Keys To Developing a Weight Loss Plan That Works

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Important decisions deserve planning. For some reason many of us decide on a spur of the moment that we are going to begin a weight loss program. Although the decision is admirable planning is often key to the success of any plan or program.

When you make a decision to do something important it is usually done with a lot of thought and planning. This could be deciding to start a business, buying a car or a house, basically anything that is going to affect you in a big way. One decision that people make routinely is related to their weight. Many people are guilty of deciding to lose weight and not making the plans needed to accomplish the task.

To begin you should probably list the reasons that you have made this decision. You might come up with things like health and appearance to start but then you can break that down and be more specific. You could include the fact that you want to look good for a special occasion or event. Or even that you want to purchase a new wardrobe.

It is a great suggestion to visit your doctor before you begin any sort of weight management or fat loss plan or program. Find out first if there are any health related concerns.

I then suggest that you start a Weight Loss Journal. Begin your entries by listing your true reasons for wanting to lose weight. A hint here is that if you are not doing this for yourself you are more likely to be unsuccessful.

Then describe how you feel about your current body image and weight. After you have done that you may be feeling a little down but that is not the intention of this. You should next write a description of how you are going to feel when you have reached your goals.

And that takes us to the next step which is actually setting some goals. Remember to be realistic with your goals because if you set them at unachievable levels you will become disappointed and frustrated. This often leads to one simply giving up on a challenge that seems impossible to realize.

I would also encourage you to include a page in your journal that lists any temptations that you are aware and ways of dealing with those temptations and situations. An example might be eating out or attending parties. By deciding ahead of time how you can effectively deal with such a situation you will be more likely to do well when the time comes.

If you are a regular reader of this site you know that my major weakness is potato chips. I have to make certain that I avoid purchasing my favorite chips or my diet efforts are ruined! Believe me, if they are in the house I will eat them!


Your journal should also be used to document what you eat, when you eat it, and how much you eat. It is also a good idea to include your emotions before, during and after you eat. This helps you to determine which high-calorie foods are worth indulging in and which simply lead to guilt feelings. You will also learn if you eat more during times that you are happy, sad, or feeling stressed.

If you truly develop a journal using these suggestions you will find that it is a very helpful tool. You can also add a page to list your physical activity. This will help you to see if you are in fact leading a sedentary lifestyle or if you are getting the activity that you should. This simple tool will provide a way to track your success from the beginning to the end of your program.

You can check out the holistic approach to weight loss that is promoted in the sidebar for a complete toolkit that includes a Weight Loss Journal. This package is very inexpensive and it's a healthy approach to losing weight and keeping it off. Remember, like anything else that is important to you, this project deserves planning!