Although starting a diet may change your health…getting started is the hardest thing you can do.
In fact, many people who start (and stop) diet plans—don’t know where to begin and may get completely overwhelmed.
This is why, today, I am going to share with you the insider secrets to starting—and successfully sticking—with your diet.
It’s not just what personal trainers use…it’s what people have used to collectively lose thousands of pounds over the years.
If you’re starting out on a diet, here are 7 things you need to remember:
1. Follow a Healthy Eating Plan
Fad diets come and go…and most follow the same protocols as diets from decades before. This is why following a healthy eating plan—and the foods that you like–in order to stay successful. By eliminating complete food groups, or skipping out on foods you love, may make the diet unbearable and lead to failure. Try including healthier food options, like more fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, fiber-rich foods, and lean proteins, and you may be successful.
2. Small Steps = BIG Wins
One reason why most people don’t last on a diet is not the diet itself—it’s making drastic lifestyle changes all at once. But taking baby steps, or making small changes to your diet each week, could be a better approach then changing completely all at once. Switching out higher calorie food options (like cakes and desserts), for lower-calorie options will result in noticeable changes in your body.
3. Be Realistic
Set realistic goals for yourself—and don’t change them when it gets hard. You’re not going to lose 50 pounds in one month…but you may lose 10 pounds, so set a goal you know you can achieve. Setting smaller, more attainable goals, and working on even smaller steps each week, will set you up for long-term success.
4. Always Reward Yourself (not with food)
If you want to be successful, you need to set up a small reward system. If you reach a particular goal you set for yourself, then it’s time to celebrate. It could be a new pair of pants, or getting your nails done. Building a reward system can keep you motivated—because new things keep people going.
5. The “Buddy” System
Holding yourself accountable can be hard. This is why you should hire or find a workout buddy—so you can have the motivation, encouragement, and inspiration to keep going. Buddies can keep you accountable while pushing you to stay the course—no matter how hard it gets. The added support could be the best motivator for success.
6. Track Everything
Those who are successful at weight loss always track their meals. Tracking meals allows you to know exactly what you’re eating or drinking, and where you could make changes to get better. Tracking also allows you to see areas of weakness, so you can make the right changes to get you back on track.
7. Exercise
Although not diet related, the most successful people include plenty of exercise. Exercise expends additional calories, therefore enabling you to adjust your calories to lose, or maintain, your weight. Exercise may also build tissue (muscle) that increases your metabolism–therefore you can burn more calories throughout the day.
Although not ground-breaking, these 7 tips are important when you’re starting a new diet. Most people who have had lots of success—and who have lost a lot of weight—follow these 7 things each time they start a diet. Eventually, they become routine, and you don’t need to remember them. If you’re just starting out with a new diet, incorporate these 7 tips to increase your success rate.
Your friend and trainer,
Paul F Sweatt
Train Smart. Train Hard. Train Safe. Train to Sweatt