Losing Weight? 6 Factors For Success - Weight Loss Diets and Recipes

Setting a goal to lose weight tends to be on the rise during two time periods of each year. The start of a new year and just before summer. But, who and what to believe to help you shed those unwanted pounds becomes more of an obstacle than a diet itself. Understanding why so many weight loss programs fail in the long-term is just as important as what which plan for losing weight is right for you. Losing weight? 6 factors for success are just a quick read away.

Studies vary from time to time. However, it is safe to say that that 70 to 80% of individuals that lose a significant amount of body fat regain more than half the weight back within 24 months.

Losing weight? Who and what to beleive.

We’ve all read articles on how to lose weight in 7 days. If losing weight was that simple, none of us would be over weight. Replacing bad meal choices with healthier nutrition is the first step in losing weight.

In a recent polling of 1,000 participants who lost a minimum of thirty pounds, 73% had a common complaint. They did not like diet plans that required them to continue to order pills, powders, shakes and all the nutritional products that helped them shed their unwanted fat. Learning how to lose belly fat is actually much easier than most would think.

The key to maintaining a sustainable long-term healthy weight can be easier than you may think. It’s not that diets fail people as much as it is our lack of understanding simple processes. Imagine your weight loss journey as a vacation. You probably would not visit a beach resort without swimwear so why do so many go blindly into a weight loss program expecting success?

Let’s break your quest to lose weight into six categories. We will discuss 6 factors to build a strong foundation for you to decide which plan is right for you. Let’s begin.

Foods that Increase Metabolism

Wish there was a losing weight calculator? Well, there is. Weight Loss Calculator

Who should you listen to?

There are literally hundreds of diet plans with dozens of similar nutritional formulas. Some diet plans suggest that you are not to eat meat while others recommend to only eat meat. So, which one is right for you? This step is by far the easiest. However, it happens to be the most overlooked.

Don’t rely solely on consumer reviews of programs you may be interested in. The fact that it was a great fit for someone else does not necessarily mean it’s a match for you. Our recent survey revealed that only 8% of dieters would not change a thing about their weight loss plan.

This does not mean that 92% of the individuals that were polled were completely unhappy with their decision. However, it does strongly suggest that upfront research does benefit you in the long-term. Remember, your goal is to lose the weight and keep it off. Finding knowledgeable dietitians and nutritionists is relatively easy to search online.

Discovering the best weight loss program that will be a fit for your habits and lifestyle is the missing link that only you can solve. The average adult will try 126 diets during their life. When you decide that you want to lose fat pounds for either better health, to fit into those clothes collecting dust or both, the fact remains the same. You need to make a change.

Making a change on your terms will definitely increase your chances of success. So, who should you listen to? If you are trying to lose weight, listen to all factual data on diets and nutrition. Only take action on the methods that you know you will continue.

Over 50% of Americans do not read nutrition labels.

What diet plan is best for you?

87% of dieters polled in our recent study said they did not like the foods in the weight loss program they selected. This overwhelmingly validates our belief that upfront research can be a great benefit to you. You spent years putting the weight on so why is there a rush in deciding how to take it off?

You will find what diet plan is right for you by taking a few simple steps. Try asking yourself three questions when considering a plan.

Am I willing to adhere to ALL the requirements of the plan?
Is my daily schedule a fit for the program?
Does the program rely on residual third-party nutrition?

Willing to adhere and able to adhere are two totally different things. Remember, it is a statistical fact that diets have less than a 30% success rate long-term. There is not a single plan that fits all. Be sure to research what is required and only decide to partner with the weight loss program that you look forward to following.

Which Diet is Right for You: Mediterranean, DASH, or Flexitarian?

With so many diets out there, it can be hard to choose the one that will work best for you. The Mediterranean diet, DASH diet, and flexitarian diet are all popular diets with their own unique characteristics. Let’s break down each of these diets and see which one might be the best fit for you.

The Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet has been around since the 1960s but it has gained popularity in recent years. It focuses on healthy fats such as olive oil and nuts, whole grains like quinoa and bulgur wheat, fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs and spices, fish and seafood, yogurt and cheese made from sheep’s milk, moderate amount of red wine (optional), and limited amounts of lean red meat. This diet is beneficial because it includes a variety of nutritious food groups. It also helps reduce risk factors associated with heart disease such as high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

DASH Diet

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan was developed by researchers looking for ways to help people lower their blood pressure without medication. This diet emphasizes reducing sodium intake along with increasing fiber consumption from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. It also recommends including low-fat dairy products and lean meats as sources of protein while limiting sweets such as cakes or cookies. Overall, this diet focuses on reducing sodium while consuming nutrient-dense foods that are high in vitamins and minerals such as potassium which helps reduce blood pressure levels when combined with other lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly or quitting smoking. The aim is to reduce your risk of hypertension or other heart conditions that can lead to further health complications down the road if not managed properly.

Flexitarian Diet

The flexitarian diet is a plant-based approach to eating that allows occasional indulgences in animal products within reason. This way of eating emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains like oatmeal and quinoa, legumes, lentil, black beans, nuts and seeds. The flexitarian diet also includes dairy products like yogurt and cheese made from goat’s milk. Plant-based sources should make up the bulk of your meals while occasional animal products can act as small garnishes on top of dishes for flavor/texture contrast when desired. This type of eating provides numerous health benefits including improved digestion due to increased fiber consumption from plants and reduced risk for certain chronic diseases due to its focus on nutrient-dense plant foods instead of processed foods typically found in Western diets.

Each individual has different needs when it comes to nutrition. Some may prefer one plan over another due to personal preferences or health goals they are trying to achieve. That said, all three diets share many common characteristics including an emphasis on consuming whole foods with plenty of fiber, healthy fats, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables.

Ultimately though it’s important that you find a plan that works best for you so you can make sustainable lifestyle changes that will help you reach your weight loss goals.

Centers For Disease Control Obesity Statistics

Make sure your schedule can adapt to the diet plan you are considering. Many plans require a daily walk. You may be willing to walk 30 minutes per day. However, if your schedule does not allow it the plan may not be a good fit for you.

Try to find a weight loss program that focuses on nutritional habits and changes that you can make and prepare. Would you rather someone give you one fish per day or would rather them teach you how to fish for a lifetime?

Why are you trying to lose weight?

When setting a goal of any type, it is important to keep your eye on the prize. Shedding unwanted pounds does not happen overnight. Throughout this process it’s good to constantly remind yourself why you are making these lifestyle changes.

49% of Americans who are trying to lose weight state they are doing it for better health.

The top 3 reasons dieters say they want to lose weight are:

Health
Appearance
Mood

So, why are you trying to lose weight? If it is health related, be sure to focus on how your health will improve. Begin to envision a healthier you. Your chance to success on any goal increases by 65% when you do these two actions.

Visualize the end result of your goal.
Write your goals down on paper.

When do you plan to reach your weight loss goal?

Be realistic on your timeline. The beginning phase of most weight loss regimens is to get your metabolism and digestive system into check. It is not uncommon for your system to take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks for this body reset process. Remember, you are making dietary changes. Simple actions such as the following take time for your body to adjust to. Strategies for weight-loss success.

Switching from sodas to bottled water.
Swapping fried foods for baked. Fried Foods and Heart Health
Substituting refined carbohydrates with whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Reaching your goal may take more time than you expected. However, understanding this from the beginning can be a tremendous asset. Weight-loss plateau is almost inevitable. This is when everything seems to going just fine and you suddenly stop losing the weight.

Weight Loss Plateau

Weight loss plateau is very common and can actually happen several times throughout your journey. Being aware of this from the beginning, will keep you from giving up on your diet early on.

Where do you begin in your weight loss program?

Most people would answer this question, “From the beginning.” However, you have already spent all this time finally finding the weight-loss program that is right for you so why rush it. Losing weight rapidly should not be your goal. How to lose weight naturally should. There is nothing wrong with gradually inching your way into the program as long as you properly implement that into your timeline.

10 Healthy Recipes for Weight Loss Success

Don’t look at this journey as a lose weight fast method. Instead, consider it a diet plan with multiple steps. You can decide and manage how long each step takes. Your goal is to lose a certain amount of weight determined by you. Just because you read multiple 5-star reviews of people that lost twenty pounds in one month, does not mean you will see the same results.

The key to losing your desired weight and keeping it off depends on your willingness to continue these healthy choices long after your goal is achieved.

How do you plan to overcome weight loss obstacles?

You will have stumbling blocks in your weight loss journey. There are two ways to handle these challenges. You can either be reactive or proactive. If you chose the latter of the two, your chances of successfully losing weight has just increased.

Weight Loss Statistics

It is highly recommended that you write down ten obstacles that you can foresee prior to beginning your program. After each diet obstacle, write down how you plan to overcome it should the moment arise. This may seem like a trivial exercise, but it works.

You can get to your desired weight if you:

Find the plan that best fits you.
Expect obstacles and plateaus.
Allow each phase time to work.

About The Author

Edgar Winthorpe is a contributor to Her Weight Loss , Healthy Froggy and several other informational sites that provide help to individuals making it their goal to shed unwanted pounds. Edgar’s primary focus is to inform people on current weight loss trends and nutrition.