02 Apr Jumpstart Your Weight Loss with These 3 Tips

Have you ever been in denial about weight gain? I was in that exact position a few years ago. You couldn’t have paid me to get on a scale!

As long as I didn’t have to see my actual weight, I could continue wearing my stretch pants and pretending that I was 15 pounds lighter.

And I know I’m not alone. A University of Illinois research study found that those who are overweight or obese are more likely to underestimate their weight than those who are in a healthy weight range. I have to admit, though, the next finding surprised me quite a bit. Men were more likely than women to underestimate their own weight.

Although I would never recommend obsessing over the scale, it does help to start with a realistic view of your weight. So, if you’ve been putting it off, it’s time to suck it up and hop on that scale.

Next comes the diet and exercise plan. Here are a few good foundational rules to follow:

1. Set aside one day each week to prepare healthy meals and snacks for the entire week. You can even pack and freeze one serving per container for convenience.

2. Grab an exercise buddy. When the going gets tough, you can motivate each other. But that’s not the only benefit. Having a partner forces you to schedule your exercise time, which makes it more likely to actually happen.

3. Plan to get on the scale about once a week or so to be sure you’re accurately tracking your progress. Just don’t obsess over the scale. It is normal for weight to fluctuate within a day or so. No need to stress yourself out by weighing yourself daily.