So many people want to lose weight today – people seem to me more conscious than ever of their appearance. Losing weight is not easy, despite the claims of the diet product manufacturers. But it can be done, and having the right attitude goes a long way towards success.
Without a doubt, exercise is very important, and everyone should take part regularly in an activity like walking or jogging. But the bottom line is, losing weight will require us to reduce our intake of food. We may as well be resolved to this fact at the start.
This can be a traumatic thing for many of us to do, because we get so attached to the food we enjoy, and don’t want to “let go”. What will help is, if we see this as just making a decision, and sticking to it.
I find it helpful if I can decide on a month, and to make that month a “xxxxx-free” month (replace “xxxxx” with the relevant food). This will of course be different for different people, but it will be a food that you know is just helping to put on the pounds. For me that would be potatoes, and of course it would include all potato-based foods such as chips and french fries. As the first of the month draws near, I’m aware that this food will be laid aside for the month and it’s no big deal to do it.
Of course, it will be a more successful diet if we can include sugar-laden foods, or at least sweets and chocolate, but it can be easier to cope with if its just one or two specific food items. Other goodies can be set aside in other months ” its very difficult to give up everything at once.
What this will do, once you arrive at the end of the month successfully, is give you confidence that you are able to manage without that food. And theres no reason why you cant continue another month, or a year. But the point of the month is, its a manageable length of time. Most of us can go without just about anything for the space of a month. And its long enough to give us confidence that we can make long-term changes to our eating habits. One thing that I like about this sort of diet is, I am looking forward to the end of the month when, as I tell myself, I will be able to enjoy that food again ” it helps to keep me going.
And of course I can choose to continue the plan past the end of the month, but the important thing is, my immediate plans are just until the month is over. If I want to continue, it’s a lot easier than starting from scratch, my confidence is high and I am acccustomed to the routine.
