With nearly half the US population overweight or obese, how to lose weight healthy way remains a popular topic on many people’s minds.
We’ve all heard of fad diets, weight loss drugs like Ozempic, and of course, weight loss surgery. But what about those of us who prefer not to go that route for weight loss?
Is it possible to lose weight healthy way without dishing out money or undergoing a procedure? As someone who lost 100 pounds all on my own in one year, I can assure you that it is.
Natural weight loss is possible and all it takes is the decision to start. Keep reading to learn my 5 tips for losing weight healthy way on your own.
5 Tips to Lose Weight Healthy Way
1. Start Slow
There are plenty of weight loss programs available that offer miraculous results in no more than a month or less. While these programs may indeed produce awesome results, they all have one thing in common: they’re not sustainable.
Yes, eating nothing but chicken breast and doing grueling workouts everyday for 30 days straight will help you shed weight quickly. But you’ll likely gain it all back just as quickly once those 30 days are up.
Weight loss programs like these are great for a quick fix, but they don’t teach you how to keep the weight off in the real world. Losing weight healthy way and keeping it off for good requires long term lifestyle changes.
These changes take longer than a month to fully set in and generally aren’t sustainable if they are forced onto you.
2. Start With One Goal at a Time
Start slow by focusing on one health goal at a time. First, identify some of your worst habits that are preventing you from losing weight.
Do you spend more time sitting and scrolling than moving your body? Are you reaching for dessert after every meal? Drinking too much wine and snacking late at night on the weekends? Drinking more sodas than water?
Choose one bad habit to work on at a time, then build up to changing your other bad habits. For example, if you drink too much soda, make your first goal to switch to nothing but water and other non-caloric drinks.
Try this out for a month, long enough for you to get used to the idea of not reaching for sodas during the day. Once you got this down, start tackling another goal.
Maybe that means going for a 30-minute walk everyday on your lunch break or choosing an apple over the chocolate chip cookies served daily in your favorite lunch spot.
Starting with just one goal then slowly building up to working towards other health goals makes change easier on your body and mind. You’ll be less overwhelmed and less likely to revert to old habits.
3. Move More
A major key to lose weight healthy way and keep it off is to move more daily. Yes, daily, not just a few times in the gym each week.
What this means is you need to find more ways to move throughout the day beyond what your regular workout schedule is. Move more by taking short walks when and wherever you can.
Pace back and forth while talking on the phone. Do more work around the house or offer to run errands for your home or office.
Studies show that people who fidget or move more daily tend to be leaner. Even a little bit of extra movement per day can add up to big results.
4. Establish Exercise Routine
You can’t expect to lose weight healthy way and keep it off without establishing a regular exercise routine. Although more movement daily should be a top goal, regular workouts are also important.
Getting your heart rate up at least a few times a week is essential for building fitness and strength. Fortunately, to start, you don’t need to do anything too crazy.
Going for a 30-minute walk at least 3 days a week is a great start for someone just beginning their weight loss journey. Keep in mind that walking should be at a brisk pace, not just shuffling your feet.
Whatever kind of exercise you choose to do, do it consistently. You may want to get used to your new workout schedule by starting with just one workout session per week then building up to three.
Get used to making movement and exercise part of your life because staying active is key for maintaining your weight loss. After a while, working out won’t seem so much of a chore.
It will become a natural part of your week, just like going grocery shopping, checking the mail, or brushing your teeth.
5. Keep Going
Once you’ve established new healthy habits such as nixing problem eating behaviors or establishing a workout routine, keep it going. Understand that there are always ways you can improve and become fitter.
This will be true even once you’ve reached your weight loss goals. There are always ways you can optimize your health and fitness routine.
Doing so not only helps you get in better shape, it also keeps things interesting. When you keep things interesting and push yourself towards new goals, you’re less likely to revert back to old habits.
Plus, you never know what kind of opportunities or surprises await you when exploring something new or improving yourself in some new way.
Lose Weight Healthy Way Today
Weight loss takes time but there is no time like the present. If natural weight loss is your goal, then get to it!
The sooner you start, the less you will regret not starting sooner. Trust me on this. Losing weight and getting healthy will open up so many doors for you in terms of confidence, happiness, and an overall better sense of well-being.
Nothing feels better than crushing your goals and treating your body right. So start now by taking the first step towards creating a healthier, happier you.
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Thanks for reading! If you’d like to hear more about my weight loss story, check out my book 1 Year 100 Pounds.
Also, be sure to follow me on Instagram, Tik Tok, and YouTube for weight loss tips and workout motivation!
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Read more about Whitney’s 100 pound weight loss at 14. Learn how she transformed her life and follow her tips for how you can do it too.
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