Micromanaging the journey to weight loss

Micromanaging the journey to weight loss

Something is as simple as ABCD, but losing weight isn't one of them. People have tried different ways, different weight loss plans and different exercise plans to lose weight and there is simply no hard and fast rule to it. However, I think everyone agrees that weight gain and subsequent weight loss depend on both food intake and calorie production, or better calorie intake and calorie production.

Some people have actually set themselves up for their desired weight, not only keeping track of what they eat and what they contain, but also how they burn it off through exercise and the motivation to stick to the plan.

Below are some strategies you can use to get in shape:

Be realistic

This simply means setting goals that you can achieve. When you first start exercising, running, or walking, don't initially try to do everything in one day. Set reasonable goals like: I'll start today with a 30-minute walk or brisk walk. Depending on how things are going, it will then be increased by 5 minutes every 2 days. Having a defined place or number that we want to achieve helps in achieving goals and not giving up on them. For example, today I will run on the treadmill for 45 minutes at level 10 or I will lift 10 kg of dumbbells. 3 sets of ten is much easier to achieve than saying I'm going to run on the treadmill until I'm tired.

Avoid temptations

This is easy to say but difficult to do. This involves avoiding situations that cause you to break away from your already defined eating routine. Things like going to a friend's birthday party, going to the movies with friends, or just hanging out. You must prepare before you set out, or don't go at all. You need to have a plan about what you will eat and the response you will give when offered food so that you don't seem rude or decide to indulge just once. The last one is dangerous because you either pamper yourself more often or decide that since you've already broken your rule, you might as well pamper yourself all the way.

Stick to your plan

It is much better to lose weight by eating smaller frequent meals than eating 3 large meals. The biggest problem with the six frequent meals is compliance. So again, what you do is plan your feeding for the day in advance and bring any food or snacks that you eat so that when you get hungry you don't take what you see. Another good strategy is to buy smaller plates. When you eat, you can feel your plate and only have that, which doesn't help for seconds.

Weigh yourself regularly

The idea is to keep you focused on what you are doing and why you are doing it. It also helps you monitor your progress and nothing is as motivating as the expected results. However, if you climb on the scale and find that you've gained weight, still stay in check. At least then you'll know there's more work to be done and go through your grocery list to see what should be eliminated.

Measure input and output

This essentially involves tracking the calorie content of the foods you eat and the calories you burn while exercising. Well, I will say that it is a bit difficult, especially if you are just starting out. Sometimes you just don't know how to figure out the calories in a meal, but most restaurants, especially in New York, come around and list the calorie content on the menu. Measuring what you burn is easier for the machine. I don't think anyone builds an exercise machine these days without giving you a digital view of the calories you're burning.

The process of weight loss is a journey that is always in progress for some people, but micromanaging your strategy turns it into a destination. The input-output graph helps you figure out when to increase or decrease a part of the equation and this will help you reach your final goal. Putting your finger on every aspect of your weight loss is a strategy that is very productive if you put your mind to it.

Inspired by Jessica Potisto