Behavior and Weight Loss

Your behavior and attitude plays a huge role in your weight loss. There is no way your weight loss program can succeed, and there is certainly no way you can maintain weight loss if you do not align your behaviors, attitudes, and habits with your weight loss goals. It was these behaviors and habits that got you to your current weight, and you will have to change them to see any progress at your weight loss program. And you will have to make lifestyle changes to maintain this weight loss.

How motivated are you for weight loss? Are you truly ready to make a permanent lifestyle change? Readiness is an extremely important consideration before initiating a weight loss attempt. Your chances of success are greatly reduced if you are only mildly interested in losing weight.

As you think about readiness, remember that it is actually easier to lose weight than it is to keep it off. You should be in this for the long term. Carefully examine the sacrifices you will have to make to succeed. Ask yourself if you are ready to devote the time and energy required over the weeks, months and years to come.

Other readiness factors that should be considered are your attitude towards physical activity and your current support system. It is important that you are willing to not only change your eating habits, but also become more active. Having a support network to provide the healthy environment for weight loss will be beneficial. Ultimately it is up to you. If you are highly motivated to make a permanent lifestyle change, then your chances of success are good.

But just because you have decided to make these changes doesn't meant that they will be instituted over night. Keep in mind that lapses are ok- they are perfectly natural and can (and will) happen to anyone trying to improve their behavior and their weight. Remember though that lapses are not excuses. One mistake does not justify taking the whole day off from your weigh loss plan (i.e. "I already had an order of fries, I'll just get dessert too- I mean my diet is already ruined"). These little set backs don't do quite as much damage as you may imagine, and if you reset your attitude, you will feel better about your mistake.

Also, you should be prepared for plateaus. A plateau in your exercise program is when you maintain a steady weight for an amount of time and your plan seems to have stalled. This is normal, it is your body adjusting to your new plan. These plateaus can be incredibly frustrating, and usually they require that you tweak your diet and/or exercise plan. This may mean cutting calories a little bit further, or engaging in new, possibly more demanding, exercise routines. It may just mean that your exercise routine needs a little shaking up. Stay positive, try hard, and continue to remind yourself of the progress you have made so far. Keep your goals in mind and keep going!