Successful Dieters' Strategies That Stick

 

We are a month into the new year and I thought it might be a good time to give you some strategies to help you stick to your new year resolutions (or evolutions as we call them here). A good detoxification program is a good way to jump start your new year promises to lose weight or eat better. But all successful dieters have some things in common. They all have to deal with resolving both the struggles they perceive in their physical world such as time, exercise, food preparation and cravings and the struggles they perceive in their mental and emotional world, such as not believing in themselves, feeling lonely and frustration. Here are some strategies for dealing with both of those worlds.

Have clearly defined goals that are specific, measurable and realistic.

Have specific non-food incentives built in along the path.

Set aside adequate time to meal plan, shop, prepare, track your food, do your one hour of exercise a day and weigh in once a week.

Follow a sustainable way of eating that includes a variety of vegetables, proteins and fats.

Track your food and exercise efforts.

Have support from friends or family.

Have a system of accountability where you report your progress and track your results.

Understand that you need time to see results and share your frustrations with a supportive community.

Be able to identify rooted motivators attached to deep personal meaning as reasons for wanting to be healthy.

Have in place a system to prepare for unforseen, stressful events that crop up like the car breaking down, the hot water heater going out, an illness or hospitalization in the family.

Eat breakfast consisting of protein, carbohydrates and fat. Breakfast sets the metabolic tone for the day.

Get 8 hours of sleep.

Drink adequate water, defined as half your weight in ounces, consumed throughout the day. A young client of mine named Lisa, came in wearing four bracelets. I had told her she needed to drink four bottles of water a day. Each time she drank a bottle of water, she moved a bracelet from her right arm to her left arm and this way she knew how much water she had consumed at any time throughout the day.

Preparing for as much as you can ahead of time will minimize the problems that crop up at the last moment, but knowing that some things are likely to come up no matter how much you plan will also help you stand strong in the face of difficulty. Remember that anytime you are on the verge of making a great change in your life, you are likely to be tested as to how serious you are. Just knowing that you are being tested is sometimes enough to get you through the situation without falling apart and undoing all the effort you have put forth.

For more information about nutrition, go to my website, http://www.healthsolutionsbychristine.com/ and enter your email to receive my FREE 7 day E-course on how to Live Healthfully Ever After.

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