You’ve just made an incredible, life-changing decision. If you’re clinically overweight, making the decision to lose weight means getting in shape, improving your health and more importantly, getting your life back. If you’ve just got a few pesky kilos to lose, then losing weight can be a great way to get your eating back on track and improve your confidence. Either way, making the choice to begin a weight loss program is a huge step. The next challenge is finding the program that’s right for you. Here’s how to do it…
Chat to your GP
It’s strongly recommended that you have a thorough check up and seek medical advice before beginning any weight loss program. Your GP will also be able to provide you with helpful advice on healthy eating and exercises you can do to lose weight, so they’re a great place to start your weight loss journey.
Evaluate your needs
The weight loss diet and exercise regime you choose should be based on your specific needs – if you have a large amount of weight to lose, it’s going to take a while to get it off, so finding a program that you can sustain over a long period of time is a must. Avoid deprivation diets that force you to cut out the things you most enjoy and instead opt for diets that focus on portion control, so you can continue enjoying the foods you like, in a controlled way.
Consult a weight loss expert
Nearly all gyms have a weight loss expert and nutritionist on hand who can provide you with advice on a weight loss program that’s suited to your individual needs. For a small fee, you can sign up to have a weekly session with your gym’s weight loss expert, during which they’ll take regular measurements and debrief on your week’s eating and exercise to help keep you on track.
Don’t go to extremes
Avoid using extreme diets off the Internet such as baby food diets and all-liquid diets – these diets are not supported by medical practitioners and nutritionists and are not recommended as a healthy and sustainable way to achieve weight loss. The best way to find the program that’s right for you is to speak with a real expert, like your GP or a nutritionist; only then can you hope to achieve lasting results.
