The Most Important Weight Loss Strategies
Setting a solid weight loss strategy starts with identifying the proper steps and then following through. Incorporating the following strategies into your routine will help you boost your weight loss efforts.
1. Set Realistic Goals
The key to weight loss success is setting realistic goals. When you shoot for the moon right away, there’s a higher chance of getting discouraged if you don’t make it on the first try.
Of course, it’s great to be ambitious, but any weight loss effort takes time. To remain confident in the process, set goals that will give you an achievable checkpoint to work towards and keep you motivated. If you have a big goal in mind, set smaller goals that you can use as stepping stones to reach them.
When goal-setting, the SMART goal model can be helpful. This model highlights that a goal should be all of the following things:
- Specific – Set a clear benchmark for how much weight you want to lose or a tangible outcome you want to accomplish.
- Measurable – Make sure that you can measure progress toward your goal by using a clear metric. This can be pounds lost, days per week you exercised, or whatever works for you.
- Achievable – Only set goals that you can accomplish within a reasonable time frame.
- Relevant – Ensure that any goal you set is tied back to achieving your long-term goals.
- Time-bound – Have a set date for when you want to see success so that you can motivate yourself.
2. Prioritize Nutrient-Rich Foods
Diet and nutrition may not be the only things that matter in a weight loss strategy, but they still matter quite a bit. However, there are many misconceptions about how to tailor your diet for a weight loss strategy.
When people think of how to adapt their diet to lose weight, they think they have to eat as little as possible, but that’s not the case—the truth is, you can still eat plenty as long as you choose the right foods.
Eating an abundance of nutrient-rich whole foods will provide you with the nutrition and fuel your body needs so you feel fuller and are less likely to overeat. It will also give you more energy for physical activity and going about your day.
For a lucrative weight loss strategy, prioritize these foods:
- Lean proteins – Protein is great fuel and will satisfy your hunger. These can include fish, chicken,
- Healthy fats – Fats sound bad, but healthy unsaturated fats found in fish, nuts, and seeds can be great for your weight loss efforts.
- Fiber-rich fruits and veggies – Vitamins, fiber, and phytonutrients found in vegetables are great for fueling your body, so incorporate as many colorful fruits and veggies as you can.
Finding the right foods for you can still be a challenge. At re:vitalize weight loss & wellness, we use our BioScan™ technology to highlight the nutrients that are optimal for your weight loss journey based on your unique body composition. This information will give you the tools to build a nutrition plan that is best for you.
3. Incorporate Physical Activity
Physical activity isn’t the be-all and end-all of any weight loss strategy, but it certainly helps. Many factors influence how likely you are to lose weight, but on a basic level, you consume calories through food for energy, and you either burn those calories through activity or they get stored as fat.
By exercising regularly, you give your body a greater chance to burn those calories you take in. Then, when you eat at a calorie deficit, you’re more likely to burn the fat your body stores for energy. Exercise also offers a range of additional benefits for your mental and physical health, like providing a boost to your mood and keeping your joints functioning strong.
Physical activity doesn’t have to mean becoming a marathon runner, either. You can add in more exercise however it works best for you. Play your favorite sport, get out for a walk, or even spend a few hours each week gardening. All that matters is that you choose an activity that you’re going to enjoy and stick to.
At re:vitalize, our programs are designed to help you not just lose weight, but keep it off, giving you the tools, support, and lasting habits you need for sustainable results.Sustainable Weight Loss Through Healthy Habits
4. Stay Hydrated
Many of us know how important it is to drink water throughout the day but don’t realize that it can enhance a weight loss strategy. Staying hydrated by drinking water regularly can improve your weight loss efforts.
Some of the benefits of staying hydrated include:
- Staying hydrated makes you feel fuller so you consume fewer calories
- Hydration helps the metabolism function better, so you’re more likely to create energy
- Drinking water can prevent you from drinking other high-calorie beverages
- Proper hydration can improve your exercise efforts
The National Academy of Medicine recommends an adequate daily water intake of about 104 ounces for men and 72 ounces for women. Consider carrying around a reusable water bottle that you can easily refill throughout the day and building habits like drinking water after waking up and before bed.
5. Get Proper Sleep
Missing out on sleep might not just leave you dragging throughout the day, it may also be dragging down your weight loss efforts. Good sleep is essential to any weight loss program, as not getting enough of it can significantly hinder your progress by affecting your hormones and slowing your metabolism.
Sleep can hold back a weight loss strategy in the following ways:
- A lack of sleep can cause a hormone imbalance, leading to an abundance of hormones like ghrelin, which can cause you to feel hungry more quickly and overeat.
- When you sleep less, you’re likely to lounge around more during the day and avoid physical activity that can help you burn calories.
- Not getting enough sleep can affect your metabolism, impacting how your body processes sugars and fats, leading the body to store energy as fat.
Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep each night to support your weight loss efforts and promote your overall wellness. Be sure to create a healthy sleep routine that encourages you to sleep on a consistent schedule and in a comfortable, dark room.
Improve Your Approach To Weight Loss
Often overlooked factors like goal-setting, strong sleep habits, and drinking water can all advance your weight loss strategy significantly, as well as having the proper nutrition and a strong exercise regimen. Still, building an effective weight loss strategy on your own can be challenging.
Our team at re:vitalize weight loss & wellness takes a holistic approach to help you build a cohesive weight loss strategy that addresses all aspects of your health. Our members not only lose weight but also FEEL better, reporting improved energy, better sleep, improved libido, and more. We develop programs to fit a variety of lifestyles, including our Flexible Lifestyle Program and Virtual Weight Loss programs, helping anyone achieve their weight loss goals.
Schedule a 1:1 consultation with our team here at re:vitalize to start building your weight loss strategy.