So, you started off your weight loss journey full of motivation and resolve, but now you’ve hit a plateau. If your healthy eating has slipped a little, or you’ve put on a few pounds, try these tips to get yourself back on track.
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can start today. Start with your next meal, make it healthy and nutritious and you’ll already start feeling better.
Don’t skip meals. Eating regularly keeps hunger pangs at bay and helps prevent unhealthy snacking and sugar urges.
Reduce the sweet drinks. Sugary drinks can pile on the calories. Go sugar free and choose water, hot drinks with sugar-free sweeteners, or diet fizzy drinks.
Cut out alcohol. Alcohol is high in calories and also increases the appetite. Try cutting it out for a few weeks, and then make sure you have alcohol free days during the week to keep on track.
Plan ahead. Making a weekly meal plan might seem like a bit of a hassle at the beginning, but it will set your intention and make it easier to make healthy choices. And, once you’ve got into the habit of planning ahead, it will save you time, and even money.
Pile on the veggies. An easy way to cut the calories and fill yourself up is to increase the amount of vegetables and salad on your plate. Just make sure you don’t add a high calorie dressing on top!
Pack a lunch. Taking your lunch to work makes it much easier to stick to healthy choices.
Get moving. Regular exercise is a great way to boost your energy, improve your mood, and help shift those extra pounds. Start by taking a ten-minute walk after meals, walk to work, take the stairs, anything to get your heart beating a little faster.
Get SMART. Make your goals work for you by making them Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely. For example, instead of ‘I will exercise more’, say “I will walk for 10 minutes each day Monday to Friday”.
Change the things you can. You can’t change everything, and you’re not expected to! Focus on the quick wins and the things you can control. Once you have a few of these under your belt, you’ll be ready to tackle the rest.
Remember, long term weight loss takes time and requires you to make permanent changes in your lifestyle and health habits. Everyone slips at times, but it’s easy to get back on track with a few simple steps. Believe in yourself, you can do it!
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/ heart-matters-magazine/nutrition/weight/quick-fixes
DAR-0291 RevA