunately, I fell off the wagon when I got pregnant. Three years later I am still struggling to get back on. Thanks for the inspiration!
Awe, you can do it mama! Hang in there and keep doing the steps!