Practical Frugality

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10 Weight Loss Tips for the New Year

Health & Wellness

I’ve mentioned to some of my long-time readers in my email regarding my move from Blogger to WordPress that I am starting my weight loss diet in late January.

I will be blogging my journey on my main blog, but want to post my tips and ideas here for those who might also benefit. With my Fibromyalgia I sometimes am limited in my activity due to the pain, but I try to do what I can to keep moving.

I know once the pounds I gained from all these meds, etc are gone, it will help my condition too, so I’m not sitting around waiting for next month to start my journey, I’m doing what I can right now!

1. Drink more water

Make sure you are drinking at least 8 glasses per day and limiting other sugary drinks!

2. Make healthy choices

Make a list of things you would like to change in your life, that could help you to become healthier. This can include cutting down on alcohol, starting a hobby, such as gardening, that could keep you more active or learning to cook healthier food options.

This also includes swapping cigarettes or tobacco for regular or herb-infused vapes if you’d like to stop smoking. I’ve recently seen a great review of vapes available on market in Observer.com to help you to decide which one is the best for you.

3. Watch what you eat

I try to eat what I want within reasonable limits to curb cravings while making sure my diet is balanced.

4. Use a smaller plate

I sometimes eat on our mid-sized salad plates so mentally I still see that I’m eating a plateful, and the portions are perfect for my needs.

5. Don’t deny ALL cravings

I have 3 snack size bars of my favorite candy in my house. Every 3 months, I try to get fresh ones. I give the others to my kids. I rarely ever eat them, it’s enough for me just to know that they’re there if I want them. But should I crave, it’s just a small amount. (I keep 3 because I have 3 kids to give them too;)

6. Get moving

If you’ve been sedentary, I say start slow, and only do what you are able and what a doctor says is safe. For me, my doctor wants me to walk.

I get severe pain down my hips and legs, so I go slow and not too far (and take a cell phone!). I’m hoping to get a treadmill to do this indoors, but until then, around the neighborhood, I go.

7. Take before and in the process photos.

You don’t have to look at them now. I know I hate that. But, later on, you might want them to compare to. They can be as public or private as you want.

8. Set realistic goals for yourself

It can be daunting to look at the total amount you want or need to lose, so set smaller, manageable goals for yourself along the way. For me, I like 10%. I am 10 pounds from reaching my first goal, and can’t wait to celebrate! Also remember, we are not at the Biggest Loser Ranch, so it is not reasonable to expect those numbers! I lose about 1-2 pounds per week.

9. Don’t compare yourself to other people

We are all different and unique with our own set of issues. Challenge yourself but don’t get discouraged if a close friend also on the journey is losing faster than you. They may plateau when you are on a roll or vice versa. You are not the same person, you won’t lose at the same rate.

10. Monitor your weight

I try to weigh myself at the same time each day (once a week also works) just to keep tabs. I have a private place where I record the numbers. I don’t get discouraged when it goes up, I just try to do better, and rejoice when it goes back down!

11. Extra tip – Don’t over-do it!

It’s SO easy to get gung-ho in the beginning and do too much and possibly injure yourself. Take it slow and easy. You likely didn’t gain the weight overnight, so it isn’t going away overnight. Remember it’s a change in lifestyle, NOT a diet!

Stay in touch

Hope this post inspires you and of course, I’d love to know what you think! Let me know in the comments below or find me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and add the hashtag #practicalfrugality so that I can see your post.

Or why not subscribe to my weekly newsletter with frugal living tips and recipes straight to your mailbox.

Magdalena

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Comments

  2. Don’t eat while distracted. If you pay attention to what you’re eating and how it tastes, rather than rushing through it like it’s a chore while reading a book or watching tv, then it’s easier to be mindful of when you’ve had enough and you’re not hungry anymore.

  4. This sounds like something I would be able to do. I’m hoping I can stick with it

  5. It’s always refreshing to see some helpful tips to get us started right. Thanks!

  6. I cut out regular pop last year around June because my sugar levels were high, I switched to the Coke Zero and after having it for about a month I can’t even drink regular anymore 🙂 I am trying to work out, it’s been a rough time for me stress-wise lately and I have gained back a lot of the weight I lost which has made me feel terrible 🙁 But I am promising myself that the new year will be better and I am going to really try to work off the pounds! Thank you for the article, I am bookmarking this!

  11. I had hubby get me a exercise bike last summer, but stopped using it in Sept. (Grandma passed and I got depressed. Dealing better & need to get back into habit of using bike. Can really tell the difference of a couple of months, esp with the Holiday eating, lol.)
    Now only do I want to use this, but want to use it in the mornings (every other one?) so that my matebalizem is rep-ed up for the day. That is what worked in high school.
    I up the bike in front of the TV so that I both 1) have something to keep me entertained while riding it and 2) see it often (in the living room of our small house) and can’t ignore it in a back room. Hopefully with it right there in our faces, I will be more encouraged to use it.

    P.S. Hubby teased me about buying a fancy cloths rack, as many exercise machines become. I have used it, but I keep catching HIM leaving clothes on it. I’m not sure if I should laugh or throw something at him, lol.

  12. i plan to start losing 110 lbs. ,hopefully i can win some form of help

  14. I am trying out yoga this year. I hope to get really good at it. Everyone tells me how relaxed they feel after yoga so I am eager to learn. romapup at gmail dot com

  15. our family tends to eat an excessive amount of meat. This year we’re making an effort to do two nights a week of meatless meals 🙂

  19. I’m planning on taking my lunch more often instead of eating fast food (UGH)! I shouldn’t be eating ANY fast food.

  22. I am committed to drinking more water, it’s hard for me to do for some reason. Mainly because when I get busy at work, I don’t want to take time to get up and go get some.

  24. Actually, I’ve been really unhealthy for awhile because of undiagnosed gallstones! After getting my gallbladder out, I can even out my diet and begin exercising!

  26. Start at the supermarket. Think before you put food in your cart. If you don’t buy it, you can’t eat it.

  30. I’ve made great improvements this last year, and I am going to work on increasing my activity and fitness levels even more this year. Just like trying new recipes to keep from getting into a rut at dinnertime, I like to find new workout routines and exercises to keep it fresh and fun.

  31. I make sure that I exercise 30 minutes a day, eat a healthy diet, and make sure to drink a lot of water!

  33. I just eat a lot of fruits & veggies…don’t even keep the junk food in the house for temptation

  37. using daily plate helps me stay focused on what goes in my mouth. including all those starbucks i am cutting back on!

  38. I have such a hard time losing weight especially after I turned 40

  39. Less soda more water! It is so easy to end up consuming over 1,000 calories just in drinks!

  40. My first tip is that you must be in the frame of mind and want to eat better, exercise more and try to follow a healthier lifestye and it can be done. Do not lose more than about 5 lbs a week . It just not something you want to do to lose weight and then when you do, just go back to your old eating habits.

  41. i’ve been there so i know how difficult it can be! i’ve lost 40 lbs and kept it off for 7 yrs!! best advice- move more- even just a short 5 min walk and try to cut out one unhealthy thing- i cut out soda and when i achieved that short term goal i felt great- and haven’t had soda since!

  42. I have a painting hanging on my bedroom wall with lady whom appears a picture of fitness! There’s my inspiration!

  43. Thanks for sharing these great tips! I have been around the same weight for all my pregnancies and now that we don’t plan on having any more children it’s time to get back into shape.

  44. It’s important to have a weight loss buddy, you can encourage one another and you’ll feel so much better!

  45. Great tips! My downfall is sweets, mainly candy. I need to stop keeping them in the home but my grandson loves an occasional treat so we keep them here but I tend to get into them

  46. My “goal” is just to workout everyday WITH my husband. Obviously lose weight and tone down, but I’m not on a mission to lose a certain amount of weight and make myself for being miserable for not reaching it.

  47. NEVER skip breakfast! A good, healthy morning meal sets the tone for your entire day!

    Terri P
    pr4gatheringroses AT gmail DOT com

  48. My tip is always #7. Too not get overwhelmed, I set smaller goals. That way, when I reach each goal, it seems more like I am making progress than to keep trying to reach one big goal.

  49. Don’t eat things with HFCS in them, it will make you instantly fat.

  50. my tip is to stick to diet drinks or water for beverages ALL the time. Small portions for meals too.

    brich22 at earthlink dot net

  51. A good tip – get enough rest. 7-8 hours of sleep each night at a minimum.

  52. I have lost 31 lbs this summer by just substituting 100% fruit/veggie smoothies for my breakfast and lunch!

  53. i love to walk at least 4 miles on the treadmill daily while listening to my ipod the time flys right by

  54. Mindful eating really helps. Think about each bite and remember that nothing gets past your lips without your permission.

  56. These are all wonderful tips! I love drinking water so that is a plus and I’ve cut out mostly all my sweets.

  57. My tip is to measure yourself too, sometimes you may not be losing pounds, but you may be losing inches, and even that is losing something!

  59. What would work for me is not having the sweets in the home. If I know they’re there, I’ll get into them and seems I do that often

  60. Weight loss tip: watch the carb intake. Really, excessive carbs will just put that weight on you, and especially around your waist line, in no time at all.

  61. I love your tips! Thank you!
    My husband and I are dessert crazy, so what I’ve started to do is each afternoon I dip fruit into Greek yogurt and put in the freezer until after dinner! It’s (almost) better than ice cream! 🙂

  62. Thanks for the great tips! Also, not eating just before bed is important, too.

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