Learning To Lose Weight In A Healthy Way

The process of losing weight can be an extremely emotional, frustrating, and personal journey. While a weight loss journey may be negative for many individuals and can even take a toll on their self-esteem and overall mental health, it shouldn’t and doesn’t have to be this way.

Throughout the years there have been so many tempting but fruitless eating fads and restrictive diet plans that have claimed to be able to help people lose weight and start living the lives of their dreams in record time. In many cases, these fad diets are not only unmanageable in the long term but are not truly healthy or beneficial to your weight loss journey.

If you are looking to lose weight but want to do it in a healthy way while keeping your mental health a top priority, the following tips may help you throughout the process.

Consider Your Current Habits

Take the time to look at the habits you engage in daily. Do you find yourself stopping for fast food on the way to or from work because you don’t have time to make a meal? Consider taking some time to prepare a healthy meal plan a week ahead or staying up a little later the night before a workday so you can prepare and pack a nutritious meal that will not only fill you up but keep you fueled until you get home at the end of the day to cook a proper meal.

You’ll also want to consider the ways you treat yourself. After making it through a long day at work or experiencing some sort of victory during the day, do you often reward yourself in the form of food? This could look like going to a favorite restaurant for an unhealthy meal or allowing yourself a high-calorie treat too frequently. While these things are okay on occasion, try one of these alternatives most times when it comes to treating yourself:

• Try out a new exercise class
• Take a short mental health getaway
• Purchase a new piece of workout equipment
• Get a gym membership
• Use your gym membership
• Get a massage or pedicure
• Purchase a new bike
• Purchase and keep up with a fitness journal
• Purchase a Fitbit or some other step-tracking device

Find a Workout That Works for You

Many people trying to lose weight think they need to dedicate themselves to an aggressive and serious fitness routine to lose weight. The truth is, if you want to find true success through your fitness routine, find a physical activity that you can do regularly and also enjoy.

If you’re not comfortable going to the gym, consider an at-home workout. There are many YouTube videos and apps that can help walk you through different workouts without spending a dime. If your home doesn’t have space for a workout, there’s always the great outdoors. Some other ideas of workouts you may enjoy that aren’t on a typical fitness regimen could be:

• Going swimming
• Taking a cycling class or going for a bike ride
• Taking a hike
• Going to a dance class
• Practicing yoga
• Going kayaking or canoeing
• Playing a high-speed sport like tennis, basketball, or baseball
• Walking to daily destinations if possible instead of taking a car or bus

Transforming Your Diet

Many people make the mistake of eating very little throughout the day in hopes that this will help them lose weight. In reality, this practice often causes you to feel extremely hungry by the time evening comes around and over-indulge in late-night snacks. Instead, it’s better to implement three healthy, well-rounded meals a day.

Everyone knows eating plenty of fruits and vegetables is critical to weight loss, but did you know that protein is just as important as well? You need a protein source to keep you full, energized, and able to perform to your best throughout the day. You’ll also want to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. Some additional tips to consider when it comes to diet and weight loss include:

• Try using smaller plates so you don’t feel the need to fill it with too much food
• Plan your meals ahead of time
• Fill your fridge with plenty of healthy snack options that are readily available
• Never go grocery shopping hungry as you may be more likely to make poor food decisions
• Take the time to read food labels and learn about what you’re putting in your body
• Don’t ban foods you enjoy from your diet but rather treat yourself in moderation
• Avoid weighing yourself too frequently, as weight loss takes time
• Avoid fried and processed food whenever possible

Whether you’re trying to lose a little or a lot, the process of losing weight can be extremely frustrating and may take a toll on your mental health and self-esteem. It doesn’t have to be this way. If you find yourself going through diet after restrictive diet and not getting the results you’re looking for, it may be time to step back and reflect upon how your current nutritional and exercise habits may be holding you back. This could be forcing yourself into a workout routine you hate or skipping meals only to overindulge at the end of the day. You’ll find better success by eating three well balanced meals a day, finding a workout that you actually enjoy, and allowing yourself a treat once in a while. At Headlight, we want to help you achieve your best mental health today. Call 800-930-0803 to learn more.