Quite a few people make weight loss a central part of their annual "new year's resolution" and then fail after losing a pound or two and then putting them back on before they know it because they lack discipline! I know this to be true because I have been one of those failures more than once!
Last year, 2025, may be the only exception! Even though it took me all year to lose 30 pounds, about five inches or more in the waist, I managed to keep it off even through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays!
Since I am single and live alone, I understand that my situation is very different from most. None of these suggestions will probably work in most homes unless everybody in the house has decided to make the same "new year's resolution" and attempt to lose weight as a group at the same time! Even then, one member of the group could sabotage any group effort by reverting back to their "old ways" by bringing "junk food" into the house!
So, if you live alone or belong to a family weight loss cohort, here are some suggestions that worked for me - at least last year! Take a couple of weeks ahead as a time to plan your beginning month's strategy.
(1) Put a treadmill in front of a TV and do not allow yourself to watch TV unless you are on that treadmill.
(2) Stay out of the ice cream, candy and bakery aisles at the grocery store. "Lead us not into temptation!"
(3) Do not clip coupons for such food items as ice cream, candy and bakery items no matter if they are "half-off" or more.
(4) Do not even bring such tempting food items into the house.
(5) Don't watch pizza and ice cream commercials on TV especially in the evenings when they are back-to-back! Pause the treadmill and take a short break when they come on! Even the "power of suggestion" may be too powerful, especially if you live near a grocery store.
(6) Allow room for short breaks like inevitable family celebrations where your presence is required, but severely limit your intake of unhealthy choices and large servings. Do some "self-talk" and planning before you go. Choose wisely and do not use it as an occasion to "pig out!" Just one "pig out" session could break your routine and cause you to break your new discipline patterns!
(7) As I lost weight and began to reach my goal, I got rid of my old clothes that no longer fit so I would not be tempted into easing back into them one pound-at-a-time.
(8) Keep a journal so you can track your losses and gains and get back on track as fast as you can!
(9) Pause for a few minutes before every temptation so you have time to "talk yourself out of it" before you eat!
(10) Keep a supply of raw carrots, celery, turnips and other vegetables in the refrigerator to snack on, as well as other low fat, low carbohydrate, items in case of "temptation attacks."
ON THE OTHER HAND
“Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals, dying of nothing.”
Redd Foxx
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