Is New Year’s weight loss one of your goals. Than listen up. Because I’m not going to feed you the same bullcrap you’re going to see floating around the internet. I’m going to give you the real New Year’s weight loss advice you need.
I wasn’t planning to write a post this weekend. But then I made the mistake of scrolling through Facebook. And, oh my gosh! Every crazy gimmick you can imagine is being blasted over the internet in anticipation of New Year’s resolutions. And this got me really upset.
You see, weight loss gimmicks will usually lead to short term weight loss. Meaning you’ll lose weight for about 3 to 6 weeks. But there’s a tipping point. Because these gimmicks are so unnatural and stressful on the body, that they come crashing down. And this usually results in regaining all the weight lost…and then some!
When I was younger, I fell for this type of thing almost every year. And I’d be so angry at myself when I failed. But the secret was, failure was inevitable. Quick fixes are only meant to provide short-term results.
So here’s my best New Year’s weight loss advice. This isn’t a quick fix, but it can lead to a permanent solution. And it will help you feel mentally sane while physically changing your body.
Place your focus on sugar
Sugar is one of the most inflammatory foods out there. So not only does sugar have a lot of calories, it also will lead to body inflammation and trouble losing weight.
So start reading labels of the sauces, yogurt, drinks, etc. that you buy. Start noticing how much added sugar you’re ingesting. And bring down your daily intake of added sugar as low as possible. Because sugar will directly fight against your other efforts for permanent weight loss.
Considering adding a probiotic
More and more emerging science indicates that an imbalance in your digestive bacteria can lead to extra pounds and weight loss problems. One of the main causes of a digestive bacterial imbalance is eating too much sugar and inflammatory foods. So this is likely to pertain to you after the holidays.
You must fix this imbalance for your New Year’s weight loss goals to succeed. Probiotics add good bacteria to your digestive system. So this is a great supplement for many who want to lose weight.
Keep THIS kind of diary
For long term success, you must start becoming more aware of when you’re legitimately hungry, and when you’re eating out of boredom. And that’s why I recommend the following exercise. This exercise will help build self-awareness.
Before every meal, rate your hunger from 1 to 10. Then rate your hunger again after your meal. And also rate how satisfied you feel about what you ate. Start paying attention to the healthy types of foods that leave you feel satisfied and full. And notice why you’re eating once you can legitimately say you’re full.
Focus on adding antioxidants to your diet
Fruits and vegetables are so healthy because they’re full of antioxidants. Antioxidants ease inflammation. And inflammation is a main cause of weight gain and obesity.
If you’ve indulged all holiday season, your body is carrying quite a bit of inflammation. You must ease this before you see permanent weight loss. So eat your fruits and veggies. Oh, and don’t forget your green tea too!
Start rediscovering your favorite foods
Does your healthy diet taste like crap? Do you feel completely deprived? Then don’t do it! This is not the road to success. Because your healthy lifestyle must feel good or it will only be temporary.
Do you love pizza? Try this better substitute for pizza. Is ice cream your thing? Then try this ice cream made entirely from fruit. Start finding better substitutes for your favorites that you’ll enjoy. If you’re struggling, book a session with a health and diet coach who can help you reinvent your healthier diet!
Experiment with exercise
If you have an aversion to exercise, that will have to change. It’s so much more difficult to lose weight on a body without developed muscles. So try different forms of exercise until you find one that works for you.
Hate cardio? Try pilates or yoga. Want something that gently re-introduces you to movement? Join a walk/run club and start by walking. Have an achy body? See if exercise in the water might be right for you.
But I want to add an important caveat. Don’t expect your workout to do all the work for you. Diet is 80% of the equation. If you use your workout as an excuse to over-indulge, you won’t hit your goals.
Expect a bumpy road
New Year’s weight loss won’t be a straight line. There will almost definitely be bumps in the road. Plan for it. Know that there will be good and bad days. And promise yourself you won’t give up.
Most New Year’s weight loss resolutions fail because people get too ambitious from the get-go. They equate a committed attitude with infallible perfection. And they associate roadblocks with failure.
Promise yourself now to stick with your goal when it gets hard. Because, there will be obstacles. But if you stay strong, you may be rewarded with increased energy, a transformed attitude towards yourself, increased strength, and a brand new relationship with food. And the best New Year’s weight loss advice I can give is to aim for this over any temporary quick fix.
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Ray says
I’m a big proponent of not using weight loss as a “resolution” or going on fad diets. Sustainable lifestyle changes are what it’s all about.
Kansas Bonanno says
I agree facebook is slammed this morning with “DIETS”, everyone gets so discouraged when it doesn’t happen WHAM BAM. I think people are willing to do it at a start but after a few weeks, they are ready to fall back into their old ways and not stick with it. These are some great tips to help keep motivated.
Krystal Butherus says
Reducing sugar is difficult, but, when you look at the issues behind too much sugar, it makes sense to work harder to have will power to cut it out. I’ve been wanting to start taking probiotics, but I would like to research some first.
Angela Tolsma says
I am so thankful for the body positive movement and people like the Militant Baker and bodyposipanda for helping me through my body image. It’s so sad how much advertising there is about weight loss.
Ginger Smith says
Great tips! I LOVE making banana “nice” cream! So healthy, cheap, and yummy! 🙂
Beth Davidson says
I’m so glad you mentioned that diet is 80% of the equation – I just read a great study on how exercise doesn’t affect weight loss as much as we think! I’m still trying to lose the last five pounds of my baby weight, so I’ll definitely be paying attention to all of this. No point in trying a fad diet now!
Ana De- Jesus says
I agree that quick fixes are destructive because like you said the results are only short term and ultimately set you up to fail. So I like that you were honest and offered valuable advice like adding antioxidants to your diet and keeping a diary!
Britney Kaufman says
Experimenting with different equipment and getting out of my comfort zone was the only way I lost weight in the past. I definitely need to focus on sugar now.
Jessica Joachim says
I remember falling prey to all the fad diets over the years, and none of them worked. Now I am working towards a healthier lifestyle with my kids and husband, and I think it will be much more successful. Adding in more exercise, reducing sugar and just replacing boxed foods with fresh veggies, fruits, and lean protein.
Karrie Frost says
Great tips for a realistic way to lose weight – and keep it off. I love the lifestyle approach as opposed to the fad lose weight quick schemes that fail in the end.
Pam says
These are great tips! Focusing on overall health over “diet” has always been better for me. Returning to good habits is on my list for this year and I’ll be using many of the tips you shared in this article!
Maria Katsulos says
Adding a daily probiotic to your diet is SUCH an underrated part of losing weight/just being healthy in general! Mine is such a must, I don’t even leave my room in the morning if I haven’t taken it yet.
Krystel | Disney on a Budget says
These are really good tips. I am trying to cut a lot of the sugar out of my diet.
Amber Marie says
I hate fad diets! I hate that marketers take advantage of women’s desire to look better and give false hope to them! It drives me nuts!
Ifeoluwa says
I’m not making resolutions this year. I do need to make a lifestyle change. These tips are really helpful. Fad diets make your body out of whack. Have a great New Year
RoseMary Griffith says
Erica, I always like to read your logical and simplistic advice about how to control, maintain or lose weight. You just make sense. So happy to share this blog with friends.
Rebecca Kelsey Sampson says
I love the idea of rating your hungry feelings before and after eating, it makes so much sense. Why waste the calories on something that won’t make you feel full!?
Andy says
I made a different sort of ‘weight loss’ New Year’s resolution: I resolved to more seriously go after some of the clutter in our home. For a household with an urge to accumulate this is easier said than done – wish me luck.
Erica says
Andy, haha…I need the clutter detox too!