The most common mistake we make when trying to lose weight is to fall into “diet mentality”.
It is almost second nature to me. If I want to lose weight, I do some drastic diet for a limited time – white knuckling my way through.
And, it works!
Until I go back to eating the same way as I did before. Then, the weight just comes back (and brings a few extra pounds along for the ride).
To lose the weight AND KEEP IT OFF, you can’t resort to “diet mentality”.
You have to change the way you think about food.
But, more importantly…. you have to start where you are.
If you are eating out 5 days a week for lunch, it is not a realistic plan to think you can switch to salads every single day for lunch.
Start where you are, and then make small changes. Maybe eat out only 3 days a week, and bring your lunch 2 days.
If you eat an entire sleeve of your favorite cookies every time you open a box, it is not a realistic plan to think you can eat just one.
Start where you are, and then make small changes. Maybe pull 5 cookies out this time, and put the rest away.
If you snack before you go to bed every night, it is not a realistic plan to think you can just stop overnight.
Start where you are, and then make small changes. Maybe eat only half of what you would normally eat each night.
Start where you are.
Make a realistic plan for yourself.
Changing habits takes time. But, changed habits last for a lifetime.
