6 Steps to Successful Weight Loss FOREVER

There are many recommendations I would make when meeting with a person to lose weight but here's my top 5. Follow these steps and I know you will be pounds lighter at some point!

1. Set a Realistic Goal. Don't get all crazy like all the infomercials. "I lost 10 pounds in a week!" But in tiny letters at the bottom of the screen reads, "results not typical." This also means, you probably won't lose 10 pounds in one week unless you stop eating completely. Don't listen to all the hype. There is no such thing as a magical weight loss pill or diet or workout program (if there was we'd all know about it because that person would be RICH!) Instead focus on setting small (maybe really easy, attainable) goals for yourself. This way you can avoid feeling disappointed, but rather, excited that you met your goal.

2. Write down everything you eat!!! I can't say this enough and now research supports it, click here to read. You lose TWICE as much weight when you write it all down versus guesstimating. This way you know exactly what you are putting into your body. I highly recommend using a free service like www.calorie-count.com.

3. Surround yourself with someone that will support you. This could be a personal trainer (wink, wink) or a group of people that want you to win. I've found that my ladies that come to the small group training for women class create a great support system for themselves. A close friend, spouse, mother, or father will also do wonders. Someone that will always be able to offer words of encouragement during times of struggle and someone that will be your biggest cheerleader when you get it right. 'Cause both times will happen-unfortunately!

4. Have a secure grasp on the meaning and understanding of diligence. I found some good definitions:
a) The quality of being determined to do or achieve something; firmness of purpose; "his determination showed in his every movement"; "he is a man of purpose"
b)Earnest and persistent application to an undertaking; steady effort; assiduity.
It's going to take much perseverance and diligence to get to where you want to go. Understand this, accept and embrace it. Things will make more sense after this.

5. Create a change collage. Change is hard. It's something that's always constant in life but nonetheless its more difficult for some than others. I have a handful of "change lines" I like to remember often. It keeps me going when I get sad of what I've left behind.
a) not until the pain of the same is greater than the pain of change will one embrace change ~Dave Ramsey
b) If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit
c) All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. ~Anatole France
d) When you are through changing, you are through. ~Bruce Barton
e) We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves. ~Lynn Hall
f) Every beginning is a consequence - every beginning ends some thing. ~Paul Valery

6. Think Long Term!It's so easy to set short term goals of weight loss. It's something that we've all done before or are doing again. However, have you ever thought about changing your mindset from present to long-term future? Looking at 10 years down the road and envisioning your life in a decade or two? What will your quality of life be like? What will you enjoying doing in your spare time? Don't do the short-term fix always but make the long-term decision that will impact you in a positive way. Such as the saying, "a moment on my lips, a lifetime on my hips." Get where I'm going with this?!