Healthy Weight Loss Tips

When trying to lose weight, getting started is the hardest part. Finding motivation and getting into a routine takes hard work and persistence!

When you make that decision to lose those few extra pounds, its important to make a plan for yourself. Here are the first steps you can take to create your own healthy weight loss plan!

• Set A Goal For Yourself

First and foremost, the first step when starting your diet is to set a goal for both your weight loss and a realistic time frame for when you want to lose it by. Chose a holiday, event or special occasion to motivate you. 

• Research And Organize Your Meal Plan

Before figuring out your diet plan, its important to do some research. Depending on your body type and goal weight, it can influence what foods you cut out and what food items you can continue eating. Usually, cutting out complex carbs, sugars and cheeses are necessary. But, depending on how much weight you plan on losing in what time frame, you can allow yourself to eat whole-wheat or brown rice substitutes.

•  Create An Exercise Routine

When trying to lose weight, exercising is just as important as staying on a strict diet. Just the same as when you’re deciding your meal plan, its important to analyze your health status before planning out an exercise routine.

For most, it’s important to do about 30 minutes of cardio daily.

In order to increase your metabolism, you should perform your cardio routine in intervals to increase your heart rate and then bring it back down at a slower rate. When doing weights, make sure your rotate muscles and stretch daily to make sure you don’t hurt yourself! 

• Utilize Technology

There are a limitless number of phone applications that can help you lose weight. I recommend downloading an app to help you track your calorie intake to monitor what you burn when you exercise. This will help you track your progress and manage what you eat in a day.

• Alcohol And Sugary Drinks Are Not Your Friend

Although drinks may seem low calorie, it's not the caloric intake that affects your diet. The sugar in most carbonated drinks and alcoholic beverages can affect how your food is digested and stored in your body. We’re not advising you to cut out your social life, so if you do drink stick to drinks mixed with soda water, cranberry juice or tonic water.

• Let Yourself Cheat (sometimes)

One of the hardest parts of a diet is staying away from those tempting foods.

Don’t kill yourself about staying strict with your diet everyday.

Pick one day a week and treat yourself to a cheat meal, it will make the rest of your diet less stressful. 

• Track Your Progress

The most rewarding part about losing weight is actually getting to see and feel the difference. Take a picture of yourself before you start your diet and then again after a month… you’ll be amazed with the results! By taking pictures and seeing the changes in your body, you’ll be more motivated to continue.

Overall, starting your diet is the hardest part. Don’t decide to lose weight for anyone else but yourself. Remember, being beautiful on the inside is what counts and confidence is key. Love yourself and be happy, and all the rest will follow suit!