1. What’s Up? You start to eat less and exercise more.
You decide to take some time off work and enjoy some quality downtime with friends and family.
2. You Set Goals (and Stick To Them)
You set some goals around your diet. Maybe you want to lose 5 pounds by Thanksgiving. Or maybe you want to get down 10% body fat. Whatever your goal may be, don’t make excuses about not being able to do something; just focus on making progress now. If you fall short, no big deal! Just move on to the next week’s plan and pick up where you left off.
3. You Find A Support System
If eating right isn’t fun, find people who have already figured out how to do it. Join a local gym on Facebook or attend a group fitness class at your community center. Talk to friends and ask them what they do to stay fit. Share your successes and challenges with others who are trying to achieve similar results.
4. You Take Control
You start cooking meals made with vegetables and lean protein, rather than carbs and fast food. You choose whole-wheat pasta over white rice. And you look forward to your favorite meatless meal options instead of ordering chicken fingers.
5. You Drink Water
Drinking water helps keep your digestive system working well and keeps you feeling full longer. When you drink water, you’ll feel satisfied after only half the calories you ate before. Plus, having fewer cravings means you’re not reaching for unhealthy foods.
6. You Add Exercise
It might seem hard at first, especially if you’ve spent years sitting behind a desk, but exercising doesn’t need to be painful. Pick an activity that gets your heart rate up and makes you sweat — walking, running, yoga, spinning, tennis, dancing, swimming, playing sports, lifting weights, hiking, golfing, rowing, biking, skiing, jumping rope, jumping on a trampoline, dancing, lifting heavy objects, using stairs, even cleaning the house or doing yardwork. Just find a way to burn calories and get moving.
7. You Learn To Enjoy Foods
One of the greatest things about losing weight is learning to appreciate the flavors of nutritious foods again. Instead of craving sweets and salty snacks, you crave fresh veggies and fruit. You start looking forward to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.