Info overload where do I start?? Lose weight, less carbs, circuit training, bur-pees???
Okay so you have decided to start a health kick and you're ready to go, so jump on the net and type in “best ways to lose weight”. And you could spend weeks upon weeks scrolling through the results and be even more confused than when you started. So here are some tips and tricks to avoid getting overwhelmed and where to start when you make that big first fantastic step to becoming healthier.
Depending on your current health, I always recommend getting a check-up from your doctor. And if you are going to start attending a gym and have a few health conditions, make sure you get a doctor’s clearance.
Firstly, start with your goals, why are you doing this? It is very easy to be motivated the first couple of weeks when you implement a behaviour change, but once that motivation wanes you need to remember why you first started. I always suggest going with SMART goals.
Specific: Make sure when you set a goal it's specific, i.e. I want to lose 10kg because my doctor recommended it by my birthday (in 2 months)
Measurable: Can it be measured? If it's over a time frame set up small measurable goals along the way, i.e. in 1 month I want to be down 5kg.
Achievable: Is it realistic and achievable? Goals must be achievable, you aren’t saying you will lose 25kg in 2 months, it's unhealthy and unachievable.
Relevant/Realistic: Is reaching this goal relevant to you? Why do you want to reach this goal, what is the objective behind the goal?
Time: How long will your goal take? Consider the realistic time taken to reach the goal, not the increments measured.
I find writing things down and having a clear perspective on what you want to achieve very helpful. Another trick is talking to someone about your goals and making yourself accountable for them. It's easy to sweep something under the rug if no one knows you're doing it. Also never go by just the scales, I always recommend taking measurements, finding clothing that you want to get back into (and no not from 25 years ago) and photos useful in showing your progress.
And finally the D-word, DIET. So I won't go too much into this because although I have a good nutrition base, I leave this to the experts i.e. the dietitians. But I will give a little bit of a recommendation. Stop following fads, we need a combination of fats, protein and carbohydrates to function. Any diet that massively has any of these cut out is not good for you. Everything should be eaten in moderation and if you find yourself with complex dietary demands seek help.
If you are unsure where to start and need some help and guidance contact us today!
margi@treatmerightrehab.com.au 0410 697 392
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