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Tips to Stay On Top of Your 2008 Weight Loss Resolutions!

As the new year is underway, we set to start it off strong, being positive and full of energy. We’ve made the resolutions to lose weight and keep it off, now comes the start of the conquest to fulfill those resolutions…

The momentum starting off a new year is always high and admirably strong towards achieving those weight loss goals. Yet somehow, many of us end up getting bogged down by the struggles and challenges of daily life and begin to lose some of that steam as the year progresses. So how do we continue to challenge ourselves, push ourselves and ensure that we still work to fulfill those resolutions of conquering our weight loss battles?

I’ve compiled some of my favourite tips to stay on top of weight loss goals, stay motivated, and make “easy-to-do” lifestyle changes that will positively impact your goals:

Motivation to Work Out

• Make a schedule; schedule your workouts as appointments, you’re more likely to stick to them when you see it on your “to do list”
• Challenge yourself to decrease your chances of getting bored with a workout (i.e. if you walk for 30 min. a day, add flexing your glutes one day and flexing your abs the next, during your walks)
• Find an activity you love doing and DO IT MORE FREQUENTLY!
• Think of that “glow” you feel after a great workout, think of how wonderful you feel when you’ve accomplished that session…using this, push yourself to exercise on days you feel you cannot

Simple Diet Changes

• Start eating a side of veggies at every meal
• Give yourself at least 20 minutes to eat every meal, and eat slower…when you feel you are getting full – STOP! and pack the rest for later
• Decrease your portion sizes; don’t put more on your plate than you really need
• Trim fat in the diet by making better choices – trim the skin off poultry, use non-stick pans instead of heavy oil to prevent sticking during cooking, use vinaigrette instead of regular salad dressings, bake or broil foods as opposed to deep-frying

Staying Positive and Not Giving Up

• Set realistic goals and give yourself time to achieve them
• Acknowledge the amount of time you will need to commit in order to (a) lose weight, and (b) learn how to make lifestyle changes to keep it off
• Make a list of reasons you want to lose weight, and when you feel down or like you cannot go on anymore, re-read that list to remind yourself

To Your Success!