5 Habits Successful Dieters Have in Common
We all know what the secret to weight loss is. We have been told about the ‘101 ways to lose extra pounds’ or the ‘top diet solutions’ but why do many dieters still fail in their quest for weight loss? While commitment is important in any diet program, it is not enough to help achieve your weight loss goals. The desire is there. Now what? For you to get the best results, it is important that you bridge the gap between what you want to do and what actually you’re doing.
Successful dieters have similar habits. Regardless of the weight loss approach they’re using, whether it’s low-fat living, vegan-style diet, or endless workout, they tend to achieve their goals. What are these habits?
1. Knowing what exactly it is they want.
Making vague goals will less likely help you lose weight. Simply saying ‘I want to lose weight’ won’t make any sense. You have to plan and strategise how you will do it. When you know how much pounds you want to lose, you are programming your brain and preparing your body for your diet goals. Motivation comes when you know where you are at the moment and where you want to be. So for instance, if you say you want to lose 20 pounds in 2 months time, you will be more motivated to do your best and make your dream happen.
2. Coming up with safe-to-eat plans
A lot of times, dieters are faced with so many temptations. It could be the mouth-watering chocolate lava cake featured in the menu or the yummy eat-all-you-can business lunch. These things can spoil the diet plan you’ve worked so hard to create. But successful dieters know a great way to bust off the temptations. Before entering a restaurant, they already have in mind an idea of what to eat. Studies show that making a safe-to-eat plan makes it 2-3 times more likely for dieters to reach their weight loss goals. So how do you do it? It’s quite simple. You just have to bear in mind the foods that will not sabotage your diet plan by applying the ‘if-then’ rule. So ‘if lunch is served, then I’ll get salad instead’, ‘if the dessert menu arrives, then I’ll have some coffee or fruit juice’.
3. Keeping track of their progress
Because they know what they want, successful dieters always keep track of their progress. Depending on the timeframe they’ve given themselves, they regularly measure their weight and compare it with where they’ve started. They also allocate time for workout and see to it that they don’t miss. Aside from monitoring how well you’ve done during the entire diet program, you need to focus on how far you have to go and not on what you have gone so far. That means if your goal is 30 pounds and you’ve lost 10, you must focus on 20 more pounds.
4. Staying positive
Losing weight is never easy and this is one thing you have to always keep in mind. However, holding on to the belief that despite its difficulty, you can still achieve your diet goals will keep you moving forward. Nonetheless, you should see to it that your goals are realistic. Successful dieters do not simply set goals. They plan hard. They don’t just drop words like ‘I’ll lose 25 pounds in two weeks’ even if that’s not physically possible.
5. Strengthening willpower
To ensure success in dieting, you need to have a strong willpower. Self-control is something that can be learned and improved. It’s like a muscle – the more you use it, the better it becomes. But to prevent fatigue, you don’t want to overuse it. Improving willpower takes time. It can be done little by little. So instead of depriving yourself with your favourite chips, you can cut it down little by little until you are able to completely give it up. At the same time, you can replace it with a healthier snack like salads or fresh fruits.
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