What Is A Healthy Weight Loss Plan?
Some weight loss methods work and some don't. This way doesn't work...
- Realize you need to lose weight.
- Decide to go on a diet.
- Grab the first fad diet you see.
- And off you go.
This way does work...
Start by answering these questions:
- What is my goal weight?
- How much weight do I need to lose?
- How long will it take?
- What size will I be?
- Can I really do it?
Let's break it down, one by one...
Goal weight
Body mass index (BMI) gives you a good weight for your height. Is it perfect? No.
Is it good? Definitely. Reach a BMI of 25 and you'll:
- Look better
- Feel better
- Be healthier
- Live longer
You can use this BMI calculator.
BMI seems too low?
- You're used to seeing fat people. Most adults are overweight.
- The numbers on the BMI chart are accurate.
- Want a healthy weight? Reach your BMI ideal weight.
How much weight am I going to lose?
Grab a pencil.
Put down what you weigh now and subtract your goal weight from that. That's how much weight you are going to lose.
Don't just pick a number. Do the math. And don't let a big number scare you off.
How long will it take?
A pound or two per week is best. Fifty pounds is 50 weeks. That's a year. One hundred pounds is two years. Two hundred pounds is… well, you get the idea.
In a big hurry? You'll hurt your results.
A year is too long for 50 pounds? Oh, please. You should pray for 50 stable pounds in a year. Nothing better could ever happen.
Getting the weight off for good is much better than losing weight fast and gaining it back. Anyway, time goes by fast -- a year or two is not really all that long.
- Break out the calendar.
- Mark out a year -- two years-- whatever it is.
- Mark it with a big X.
- That's your date.
- Write it down.
What size will I be?
What will your new clothes size be? Put down what you're shooting for -- waist size, dress size, whatever.
Have a 56 inch waist? Would you love to have a 32 inch waist? That's your goal. Don't sell yourself short.
Maybe you're a dress size 18. Where would you look great? It's your goal -- and nobody else's. Write it down.
Can I really do it?
- Put down what you can do.
- Not what you can't do.
- Or won't do.
- Don't try to fool yourself.
Can you drink some water? Fine. But if you can't force yourself to drink water you'll have to make up the difference somewhere else.
More sleep? Great.
Daily weight? Absolutely.
How about exercise? No exercise? It'll be much tougher. You'll have to be super strict everywhere else, and you're results won't be the same.
Just be sure to list what you can do and what you will do. These are all the elements of your healthy weight loss plan.
Keep your list
You need to keep the list in your notebook.
- Review it regularly.
- Add new tips you discover.
- Your program will evolve.
- Start strong and make it better as you go.
Your list will remind you of your successful actions. Resume what you've dropped out. Get back on track.
So, how do you reach your goal? Just follow your plan.
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