Weight Loss: Are You Ready To Slim Down?

If you’re overweight, you want to lose weight not only so you’ll be more attractive, but also so that you’ll be healthier and will have more energy. However, often dieters start a new weight loss program, and then give it up. They haven’t taken the time to ask themselves whether they’re ready to make changes in their life.

In my profession as a nutritionist, I see many people who say they want to lose weight, but haven’t considered exactly what the process will involve.

Ask yourself some simple questions: the ones I would ask. Your answers will tell you a great deal about your state of mind, and whether you’re ready to dive into a new weight loss program.

1. Are you willing to change your diet? To lose weight, you’ll need to eat a healthy diet, which includes lots of fruits and vegetables, and lean meat and fish. This means changes in the way you shop, and in the way you prepare food and in mealtimes.

2. Will you make time for exercise? Yes, you can lose weight without exercising, but developing an exercise program will stand you in good stead for life. Exercise relieves stress, and stress leads many people to overeat. You need to make time for at least 20 minutes of exercise a day, every day.

3. Can you commit to keeping a food journal, so that you know exactly what you’re eating? It’s easy to develop unconscious habits in what you consume each day. Perhaps you eat very little, but even that little adds pounds, if you’re eating a lot of sugary and fatty foods. You need to be willing to track each meal, and snack.

4. Can you commit to taking time for yourself each day? Often we put on weight as a way of comforting ourselves. We eat to relieve stress. There are better ways to enjoy yourself. Think about the things you like to do (or used to do) which don’t involve food.

5. Can you commit to changing your image of yourself? We all carry around an image of who we are. To lose weight, you need to change your mental image to that of a slim, healthy person. Being attractive can be stressful — your expectations go up. If you’re not yet ready for that, be aware of this.

Losing weight will change you. It will also change people’s reaction to you. Often slimmers report that their partners and family don’t seem to like the changes. You can’t lose weight for others. You can only lose weight for yourself. However, you should be ready for others’ reactions to the new you.

What were your responses to the questions? Are you ready to lose weight? Only you know what your answers were, and whether you’re ready to commit to changes in your life.

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