Everyday we are bombarded with messages from the diet industry. It has become equal to the messages we receive from the fast foods industry. There are new diets on the market all the time. Some advise us to swear off certain food groups, while others promote a miracle diet in a bottle. It’s no wonder we are confused about what is a healthy way of living. Should we be eating low-carbs, low fat, or reduce our calorie intake?

Dieting is hard enough without the confusing messages. Focusing on the food can make you crazy. It’s not just about the food though. A well-rounded approach is necessary for lifelong weight loss. It includes dietary changes, exercise, support, and permanent lifestyle changes.

Initiate Change

Let’s face it, if you know the full lineup on TV this season, you are spending too much time in front of the tube and it’s time to step out of the box. You need to replace your sedentary activities with ones that require you to move. Resistance to change is a natural feeling. But you will notice a big difference in your life when you stop watching from the sidelines and get involved. Be open to accepting new challenges in every are of your life.

Think Positively

It’s time to get out of the rut you’ve been in. Just as a negative attitude can have a spiraling effect, so can a positive attitude. Adjust your thinking. Take on a can-do attitude about life. It may take some time for the positive thinking to come naturally, but you will start to correct yourself and over time it will become second nature to you.

Getting Started

Start by evaluating your current habits. Be aware of your passive activities and open your mind to changing them. Make a list of things that you enjoy. If you can’t think of anything right away, try brainstorming for ten minutes. Write down whatever you can think of, even if it is not the right activity for you, or it sounds silly. As you continue to brainstorm, one so-so idea can lead to the perfect idea.

Daily Exercise Goals

Next, list ways you can get more active on a daily basis. Create ways to get intentional exercise and write down the goals that you want to achieve. Is your treadmill buried under clothes and dust? Dig it out and dust it off. Always wanted to run a marathon? Start training for it, one step at a time. Begin slowly if you haven’t exercised in a long time. The important thing is to just begin. You can build onto your workouts as your body adjusts to your new routine. Extending the time or intensity of the exercise you are doing as each activity gets easier for you to do.

Prioritize Your Goals

Now prioritize your list. What is the most important thing on your list? What gets you excited and motivated? Maybe this is something you always wanted to try or something you haven’t done in a very long time. It should be an activity you yearn to do. This could be one particular activity or a combination of several things.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

This is the time to take action. Time to step out of your comfort zone and possibly squelch some of your fears. Switch things up once you have been active for a while. If you are used to riding the stationary bike, try the elliptical machine for your next workout. Reach out to others who share your interests. Do things you would normally hold back from doing. Buy a new swimsuit and join a water aerobics class. Don’t wait until your life is where you want it to be before you start trying new things. Start something new today.

Find Activities You Enjoy

Still having trouble coming up with interesting ideas? Check with your local high school for adult education programs or visit your local library and browse through the non-fiction section. You can find topics for beginners on a variety of things to do, including:

• Drawing
• Home decor
• Self-defense
• Line dancing
• Horse-back riding
• Quilting
• Gardening

Journal

You may find journaling your progress during your weight loss journey to be helpful. In your journal, you can track your eating habits, exercise, thoughts and emotions. If you hit a plateau or get off track, it is easy for you to go back and see what you were doing when you were losing. It’s also a good way to clear your head every day and sort out your thoughts during the process.

Enlist Support

It is important to enlist help when going through a lifestyle change. It can be done on your own, but it is good to have someone to rely on for support and encouragement during your journey. People who have a good support system are more likely to stick to their plan because they are held accountable for their actions. If you don’t already have a supportive circle of people in your friends and family, it is a good idea to seek a like-minded support group.

Replace Unhealthy Habits

You can follow a specific meal plan; you can avoid certain foods and increase your intake of other food groups in order to lose weight. But if you don’t replace your unhealthy habits with new healthy choices, you haven’t changed your lifestyle to support your dietary changes and odds are you will end up right back where you started. An overall life change is a must. Learn how to enjoy life without food being at the center of it.

Sense of Accomplishment

As you begin to do things outside of your comfort zone, you will notice a difference in yourself. You will have a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. You will be more confident in your abilities and cable of much more than you ever thought. Once you experience the new you, there will be no going back.