Everyone’s weight loss journey is different. Some people make more progress in a short amount of time while others may take ages to shed an inch. What works for someone else may not work for you. You shouldn’t compare your journey with someone else’s. Rather, you should make efforts to take your weight loss game to the next level.
Here are six sure-shot ways to take your weight loss game up a notch.
1. Make Small Changes
One thing you need to remember is that fitness is a way of life. You need a major lifestyle change to make sure your weight loss journey is supported by everything you do. You need to incorporate this philosophy in your daily routine and make small changes in the way you perform everyday tasks. For instance, you can try to move more often. Take the stairs instead of going on the elevator. If your apartment or office is way up high, you can take the stairs to at least four or five floors initially and take the elevator from there. Gradually, increase the number of staircases you climb every day.
Similarly, you can limit the number of times you take your car out. If you just need to go across the block, you better walk or ride a bicycle there. The long-term benefits of a healthy lifestyle in sustaining a healthy weight are proven by numerous studies. After all, it isn’t just about getting there; it is about staying there.
Similarly, you need to make changes in your dietary habits including the number of meals you have and the size of portions you consume. Now, this brings us to the next point.
2. Count Your Calories
Do you count calories on a daily basis? Time to start now. You need to keep a count of calories you consume as well as the calories you burn. There is no hard and fast rule to follow. It depends on your overall lifestyle. If you have a sedentary lifestyle, the amount of calories you should be taking will be much lower than the ideal amount of calories for an active person. There are many other factors that affect the ideal amount of calories for an individual.
Now, portion control is important when it comes to calorie count. If you are taking two heavy meals a day, you will gain more weight than someone consuming four small portions will. So, it’s time to stop “upsizing” your meal. Not to mention, you shouldn’t even eat at places that offer upsizing since most of them happen to be fast food restaurants.
It is important to know what kind of calories you consume. Quality is more important than quantity. Calories you get out of sugar and carbs are the worst. If you can’t keep your hands off the dessert, make a habit of sharing it with others.
3. Keep Exercise Interesting
Despite the excruciating pain, workout is exciting in the initial days. It is great to see even an inch of difference. However, the routine does get boring after a time. Not to mention, your body stops responding to it as effectively as it used to. Alternating between different routines not only keeps it interesting, it also delays, even prevents, the dreadful plateau.
Adding variety to the workout plan will improve adherence. It also expedites the results. Therefore, it is really crucial for taking your weight loss game to the next level. You can create a weekly exercise plan that involves different types of workout each day. Include cardio, aerobics, and endurance training to the mix. Repeat the cycle every week for a month. Change the weekly cycle, every month. You would be amazed by how quickly your body will react to this diverse routine.
Bonus point – adding variety to your exercise routine is mentally stimulating as well.
4. Try Waist Trainers
Despite celebrity endorsement, weight training is severely underrated.
Let’s face it. Weight loss isn’t all about shedding pounds. You want to lose inches from the right places. Some people just can’t have a slimmer waist and some find it difficult to lose the flab on their arms. This is where trainers come in for the rescue. Trainers help you target your problem areas as you work out. You can wear them all day or you can wear them during workouts to lose more fat from certain areas.
There is a lot of fuss about whether waist training is safe or not. Like any other fat reduction solution, there are pros and cons but at the end of the day, it is all about responsible usage. So, support your weight loss efforts with waist training but only after educating yourself.
5. Go for Fat Reduction Treatment
This may sound controversial but there are many factors that can keep you from burning fat from a particular area. There may be a scientific explanation why your belly fat is so stubborn, but at the end of the day it is quite demotivating. Many people give up on their weight loss journey because of it. Therefore, it is okay to seek support even if it involves a treatment.
Luckily, fat reduction treatments are no longer limited to invasive surgeries. Now there are risk-free, non-invasive treatments that are equally, if not more, effective. CoolSculpting is one of the most successful of such treatments. It involves zero downtime and no ugly scars to deal with.
6. Stick to It
Last but not the least – you need to be consistent. No matter your regime, long term results aren’t possible without consistency. Just because you had an impulsive full cream latte instead of a power shake is no reason to top it up with a muffin or two as a celebration of your failed goals.
People who succeed are not the ones who do not give in to their sinful desires, but those who don’t give up regardless.
And Finally…
Don’t lose hope! Some people see results quickly, others have to work harder. Give it your best and know that fitness is a way of life and not a temporary fix. Stay active, control your calories, and support your efforts with the right treatment if necessary. Once you are there, all you need is a consistent lifestyle to maintain your ideal weight.