Is there anybody who has ever had to lose weight and never tried the "Monday Diet?" It is probably the most popular diet attempted by everybody who needed or decided to lose weight at some time in their lives. In our desperation, we have hope that some kind of magic diet, pill, rule or recipe will help us achieve our goal and achieve it fast! You and I both know that this is not possible - and if you do experience rapid weight loss, you better know that what you lost is going to come back just as fast as it left you and with some added fat to make it a little harder to get rid of the buggers next time round.Throughout the years, after trying myriad diets doomed to fail, I came to realize that before starting anything, I myself need to process it and internalize that something is wrong and that something needs to be done. Hence, through trial and error over the years, I finally concocted a "recipe" that works for me when I apply it to a tee.
Acceptance
First and foremost, you need to accept that you have a problem or something you need to improve. Facing the mirror of truth and seeing everything as it actually is, accepting it, is sometimes easier said than done. Sometimes the truth may be too painful to face, let alone accept. Yet this is an essential ingredient, because without it, you will not be able to reach the finish line.
Determination
So you have finally accepted that things need to change. But you will not get far without determination. Determination is what will keep you going even when you feel your worst and it seems like nothing you do is working. Despite losing weight then gaining it back many a time, I still do the same thing: I want to hurry with the weight loss already and get in to shape as soon as possible. In most cases, "as soon as possible" is not a month or two, it cannot be - it shouldn't be! When it comes to gaining the weight we only start noticing it after the first couple of kilos. And if we ignore it, months later or by the end of the year, we end up with a hefty problem: Very noticeable weight gain. So it's okay that it took months, years, and in some cases a lifetime, to gain all the weight, but when it comes to losing it, we want all the extra meat on our bones gone overnight - or in a few weeks. Let's face it, it's not going to happen. It might just be that despite starting a workout program, changing your eating habits, choosing to climb the stairs instead of taking the elevator, parking your car a little further away so you can walk the extra distance, et cetera, you cannot seem to lose any weight. It might be that although you were very careful for the last couple of weeks, you gave into your cravings and dug your teeth into that Big Mac.
It's okay. It is not the end of the world. What's done is done. All you need to do is resume your healthy lifestyle plan from where you left off. Do not postpone it to Monday. Do not throw in the towel, because it is your determination to continue that will be the breaking point here. Regardless of the extra calories consumed or the workout sessions you skipped, there is nothing stopping you from continuing with what you set out to do. Nonetheless, what is most discouraging is that although you feel you have done so much, struggled so hard - for a couple weeks - that when you hopped on the scales, you were sure there would be a change, but to no avail. I know how this feels - I had mentioned in last week's article. I know how it feels to have to cut yourself out of a dress that "fits" worse than before you started your healthy lifestyle program. Believe me, I have been there. I literally grabbed a pair of scissors and cut one of my favorite dresses off me, because I was stuck in it, because I had not slimmed down like I thought I did - just because I was working hard to undo the damage I caused over a year within a matter of weeks. But honestly, I am determined to do this, to make the change. So a little cheat meal or cheat day is not going to deter me. I might just eat lighter the next meal or over the next few days or simply be a little more active for the next couple of days to make up for it.
Starting
It is not merely a matter of accepting the problem, then being determined to do something about it. You actually need to take the step. The more you postpone, the more you plan, the later you will start - if you ever do. Procrastination is your enemy. If you made the decision at midnight, so be it. Start acting accordingly from that moment onward.
Adopting new habits
If you are in a position where you need to make a change, you already know that what you have been doing has not been working wonders for you. Therefore, a change is necessary. You need to let go of old habits and adopt new ones. It is a gradual process. Do not make hardcore changes at once and expect them to stick.
Make small changes such as reducing the amount of sugar you take in your tea or coffee. Do a few squats or crunches while watching TV or as soon as you wake up in the morning - it will only take up 5-10 minutes of your time. You will see over time that every little bit counts.
Commitment
There really is no "special recipe" to losing weight. You just need to be committed to making changes and sticking to them. You first need to set your mind in the right direction and your actions will follow. Do not give up, stay committed and I assure you, change will follow.
