Resolutions - Sticking With It?

I found this great article and wanted to share it with you...hopefully it will encourage you to stick with your New Year's Resolution to lose weight :)

Make Your Resolution To Lose Weight Actually Work This Year

You know the drill; you make a resolution to lose weight on New Year’s Eve. You go grocery shopping for all kinds of health food on January 2nd, and while you are at it, you join a new gym. Everything goes well for a few days and you start to see the pounds drop off. Then things slow down, and you start to lose interest. Cravings for your favorite foods set in and you’re getting tired of these diet meals. By the end of January, most of us have given up on our weight loss resolution. Don’t let this happen to you.

Make this year different; make your resolution to lose weight actually work. It’s really not that hard, but you have to do it right. The best way to make sure you will stick to your weight loss resolution is to find little ways to hold yourself accountable. Announce your resolution to family and friends. Find a weight loss buddy that has the same goals. The two of you can check on each other and motivate each other to stick with the plan. If you can’t find a weight loss buddy, make your spouse or close friend your accountability partner. You report your weight loss to them weekly, and they will do their best to keep you motivated to keep going.

An alternative to using people to hold you accountable is a weight loss journal. By simply putting what you eat, how much you worked out and how much you weigh into a journal, you will feel more responsible about what you are doing and are less likely to skip that workout or sneak in an extra snack. A weight loss journal can also be a great motivator when you glance back though the pages and see how much you have accomplished over the past weeks and months.

One last piece of advice – don’t be too strict on your diet. The main reason people give up on their weight loss plan is that they aren’t allowed any of their favorite foods. You should aim more for lifestyle changes you can stick with for the rest of your life than a traditional diet. This means that the piece of chocolate or that cheeseburger are ok – in moderation. Limit yourself to one small piece of chocolate a day, and only indulge in that cheeseburger or slice of pizza once a week. If you eat healthy foods the rest of the time, you will be able to indulge every once in awhile and still see those pounds melt off.

Are you struggling with keeping your weight loss resolution? Healthy Menu Planning is the solution – it helps you stay on track. Sign up for a free 7-day sneak peak today.