Well, the new year is in full swing already, and we’re a month down. And if you are anything like the vast majority of people, there’s a good chance that your plans for a fit, healthy and nutritious 2018 have already started to creak. You are in good company, however, so don’t feel too disheartened. The key to success is understanding that trying to lose weight and get fit is not a one-off event. And if you are scratching your head in bemusement about how people you know manage to keep themselves in great shape, there are a few things you need to know. Let’s find out more in our guide to losing weight – permanently.
You aren’t a celebrity.
First and foremost, we all lead busy lives and need to get to work every day, look after our families, and keep our houses in reasonable order. In short, your life is nothing like the lives of all the celebrities whose fitness DVDs you buy – mostly in vain – every Christmas and throw away every February. The truth is that it is a celebrity’s job to look fantastic, fit and healthy. These are people who have private chefs, personal trainers, and probably work out for 2-3 hours a day, purely as it’s part of their job. You can’t compete with that level of commitment, budget, or time – normal people just can’t expect to have super fast results when there is so much else going on in their lives.
There is no one size fits all solution.
There are a million and one different diet plans, fitness regimes, and muscle-gaining techniques out there. But not one of them will be a ‘one size fits all’ solution. The truth is that the vast majority of diets out there will work on some people, some of the time. Ultimately, you are going to need to test the water, read up on proper nutrition and biology, and form a plan that suits you best. And you should also bear in mind that the vast majority of people try these fad diets but end up quitting them. The simple reason being is that these types of diets and programs are wholly unsustainable. Few people could ever commit to never enjoying a treat or an unhealthy snack ever again in their life, and when they eventually crumble, it can have a huge impact on their motivation – prompting issues like guilt eating, for example. If you intend to lose weight permanently, it’s important to find a method that you can live with permanently – it’s that simple. We’re talking complete lifestyle changes, here, rather than 3-6 months diet plans.
It’s about better living.
People who are on diets tend to feel like they are taking part in some form of struggle. And this is a huge issue because, at the end of any struggle, humans have a tendency to seek out solace. In the case of a fad dieter, this will often take the form of a first burger and fries for a month, or a session on the beer/wine, or a rather savage chocolate eating session. Clearly, this way of looking at a healthy lifestyle is problematic. So, what can you do instead? Well, as proponents of the SANESolution state, it’s vital to use proven science, practical habits, and love yourself a little if you want to lose weight permanently. Ultimately, yo-yo dieting – by its very nature – means you repeatedly fail – and you have to look to proper changes to your lifestyle that are feasible, and enjoyable – which brings us to our final point for discussion.
It’s important to enjoy food.
Another reason why your diet plans come crashing down in bits after a few weeks is that they just aren’t enjoyable. Meal times are a time of joy and happiness, but there isn’t much to laugh about when you are sitting down to a bowl of cabbage soup for lunch and dinner every day. Again, it’s unsustainable, and although you might lose weight in the short-term, by the end of the program you will be bursting blood vessels to get your hands on something naughty but nice. And the truth is that you will eventually put all that weight on again, start feeling bad about your condition, and start the ‘boom-bust’ cycle yet again. So, if you want to achieve weight loss on a permanent basis, you have to choose a plan of action that enables you to enjoy food – and keep smiling at meal times.
Hopefully, these tips should help you achieve a healthier lifestyle – share your thoughts in the comments!
