The dreaded New Year’s Resolutions … every year, we make that list.
Even if you don’t write out a literal list, we’re all aware that the new year brings a new opportunity to achieve our goals.
A reminder that it’s not too late, we can still do this.
A clean slate.
Why then, does weight loss keep appearing on our list again and again?
It’s not like we don’t mean it when we say, “This year I’m gonna lose the weight!”
Somehow, life gets in the way and you fail to get there, year after year.
So this year, before committing to this goal again, let’s take a moment to think why it’s so difficult.
Analyze what went wrong in the past
The first step is to figure out exactly what’s stopping you.
Think about last year. Or the year before.
What went wrong? Why did you abandon your goal?
Were you stuck in a diet mindset instead of making lasting lifestyle changes?
Was there a lack of support?
Perhaps you didn’t have a clear plan? Or maybe you feel your willpower is just not strong enough.
Whatever the problem is, rest assured you are not alone.
Others have faced the same challenges and found solutions.
The answers are all out there. But you need to be very clear on what the problem is!
Identify the obstacle and then look for specific tools to address it.
Here are some ways you could use to find specific solutions to your weight-loss obstacles:
- Join a group of experienced diet buddies, either online or offline
- Participate in an online diet challenge
- Read a self-help book that focuses on your specific problem
- Get a coach for targeted support and advice
- Chat with an AI like ChatGPT
- Use mobile diet and fitness apps
- Follow educational blogs and podcasts
- Track your progress in a journal
- Consult with a registered dietitian or nutritionist (make sure they understand alternative ways of eating like Keto and fasting)
Here are some other important points to note when making your plans for this year.
Upgrade Your Mindset: Lifestyle Not Diet
How many diets did you try in the past? There’s a reason diets fail.
One of the problems with diets is that they are restrictive. Often, they end up slowing your metabolism down, which only makes weight loss harder.
And diets don’t really bring about the kind of lasting change you need.
Diets imply short-term fixes.
You can lose weight, but it will almost always come back, and then some.
If you want to mark weight loss off your list once and for all, you need to consider this a lifestyle change, not just a quick fix.
That’s why Fasting and Keto/Low Carb is the way to go.
Fasting, and cutting back on the carbohydrates, will help to fix your appetite and correct the hormones that drive fat gain and fat loss.
In other words, it will fix the issues, not just put a bandaid on them.
Find a fasting schedule that you can stick to, and follow a Keto or Low Carb diet when you do eat.
Decide that this is going to be your way of life from now on.
Get The Support You Need
You need someone in your corner when you’re on this weight loss journey.
Someone who will root for you and encourage you when the going gets tough.
And it helps to have someone you can be accountable to. Otherwise, it’s too easy to give up.
If you have a family member or friend who is supportive, tell them your goals, and ask them to be there for you.
Maybe you can find a weight loss buddy, and you can help them, as well.
If you don’t have a family member or friend you can count on, join a group.
There are tons of Fasting and Keto groups on social media. You’re welcome to join us in our Facebook group.
And if you need more one-on-one support, I would encourage you to think about getting a coach.
A coach can really help because you get that accountability factor, as well as the support and motivation. You can check out our previous article on coaching for more information to help you decide if a coach might be right for you.
Have a Clear Plan
Deciding that you’re going to lose weight is fine. But it’s only a starting point.
Not backing that up with a solid plan is a sure fire way to keep “weight loss” on your New Year’s list every year.
Without a plan, your resolution is nothing more than a wish.
Decide exactly what you’re going to do.
Will you incorporate fasting? Which type of fasting? Intermittent or Extended?
What kind of fasting schedule will you stick to?
What about Keto? How many grams of carbohydrates will you have a day? What foods will you eat instead of high-carb foods?
Make those decisions and write out your plan.
Follow your plan for a while and then assess to see how it’s going.
Getting the results you want? Stick with it!
If not, analyze again and make changes to your plan.
Let’s make 2024 the year that you finally cross weight loss off your list for good!
Author: Roo Black
Roo is a fasting coach with over 5 years of experience. She leads the admin team of the Official Fasting for Weight Loss Facebook group – one of the largest fasting communities on social media with over 125,000 members. We highly recommend this group for anyone who is looking for fasting advice or coaching.
