5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

If you are carrying around a few (I use that term loosely) extra pounds like most of us are, you are most likely aware of all the reasons why we should take the weight off. For starters, it will reduce stress on our heart, in turn reducing the chance of heart disease, cancer, the possibility of diabetes; make us feel better, look more attractive, etc.

There are 101 reasons why, but it can be a real pain to finally get that weight off. Just like every other New Year you push really hard, make a little progress, get side tracked, and bam, by late February or early March, you are heavier then you started.

It’s maddening. Enough with that hassle, I have put together 5 simple steps to actually help you lose weight and keeping it off. These steps can be applied to anything, but we are going to focus on weight loss here.

1. Know What You Want
2. Know Where You Are
3. Track Your Results
4. Make Course Corrections
5. Being held Accountable

There you go, now all your extra weight will effortlessly melt off. Yeah right! A simple list of 5 items is not going to do it, so let me explain the intricacies of the 5 items and where the hang up normally occurs when applied to losing weight.

1. Know What You Want - 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

This one is dead simple. Most people that want to lose weight have an idea of how many pounds they would like to lose or how they would like their body to look.

I think we can safely say if your body started looking the way you wanted it, you would know, even if you didn’t have it completely mapped out and detailed. Find a picture of someone who’s physique you like and post it on your mirror in the bathroom. It will serve as a reminder every morning and night about where you’ll be heading (because you will get there).

2. Know Where You Are - 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

You need to measure up – 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

This is the big trip up. It is almost always overlooked and is the number one reason for the up and down Yo-Yo effect we experience with losing weight. We are unhappy with how our body feels and how it looks and it is painful to zoom in and get an accurate picture of where we are. Unfortunately, we have to know where we are, to be able to accurately judge the results we are getting.

You are on a trip to San Diego, California. You would like to start your trip from Phoenix, Arizona, but you really don’t know where you are. No problem. You get an Arizona/California map and find that a simple 6 hours trip west on interstate 8 will get you to San Diego.

6 hours later, you have no clue where you are and it is definitely not warm San Diego. You feel defeated and you want to give up! Do you blame the car? The stupid maps? San Diego? Yourself?

Now what if I told you, you were actually in New Your City, not Phoenix, Arizona. A 6 hour car ride west from New York City will never get you to San Diego.

If you took the time to accurately find out where you were, you would have been able to choose the appropriate means to get to San Diego and have an expectation as to how long it would take.

This is the same with weight loss and our personal physical condition. In our minds, we think we are starting in a different physical condition then we really are. When the results don’t follow the illusion in your mind, we get upset.

Stop making excuses, get on the scale for an accurate starting weight, take “before” photo’s, and get some starting measurements of at least your chest, waist, and hips (bicep and quadriceps would also be a good idea but I don’t want to go all crazy here on you).

3. Track Your Results - 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

Track Monthly – 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

This is conceptually simple. If we have no clue as to WHAT we are doing, how do we know what is working? It might be a simple to do, but is also simple not to do. In the end, most people never track their results.

You took those starting photo’s and measurements right? Now do the same EVERY 30 days until you reach your target/goal.

4. Make Course Corrections - 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

Thigh Master – 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

We love to do this one. We have it hands down. It is like step 1 of knowing what you want. We try the latest fad diet, bought a Shake Weight (heck I have two), 8 Minute Abs, The Ab Rocket, Thigh Master, and the infamous Dumbbell Utensils! Click the links, enjoy the laugh! I also encourage you to add your favorite fads/flops in the comment section below!

Shake Weight – 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

We might be great at switching it up, but without knowing where we are starting from and a history of tracked results, we have no clue as to what we should change or even which direction we should go. This is where those 30 day benchmarks come into play.

5. Being held Accountable - 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

No, not accountability! That is an evil word. I don’t want someone to know what I am doing, or more importantly what I am not doing.

So, why do we resist accountability, your secret weapon to weight loss? Because it works! If you know someone is going to be watching, you would follow through or at least feel very uncomfortable not following through.

Accountability when used wisely is the ultimate turbo booster to your weight loss. Since you are going to be accountable anyway, you might as well get something out of it.

Using accountability up front, you can achieve the body of your dreams. If you let your body hold you accountable, it will throw on fat in places you don’t want it to be.

The biggest obstacle to weight loss is not taking any action. It doesn’t matter how good the plan is, it is worthless if you don’t follow it. So what do I do now?

MyFitnessPal.com is a great place website that offers a tracking tool to keep yourself accountable with your daily nutritional intake. The service is FREE and they offer a smartphone app as well!

5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

First and foremost get Accountable.

Forward this article to someone you respect and care about and tell them you want to be accountable to finally taking off the extra pounds. When they agree to support you, start working through Steps 1 – 5.

For the person looking to really dumb down the whole 5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight feel free to check out a simple all in one program here. There are several other options as well.

Message or email me directly and we can discuss your goals and what fitness program would work best for your situation.

If you know someone that could use a friendly nudge, share the article with them using the sharing tools. Comments are always welcomed as well.

5 Simple Steps to Losing Weight

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