Long-term weight loss is definitely easier to achieve if the dieter chooses to set realistic goals and make wise decisions. Oftentimes, the daily choices made by a person undergoing a dieting program determine whether it will end in success or failure. The success of the most celebrated diet programs is usually due to how the dieter structures meals and activities on a daily basis. If you are already losing hope, perhaps it is time to start structuring your weekly routine in a way that every day brings you closer to the target weight that you want to attain and maintain.
How exactly does this approach help? Allow us to give you an overview of this approach.
Staying on track
Structuring on a daily basis is an effective method to achieving success in any dietary program. What this entails is preparing the menu for the week ahead. In the same way, the exercise activities are also determined, scheduled, and set on paper. Employing a structured approach makes it more manageable for any dieter to keep the calorie count within the recommended limits without taking away all the enjoyment of eating. This method boosts the dieter’s level of awareness with regard to foods that must be avoided at all costs, including processed carbohydrates and liquid calories in the form of sugary juices and soda. Since you know exactly what the next meal is going to be, there is no chance for you to forget that certain food are off limits.
In addition, organizing and structuring the food that is eaten as well as the amount of exercise performed reminds the dieter to stay on track. The approach also allows the dieter to make the necessary adjustments (based on the requirements of the program) in case a family gathering, party with friends, or a dinner date out is scheduled during the week.
Kicking it off properly
Many dieters often talk about the severe difficulty of starting with a diet program. Timing is very important because it influences a person’s readiness to embark in something new. It is not unheard of that some dieters are easily distracted from achieving what they have set out to do. This is partially because they started the diet without full conviction and lack of motivation. Slipping and eating food items that are deemed “fattening” are just some of the behaviors of a poorly motivated individual.
A good start is important because it determines the outcome of the program. As such, most experts recommend kicking off with a diet on the first day of the workweek, which is Monday. On this day, people are ready to start anew after a refreshing weekend. Making the transition on the first day of the work week gives them the needed impetus to face the challenges imposed on their lifestyle by a dietary program that is bound to change their relationship with food. Another advantage to starting out on a Monday is the ample time available for preparation. Since there is time on the day before (Sunday) to buy groceries, cook, and prepare, the dieter can ease into the new status quo better prepared.
