Far too many of us fall victim to the trend of ‘crash diets’ and this often results in us believing that dieting is difficult or that there is no point to dieting as you regain the weight faster than you lost it during the course of the diet.
Most people who are looking to loose weight try every diet under the sun but as soon as they leave the diet they begin to regain the weight, the reason for this is that dieting is not a quick fix and any of these quick fix diets which are available are simply not effective as they do not have a permanent effect.
The only way for you to loose weight so that the effects are permanent is to make gradual lifestyle changes and dietary changes in your life and to apply them on a daily basis. Just remember that no matter how small the steps are which you take at first, they will bring you closer to achieving your goal one step at a time and in a consistent manner which is far more sustainable than taking giant leaps for short periods of time.
This is exactly the same principle which I teach to my students who are on the Kaizen-Wealth Program, as this concept is applicable to every single area of our lives. By gradually making small but consistent changes we are able to achieve results which are far greater than our original dreams and when it comes to weight loss this principle is exceptionally effective.
The only way to achieve effective weight loss and to be able to maintain it is by using this principle (Kaizen Principle) where you gradually introduce changes to your lifestyle on a consistent basis which will help you to achieve your goal.
Now many of you might be thinking “But this sounds as if it could be tough!” well this need not be the case. Often the hardest part is to get yourself to take that first step, thereafter the next step often comes as if by second nature and you begin to move forward one step at a time, but at least you are advancing towards your goal.
By advancing gradually in this way, one is able to avoid shocking your system with instant major changes and you are able to introduce the changes gradually and the body will be more willing to accept them. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that you will need to leave all the things which you love to eat behind, but rather change the way in which you go about it.
Here are a few tips which might help you to get started down the road to a leaner and healthier you:
1. Walk more – Many people find it difficult to follow a regular exercise routine, especially when they are not used to regular exercise, well walking is the answer. Although walking does not always feel as if it is a strenuous exercise, it is one of the healthiest past times you could possibly indulge in.
The great part is that by simply parking further away from the shopping center, taking the stairs or having an afternoon chat while walking with your neighbor you will already be making an enormous difference to your exercise quota. Walking is one of the easiest ways to begin to get back into shape as it does not feel like routine exercise.
2. Cut down on fats – When selecting which milk to buy, select either low fat or skimmed milk. This way you are still getting the nutrition which your body requires from milk but without all of the fatty content which is of no benefit to you.
3. Water the wonder drink – Far too many people see soda as a form of hydration, when in fact it does very little to hydrate the body and even less as a cleansing source. The fact of the matter is that the majority of the world’s population drinks far too little water. You should try to get at least 2 liters of water in per day in its pure form. Soda is the number one offender when it comes to effective weight loss. Water is far more effective as it cleanses the body and carries essential vitamins and so forth to different parts of the body. The great thing is that it carries no calories.
4. Portion your portions – We all seem to think that more is better as this is the mentality which the media and corporate worlds like to feed to us, but their motives are not in our best interest but rather those of their financial standings.
We have been so programmed to believe that a bigger portion is equal to better value for your money, but what about your health? By simply dividing your portions into smaller portions, you will still get the nutrient value which you need but be able to limit the amount you consume.
Try to start your meals with a glass of water, try to be sure that half of your portion is vegetables, a quarter protein and a quarter carbohydrates.
5. Desserts are a treat – Try to limit your dessert intake to special occasions, by doing this you will greatly reduce your intake of calories and it will also be good for your sugar levels. If you want to snack, rather keep healthy snacks in the house so as to avoid these types of temptations.
By applying the Kaizen Principle of small but consistent improvement you will find that by introducing strategies such as these on a consistent basis into your lifestyle, you will be able to achieve your weight loss goals more consistently and in a way which will have permanent results. Is our health not more important than our effort after all?