How to Lose Weight in 30 Days, Look Great and Feel Fabulous!

Want to look and feel great? It all starts with just 30 days... and once you start, you won't want to stop! Come on, just try it... it's only 30 little days. :-)

Figure out why you want to lose weight.

What is your motivation? Do you want to fit into those jeans that have been gathering dust in your closet? Do you want to climb a flight of stairs without huffing and puffing when you get to the top? Or do you simply want to look and feel good naked? Whatever your motivation, write it down. Describe in detail what you want to ACCOMPLISH. This is simple goal-setting, but will give you a reason to get up and moving on those days you won't feel like it.

Become the new you TODAY by making a 30-day commitment.

30 Minutes of Exercise - EVERY DAY for 30 days.

Right now, you're sitting there in front of your computer with a bag of chips and a soda... well, maybe you're not, but that's what I was doing when I made my 30-day commitment. :-)

You have to decide that you are going to get healthy right now! TODAY!

So even if you've just finished a huge meal from your favorite restaurant, do not say: "She's on to something. I'm going to do this whole 30-day healthy-thing starting TOMORROW (or Monday, or whatever day in the future you arbitrarily choose)."

That kind of thinking is absolutely what will make you lose your motivation during this month. It's critical that you be disciplined during this time. That's why a strong motivator is so important (step 1).

Find an exercise you like to do! (And if you can, find a few.)

Just because Sally from the office has great legs from bike riding, it doesn't mean that you have to do the same to get those sexy, dancer legs. There are so many kinds of exercises you can do!

On Day 1 of my 30 days, I started with dancing... actually I started with Tae-Bo, but in less than 10 minutes, I ended up on the floor, out of breath, cursing Billy Blanks. So I put on my favorite fast songs and started shakin' my booty. :-)

I then added Pilates, a hip hop dance video, and brisk walks outdoors. After the first week of mixing these exercises, I FELT great! In fact, on Day 11, after finishing that Tae-Bo tape for the first time, I said aloud "I'm going to exercise FOREVER!" This coming from someone who would cringe when anyone mentioned the words "sweat", "gym", or "work-out". :-) Day 11 was nothing compared to the joy I felt on Day 30 when I weighed myself and saw that I had lost 7lbs!

Exercise for 30 minutes a day, EVERY day for 30 days and that's it! Don't try to change your eating habits at the same time.

Reason? Because you will NATURALLY begin to eat less food.

I do NOT recommend that you start a diet AND exercise program at the same time. Choose one or the other.

I really like food... and I LOVE red meat and potatoes. :-) If I would have tried to give that up at the same time that I started exercising, my failure rate would have gone up dramatically. When you really love food, changing your eating habits will require another 30-day commitment.

When you begin exercising and using muscles you didn't know existed, your body will respond to you positively. You will be rewarded with Endorphins.

What's so great about Endorphins?

They bring feelings of euphoria and general well-being... like after a satisfying meal or ice cream. (yuummm!)

In the course of the 30 days, you'll experience the urge to eat for emotional reasons a lot LESS. (Boredom, sadness, etc.) Exercising will give you a psychological boost. You'll be taking care of yourself and working towards healthiness. Just watch: Your general feelings of happiness will increase in less than a week!

5. Weigh yourself on Day 1... then put your scale away for 30 days!

What this will do is give you a starting point - something you can use to measure. But really, your body will begin to SHOW you signs that you are doing the right thing.

For instance, on Day 18 I was able to fit into a dress that I wasn't able to on Day 3. No, it didn't fit like it did when I bought it, but I could see the progress I was making! And that felt GREAT!

Write down what you want to achieve in the 30 Days.

On Day 1, get out a piece of paper and pen and write down:

a) YOUR WEIGHT

b) YOUR GOAL WEIGHT - Whether you want to lose 5 pounds or 50, just write down a number. If that number is large, divide it by 8 to figure out the weight you will be at 30 days.

At the beginning of my 30 Days, I wanted to lose 34 pounds. So I divided by 8 and figured that it would take me around 4 and a half months to get to that goal.

c) and also write THESE WORDS:
"30 MINUTES. 30 DAYS. See what happens. YOU CAN DO THIS! :-)"

Then put this paper somewhere that you will see it every day... bathroom mirror, refrigerator, or skip the pen and paper and just get it tattooed on your forearm. :)

The point is to gently remind yourself that it's only 30 minutes, and it's only 30 days. And to keep on going, because YOU CAN do it!

On my goal sheet from my first 30 Days, I also recorded little successes whenever the mood struck me. When I finished the 30-day commitment, my paper was filled with positive encouragement to myself.

--- "You look good girl!" and "Wow! 23 days! Go Tiff!"

It's a love note... because I was proud of myself for LOVING and BEING GOOD to ME. :) To learn how to love YOU visit FirstLoveYou.com.

Make it through 30 Days and THEN decide on a fitness plan for yourself.

After only 30 Days, you will LOOK and FEEL better. You will have accomplished something and that always makes people feel great! At that point, take a look at what you've done, then figure out if you want to continue for another 30 Days.

What will your new 30-Day plan look like? Will you continue to exercise every day? Will you give up pasta and cookies? Will you work out for 45 minutes instead of 30?

This is a perfect time for you to decide what to do next... you'll be encouraged by the fact that 30 days flew by and that you are more healthy than you were a month ago.

That's the way to start taking care of yourself... one bite at a time... just like eating an elephant (which I don't recommend if you are serious about weight-loss). :-)

Happy 30 Days!!

For more tips on how to love yourself visit www.firstloveyou.com/love-yourself.html

1. Prev:The Fight Against Cellulite On The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet - And Other Alternatives
2. Next:Urge Surfing to Beat Addictions and Cravings