3 Most Common Mistakes When Trying to Lose Weight
Whether you want to lose 3lbs or 30 lbs (or more), attempting to lose weight can be very challenging. There is natural resistance and doubt whenever you try to change something in your day-to-day routine.
You may feel like you're making the right choices, eating the all right food, working out-yet not seeing the progress you had hoped to.
Or you may want to make some lifestyle changes and shed the winter fluff, but you're unsure where to begin. This easy-to-follow, free, ultimate weight loss guide is perfect for getting started! It eliminates confusion with clearly defined steps and ideas adaptable to your specific goals.
You may be prohibiting your results unknowingly by lacking these 3 significant components to successful weight loss or habit change.
You Lack A Clear Action Plan
You've got a goal (or a desire) but no idea what to do about it or how to successfully accomplish it.
So you do what the next best thing-GOOGLE! (or call your BFF for her latest advice). The problem is this is the tendency to rabbit hole into areas irrelevant and take a big picture and narrow it down concisely into smaller (more manageable) pieces. It lacks the ability for sustainability due to the lack of clear action steps.
Jumping into working towards a goal is excellent when motivation hits, but you also need clear measures to ensure you'll make progress (and keep that progress).
So while that motivation and excitement are brewing, make sure you're looking for clear action steps. A clearly defined way of creating a goal and then establishing a proven sequentially organized action plan can be found in the Target Your Goals Masterclass.
If you're looking to lose 5 lbs, are you cutting out dessert for a while? Dropping all sugar drinks off your menu? Adding in some resistance training? What is the timeline for this goal? WHY does this goal matter? What is your plan to make a significant lifestyle transition? Do you know how to do that safely and effectively? These are all questions that help you establish a successful action plan. They're basic steps to ensure your strategy aligns with the outcome you're trying to achieve.
The trial and error approach to health and wellness is costly and inefficient. If you've decided to pursue a health journey that includes weight loss, you don't have time or money to waste. The process is more important than the result, so it is crucial to have clearly defined actionable steps and resources to guide your way.
2. Ignore/Forget/Unaware of your unique needs and limitations
How well do you know yourself, and how much of that is built into your action plan? Whether your goals are big or small, the program to accomplish them will only work if it is a plan you can implement and feel good about! For example, if you have an aversion to meat and the new meal plan you "guaranteed to work" has chicken and beef included, you may attempt it, but it really isn't going to work for your body, and you won't fully commit. Or, if you are trying a workout program that starts at 5 am, and you're a single mom with small children at home, that program doesn't fit your current lifestyle.
You can do anything for a short time; however, engaging in a plan/program that works for your unique needs will increase the likelihood of commitment and the habits required for long-term change.
3. You Try To Do Too Much Too Soon
You want to lose weight, feel great, and develop healthier habits! You begin with vigor and motivation! You spend hours looking up healthy recipes, grocery shopping, meal prepping, and neatly laying out your gym clothes. You have a plan to hit the gym a few times a week and up your water game. You are ready to end your days with gratitude journaling, wake up 30 min early to meditate, and start taking a multivitamin. Eventually, motivation lessons, life happens, and your dedication and determination are overshadowed by overwhelming exhaustion.
Because all too soon, you are hit with a late work meeting that cuts into your gym time, your period started early, and you're not in the mood for the chicken and green beans you pre-cooked for dinner, and the neighbors kept you up all night, so you're desperate for an energy drink. Or you play into the mind game of "I'll do it tomorrow...." (or next week, month, year....). It becomes too much, and you crave something more manageable and comfortable, so you quit.
Making the decision and commitment to implement healthier habits into your lifestyle can be daunting at best. Do yourself a favor and start small with a practice or action you can commit to. Incorporate a plan or idea that fits into your life and needs efficiently. Download the Ultimate Guide to Weight-loss to get started!
