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How To Avoid The Most Common Weight Loss Pitfalls

By Jago Holmes

Dieting and weight loss is becoming a constant topic in the media. Television programmes about losing weight are ratings winners as the recent celebrity fit club proved. Obesity is a very real problem which is escalating rapidly in this country.

Years of life will be lost through this apparently minor problem which can be so easily fixed, it just takes a little effort and commitment. But how can you make sure that you succeed and acheive that successful long term weight loss.

I’ll tell you how, here is how my clients avoid the most common weight loss pitfalls:

  1. Support and encouragement. There are a number of ways in which you can make sure that you are encouraged and supported whilst trying to lose weight. During the initial stages of a weight loss programme you will at some stage question your motives, your dedication, your real need to lose weight. So how you give yourself the best chances of acheiving weight loss. My advice is to start with a group of friends. One friend is not enough because if that friend gives up you are left on your own. Group weight loss is an effective way to lose weight as the large slimming companies have proved. Alternatively use a personal trainer or check out the local gyms to see if they have any weight loss programmes, you will then get professional support and this type of support is probably the best. Asking a partner to support you is not the best option as their expectations may be much higher than your actual results leading to arguments, bitterness and resentment.

  2. Allow yourself the odd treat. Failure is not falling down it is staying down, just because you have succumbed to the occasional chocolate bar or an evening of binge drinking shouldn’t spell disaster for you. Always remember, be good most of the time and the odd treat will do you no harm at all or affect your weight loss efforts. These treats are best structured in to your week so that you only have them when you have planned to as opposed to eating a bag of crisps when you feel fed up or drinking in order to relieve stress.

  3. Enjoy losing weight. Choose activities that you enjoy or can at least tolerate. Choosing activities that you hate just in order to bring about weight loss will only result in failure. You are more likely to resent what are doing and will be thinking of the time when you don’t have to do it any more. Remember, fitness and good health should be for life not just for a short time. Your progress will regress if you stop doing what you are doing.

  4. Don’t give yourself a completion date. You should never finish. That is not to say you shouldn’t set yourself targets because this is a very important process. Giving yourself a finish date is basically giving yourself a green light to gain back all the weight loss you have acheived.

  5. Set yourself realistic weight loss targets. Write them down preferably with someone else, a friend, partner or relative. Your weight loss targets should be specific and time framed, but above all realistic, if for example, you have gained weight over a period of years, then it is very unrealistic to expect to lose that weight in weeks. If you don’t know where you are going then you will never reach that destination.

  6. Be patient, give yourself a chance. Changes to your body shape need to be brought about gradually so your body can adapt and get used its new shape. Weight loss that is acheived too rapidly will only lead to gaining it back again as quickly should you stop your efforts. Another major reason for gradual weight loss is that your skin will shrink back with you as opposed to hanging loosely. If you are left with loose skin after weight loss, be patient it will pull back, but it may take some time. Experts suggest following weight loss your skin will continue to gradually shrink back for up to two years. If after that you are still left with any loose skin your only probable option would be surgery.

One thing I can say is that without exception all our clients who acheive successful long term weight loss say that the effort it takes is well worth it. You will look better, feel better, gain confidence, feel younger and have more energy, and finally live longer, that’s been scientifically proven.

About the Author:

Jago Holmes is a fully qualified YMCA personal trainer, registered on the REPS scheme, with 3 exclusive one to one studios, specialising in weight loss. He can be contacted via his website www.anewimage.co.uk