New Year's Weight Loss Tips

With the New Year approaching quickly it is time to make our resolutions. The number one New Years resolution in the United States involves weight loss. With America being the "fattest" country this only seems natural to be number one on our list. What is a resolution exactly? A resolution is a process of resolving something such as a problem. The keyword we must remember as 2009 lingers is process. If one has made the choice to lose weight they must remember it will not fall off over night, nor will it hesitate to return if one goes back to their former lifestyle.

Perhaps previous attempts at loosing weight at the beginning of new years haven't worked for you; don't be discouraged. A new year means a fresh start, a chance to forget what happened before and start anew. For your attempt to be successful you must begin to plan the process weeks before the New Year approaches. You must prepare your mind and body for the incredible transformation that it is about to go through.

How to Prepare for Weight Loss:

Step 1 Get Real

This will happen. You can and will lose weight, there is nothing to it! However, you must be dedicated and ready to transform your entire lifestyle. Sound scary? Not as scary as being overweight, developing diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, having strokes, or heart attacks, or even dying.

Focus. Use your subconscious to play as your own personal drill sergeant and ask yourself: Are you ready? Are you ready to lose that fat and feel better about yourself?

Don't be too hard on yourself, but don't be a wimp! Those pounds didn't get there by themselves and they aren't going to go away by themselves. You put them there, you can take them off! Temptations seem to surround those who are trying to sustain. You must be ready to hang on tight once you have jumped on the weight loss band wagon and enjoy the ride. When you scrumptious piece of pie, don't eat it. When you feel like staying home instead of going to the gym, just go work out. Nike couldn't have said it any better, just do it!

Adjust your mind from its current thought process to a completely new view on food. Food is fuel for your body. Food can be appetizing and filling while still being healthy and nutritional. Unhealthy foods are poison to your body, and you no longer have any use for them in your life.

Step 2: Get a Journal

That's right, the handy dandy journal making use of it self once again. There really is no better way to record and keep track of your transformation than traditional pen and paper! As soon as you make the decision to lose weight it is good to do a little research. After all, what you think you know about food has not helped you thus far so why not learn a little more useful facts? Have your journal ready and make a section with quick facts and tips. For example, make a page dedicated to snacks. If you feel yourself getting hungry its best to know what snacks are filling and healthy ahead of time, rather than letting your growling belly choose the first thing it sees in the kitchen.

Also, record your goals. Try to avoid the habitual "lose 75 pounds by March" method. This usually doesn't work, and many people keep going back to this even after this approach didn't work out for them. If that goal isn't met than discouragement takes place and if the goal is met you may feel like your transformation is finalized. Effective weight loss goals should be long term as well as short and realistic. Do not over generalize because you may lose your mission along the way. Be specific enough to see your accomplishments through the process. For example, an effective goal to stick with may be to lose 1-2 ponds a week. However, because there is no end stated your victory may never be reached. This is when a realistic goal is set for a specific time period. Use the end of each month as your victory points. Some examples of this goal would be: by the end of the month lose 7 ponds, stick with my meal plan, cook 5 healthy dishes that I have never tried before, and visit the gym 8 times.

Use your journal to record your thoughts and feelings too. When you get angry, grab a banana and write about it. When you achieve a goal grab an apple and write about it. Date your pages and include current your weight.

Step 3: Research

The most effective tool when loosing weight is knowledge. When you know how to eat your resolution will become much simpler to fulfill. The Internet may be a very helpful tool during your quest, but do not forget about the many people in your community who are filled with the knowledge you wish to obtain. Schedule an appointment with a dietician to discuss healthy eating habits. Visit your local organic grocery store, and if you are as lucky as I am, chat with the owner or experienced employees. Usually these people are educated about topics such as nutrition, natural foods, and healthy living and they will be more than happy to help you.

Do not worry about calorie, fat, and carb counting. This method will be of no use to you when you are eating healthy foods. After you research what is good and what is bad those numbers will only be a waste of your time. Find foods that you like and don't be afraid to try some new foods. Keep a variety of healthy foods available to you at home so you are not found wandering to the store to pick up a candy bar. Aside from researching healthy foods, take a look at the other spectrum, unhealthy foods. Find out how bad those cheeseburgers were for you, and tell yourself there is no need to put foods like that into your body. Learn all you can, and arm yourself with knowledge.

Step 4: Prepare your Body

You shouldn't wake up and roll out of bed on January 1 2009 and say "OK, here I go, I'm dieting now." It won't work; I repeat "It will not work!" It's always a good idea to start the preparation for your journey ahead of time. The holidays are a though time to diet, but start small. Instead of having 2 pieces of cake just have one small piece. Simple steps like this will allow you to be ready for what is to come. Allow yourself one sweet for the week, and don't back down. Do not get second helpings for dinner, settle for just one round. Drink lots of water. Water will begin to purify your body and help battle those toxins that you are adding to it.

About 5-6 days before January first get rid of the junk food in your home. Send it home with friends and family, donate it, do whatever you have to do even if it means throwing it out. I am not a "waster" but junk food needs to be out of sight from this time forward. During that week before New Years eliminate red meats from your diet completely. Red meats will clog your body and hinder its ability to burn fats and calories. Try and stick with a fruit and vegetable diet only. If you must have meat, try and eat fish. Salmon, shrimp, and tilapia are some great examples of filling and nutritional meats. If possible grill the fish in light oils, and if you must have butter use a low fat alternative such as Smart Balance.

Step 5: Reward Yourself

Give credit where credit is due. If all goals that were set in place were accomplished give yourself a reward. Perhaps a trip to the spa, a sweater you have had your eye on, or even a day of relaxation just reading a book. If you are reward driven include details about the "prize" in your journal. Buying clothes is a great reward when loosing weight because each month you may be able to buy smaller sizes! Tell your friends of the idea, if you are a social person, and plan to have special nights out with them when certain goals are met.

Step 6: Reinvent Habitual Thinking

Bad eating habits are hard to break, but when replaced by new and improved habits they can be forgotten. Replace those cookies with apples, sitting with running, and you will soon be on your way of reconstructing your habits. In order to replace bad habits they must first be recognized. Ask friends and family to point out anything that you do, primarily out of habit that is unhealthy. Maybe you skip breakfast or routinely enjoy midnight snacks; whatever your habits find them so they can be broken.

Once a new routine is formed these new healthy eating habits will erase those that were unhealthy. It will become second nature to go for a walk rather than watching television and an apple will become as tasty as a candy bar.

Step 7: Outdo Yourself

By the middle of 2009 you are going to be feeling great. You will have more energy, a better understanding of your body's needs, and a whole new approach to life. Just when you think your job is done, a whole new journey begins. After loosing weight many have a hard time keeping it off primarily because they fall victim to temptations. They begin thinking that one snack here and there won't be a big deal because they have lost so much weight. Wrong! You have to leave those habits back in your former life. There is no room for junk in your life now, put it down!

To avoid these temptations, push yourself once again. When you reach your set goals make more and when you think you can't feel any better challenge yourself to go even further. Instead of jogging one mile every day bump it up to two or increase your exercise routine by 15 minutes. Go above and beyond and strive for perfection, this will leave no room to falter. Bigger accomplishments mean bigger rewards, so treat yourself to something BIG. Maybe at the end of the year take a cruise or buy a car!

Keeping a mind set of "go big, or go home" will push you when you may start to stray back the other direction.

Step 8: Become a Mentor

Once your life is on a healthy track offer to coach and mentor others who may be struggling with weight. You can be an important asset in their success, and the feeling of helping others will only boost your progress to another step in your journey. Form a group and meet once or twice a week. Go over eating habits and exercise together regularly. Support is great, but when you are leading the pack pressure to keep up the good work will keep you going.

I wish you all the best along your journey and hope that you are empowered to change our life next year. Aside from these steps above if you want to loose weight all you have to do is eat right. It sounds so simple, yet can be a great challenge for some. Reality is once you start eating right consistently it becomes routine and you won't think of it as a chore. I do recommend eliminating red meats, if not all meats, from your diet. Eat fruits and vegetables daily. Swap out dairy products for substitutes such as rice and soy products. And finally keep plenty of nutritious snacks at home. For some great recipe ideas visit: www.vegcooking.com