On January 1, most of us commit ourselves to lose [fill-in-the-blank] pounds by the next new year. I know I have made the same goal to lose 10 pounds every year for as long as I could remember. Each year I fail.
I tried Weight Watchers, low-carb fad diets, low-fat fad diets, metabolism diets, and cleanses. All I have learned is that following a diet for the rest of my life just isn’t sustainable. Sure, I like aspects of many of the diets I tried and they do work if you stick to them. But adhering to a diet over time is hard!
So what’s going to be different this year? This time, I made the same new year’s resolution to lose 10 pounds but I set different goals to succeed. Do you want to lose some weight this year too? No matter the number, I believe there are only 5 areas we need to focus on to achieve our weight-loss goal.
Step 1 – Drink More Water
Staying well-hydrated is so important and not just for weight loss. I struggle with drinking enough water each day. I started using my self-care tracker to log my daily water intake. You can get your free copy by signing up below:
When I am out, I plan to log my water intake in this phone app which offers both free and premium versions.
Step 2 – Don’t Eat After Dinner
Intermittent fasting may be popular right now but I have no intention of confining all my eating to a window of time throughout the day or severely restricting my calories two days per week.
However, I do think it’s a good idea to stop eating and snacking after my last meal of the day. If I get hungry during this mini-fast, I will follow Step 1 and drink more water!
Step 3 – Move More
Exercise is very important, especially when you are over 50 years old. I want to make sure I get at least 30 minutes of activity most days of the week.
So, your weekly schedule may look like this: two days of cardio, two days of strength training, one day of walking or jogging, one day of stretching, and one day of rest.
Now this schedule may not work for you. Maybe you prefer jumping rope at home, walking in a park, or attending a yoga class. Maybe you can only commit to exercise three days a week. If that’s the case, that’s fine! I say do whatever you enjoy and fits your schedule. As long as you increase your activity level, you are making headway!
Step 4 – Make Healthier Choices
We all know that we can make healthier choices every day so let’s commit to one or two a week as a start!
Add more fruits and vegetables into your diet. Get enough sleep. Eat less processed foods. Cook more. Drink a daily smoothie. Try to reduce stress, practice gratitude, and make self-care a habit.
Step 5 – Watch Portion Sizes
I like to eat and drink and I enjoy going out. This will never change. So what’s a girl to do? Exercise some constraint!
Instead of eating three slices of bread from the breadbasket, I will try to eat one. Instead of drinking three glasses of wine, I will try to have two.
I always feel bad about “blowing my diet” on Monday after I went out on the weekend. That kind of thinking just doesn’t help. I will still enjoy myself when I go out but now I will try my best not to overindulge!
So there you have it! A 5-step plan to lose 10 pounds! Simple right? I have every confidence that we can do this! It’s not going to happen overnight that’s for sure. But I know if we commit to these simpler and realistic adjustments, we won’t fail either.
Let me know if you have any weight loss goals this year and if you think this 5-step plan may work for you. Leave a comment below and let’s plan on celebrating together next January!
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