How to Diet Successfully - 7 Top Tips for Staying on Track

In this article I’m going to show you how to diet successfully by giving you 7 top tips for staying on track. Motivation is the key to successful weight loss, so if you want to be fit and healthy, look fabulous and maintain your perfect weight forever, this is what you really need to know.

1 Set SMART Goals
Always start by setting your goals and make sure they are SMART – that means they should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timed. You may want to include body measurements or dress sizes, as well as weight goals. Make sure you write them down - written goals are more likely to be achieved. You should look at your goals regularly to make sure you stay focussed on them.

2 Measure Your Progress
Measure your progress regularly – but don’t get too obsessive. Most people find that weighing yourself once a week is best. If you leave it longer than that and you have strayed off track, then you’ll wish you’d known earlier so you could make adjustments. If you prefer to weigh yourself daily, that’s fine, but do be aware that your weight can fluctuate day by day, so it’s the long term trends that you should concentrate on.

3 Make Changes Which Suit Your Lifestyle
Make sure the changes you make to your diet and exercise programme are compatible with your lifestyle. If you try and make changes which are inconvenient, expensive or incompatible with your family or social life you will find it’s just impossible to keep to them. Choose a diet which your family can follow too and an exercise class which fits in with their activities. Make small easy changes which you can maintain long term, such as walking to work or part of the way and taking the stairs, not the lift.

4 Change Unhelpful Habits
Spend some time identifying any unhelpful habits - and change them. For example many people always clear their plate, even if they felt full before they finished. Often this goes back to childhood, when you may have been made to eat everything or told to think about starving children in Africa. If this applies to you, then practice leaving a small amount on your plate at every meal. Eat slowly and enjoy your food! But stop when you are full!

5 Get Support
Make sure you have the support of your family and friends. If they know you are are dieting, they will find it easier to help you by trying new healthier versions of meals at home – and they won’t try and persuade you to have unhealthy treats when you are out - or be offended if you turn down their special home-baked cakes or calorie heavy desserts. Alternatively, you may find it helpful to join a diet group.

6 Use Positive Visualisation Techniques
Positive visualisation is really helpful. Take a few minutes every day and imagine yourself at your perfect weight. Just think about how great you feel and look. Imagine all those compliments – and those sexy new clothes! This is a great way to keep your mind focussed on those goals.

7 Reward Yourself
It’s a great idea to reward yourself with treats as you reach your goals - and your milestones along the way too. Obviously you need to avoid food based treats. You can have fun with this – treat yourself to a film, a new book – or perhaps a relaxing massage!

Summary
Motivation really is the key to achieving your perfect weight forever. Most people know what they need to do to lose weight – eat less and exercise more - but it can be hard to stick to it! Using these 7 top tips will help you stay on track so you reach your goals, stay fit and healthy - and look fabulous. Engaging the power of your mind to keep motivated, is your key to how to diet successfully.

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