Lose Weight, Stay Sane: 5 Tips Everyone Should Know
Author: Stephanie Santoro
There’s nothing worse than making a pact with yourself to lose weight, and doing all the things… just to discover later you’ve gained weight and lost nothing. You didn’t want to feel like you were dieting so you drummed up a plan on the fly and it ultimately betrayed you. We get it. Fortunately, there are some high-level facts about weight loss that will help you no matter what your approach. Here are seven tips that will keep you on the right track:
1. Be Mindful About Mindless Eating
You just gobbled down some chips before dinner or stress ate something from the vending machine while finalizing a deadline. It sounds easier than it is to do away with these habits, but survival mode kicks in. We are pressed for time too often and it’s too much to prepare a healthy snack or meal in the moment. Even when we are fully self-aware we still crave things and take drastic measures toward the psychology of depriving yourself, however.
Take some time to cut up some veggies to conveniently grab in these hectic moments. Make healthy dinners that will make healthy leftovers for lunch. Proactively make it easier to fill up on the good stuff, so you’re not so easily gluttonous when the appetizers come out at the unexpected social call or happy hour. You don’t have to refuse every temptation, but let the junkier stuff find its way to your backburner.
2. Don’t Expect Instant Gratification
Meaningful hard work takes a bit of time to reveal its rewards. If your weight loss isn’t visible right away–whether in the mirror or on the scale–don’t give up. Keep at it. When you’re on the right path to real weight loss, you’re building lifestyle changes that stay, so you can keep that weight off forever.
This might sound like a big commitment and maybe even a little intimidating – but we assure you it’s possible and not as hard as it sounds, with a new mindset. If you think you’re prone to faltering and need support in this area, set yourself up for weight loss success with Noom.
3. Track Your Activity
It’s human nature. We have busy lives, we forget small details, and we want to be good to ourselves and others. It’s why we can easily tell ourselves different versions of things hours, days, and months from now when we’re trying to figure out why a pair of jeans aren’t as forgiving as they used to be.
What’s why we can’t say this enough: Log it. At least for the the beginning of your weight loss journey, log your progress in a journal. Log it in an app. Anything besides trying to keep track in your mind and ultimately forgetting and setting yourself up for failure. You don’t need the extra stress. Create an environment of mindful reflection that fosters healthy accountability with an app on your phone or other method that easily travels with you.
4. Get to Steppin’
Worrying about how many steps you take in a day might seem silly or like a waste of time. But take a walk on your lunch break or go on a hike with a friend and watch those steps stack up. It’s a decent supplement to missed gym visits. And it keeps you focused and in the habit toward healthful choices, which can extend toward healthier meal selections.
Tracking steps is easy. Try out the built-in apps on your phone or get a step tracker that fits on your wrist or in your pocket for more accurate results and features that integrate with Noom.
5. Drink Lots of Water
Stay hydrated – especially if you’re active! Drinking water is crucial for organ health, it regulates body temperature and lubricates your joints, and it protects your spine. Additionally, you eliminate toxins more effectively through urination and bowel movements and your skin will also thank you for it. Water is also great for weight management because it satisfies false hunger pangs when dehydrated and keeps you from binging when you really need food for fuel. Water in general helps stave off impulsive choices while you seek out nutritious choices on-the-go.
Instead of contributing to the vicious circle, bone up on the basic stuff that helps you maintain your sanity and creates results you can see. And if you’re really ready to commit, let Noom help you shape these habits and keep them for life.
