When starting out your weight loss journey all the foods, workouts and drinks can be overwhelming. Get clear with these 3 essentials.
The way you start can make or break your journey. There are a few similarities between all the succesful weight losers and you’re about to learn them.
Where do you start if you want to lose weight?
You might be here for all kinds of different reasons. You want to become healthier, look better, have more energy, be able to see your grand-kids grow up, have more confidence, feel like yourself when you’re looking in the mirror…
In one way or another you said “it’s enough, I have to start my weight loss journey”. This is a powerful emotion that can help you get started.
This article will help you a lot but you do have to keep in mind that just reading it won’t get you to where you want to go. You have to apply the things you learn. This involves writing some things down.
If you’re okay with that and you are dedicated to getting serious about losing weight the 3 essentials will help you get started on your succesful weight loss journey.
1. The trick to getting exactly where you want to be
The first essential for a succesful weight loss journey is something to guide you through the hard times. Something that will make the decisions you have to make easier.
You need a clear and specific weight loss goal.
A lot of people set themselves up for failure by setting a vague goal like “I want to lose some weight”. This might work a little but it will probably not get you to your end goal.
You need to make it a specifc outcome in a specific amount of time. Here are some examples:
- “I’m going to fit in my size 4 pants in 4 weeks.”
- “I’m going to lose 20 pounds/kilos in 3 months.”
- “I’m going to weigh 140 pounds in 4 weeks.”
It’s time to think about what exactly you want to achieve. Writing this down and putting it up somewhere is extremely helpful.
Once you have the specific goal you can start to calculate backwards and see what you have to do every week to get there. Having the goal will also help you make decisions easier. You just ask yourself “will this help me reach my goal?”.
Don’t fall in this trap
Everyone gets busy sometimes. Deadlines, friend or family members that need help, time off,… That’s just how it goes.
The problem with that is that your attention gets pulled away from your goal. It will slide to the back of your mind more and more. This can cause you to forget it in essential moments which can cause weight loss setbacks.
That’s why it’s important to keep your goal somewhere close and re-read it regularly.
Doing these things will already greatly improve the start of your weight loss journey.
2. The 2 forces that control everything you do
When anyone does anything there are 2 things that cross their mind. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
These things are pain and pleasure. The pain to do something or the pain of not doing something. The pleasure of doing something or the pleasure you will gain from doing something.
The thing is that humans are not always objective about those things because they focus on the wrong things.
For example when you think about working out right now, it’s possible that the only thoughts that cross your mind are unmotivating ones. “I will have to put in so much effort”, “I will have to put on my workout clothes and shoes”, “I will have to spend half an hour”.
No wonder you won’t be able to gather the courage to do it.
Time to make these forces work for you
Luckily this is also something you can use to your advantage when starting your weight loss journey.
It’s time to write down all the good things that will happen when you lose the weight. More confidence, more self-love, more energy to do your favorite things, a longer life together with your loved ones,…
After that it’s time to write all the bad things that will happen if you don’t lose the weight. All the increased risks on diseases, not feeling comfortable in your own body, not being able to wear your favorite clothes,…
Every time you need to do something slightly more uncomfortable you can again think about these reasons. A 20 min jog won’t look as bad after this thought exercise.
3. The right plan
The last essential you need to get started with your weight loss journey is the right plan.
You might think to yourself “but wait isn’t losing weight easy? You just have to count calories and go jogging every day?”.
Sadly enough there is more to it. Plenty of people struggle an immense amount for tiny weight loss results. Just because they are using the wrong tactics.
If you start with the wrong plan your weight loss journey might last months longer than it needs to be. You might have to struggle a lot while there are actually easier methods you can use to lose the weight.
The last essential is to learn about the right plan for a succesful weight loss journey. Get your free case study right here.
