Weight Loss is a very hard, but rewarding journey. It’s going to take a lot of time, sweat, tears and sacrifices. It’s not an easy road, but there are so many great benefits that can come from eating healthy and staying clean. However, there are some tricks and tips that can help you through this journey.

1. Start slowly

Cutting out your favorite foods completely is not the best way to go. You are going to have to start slowly, but surely. Instead of having a soda at lunch, have a glass of water or a fruit smoothie. Easy small changes that you gradually introduce to your diet can really make a difference to your waistline.

2. Use your substitutes

Especially when you are starting on a diet, you can crave all the sugary snacks that you love. Use substitutes that taste like your favorite foods to help you through the process. If you love red velvet cake, buy a yogurt that tastes exactly like it. It will trick your brain into feeling like you’re actually having the dessert, when you are eating something healthy.

3. Drink lots of Water!

This is a big one! Drink lots of water! Drinking water will help to curb cravings, appetite and help keep you full. This will allow your body to let go of the excess weight and stay hydrated. Drink at least two liters of water a day to make sure you are hydrated and satisfied.

4. Don’t overthink it

Especially when we start a new weight loss journey, we all try weird little things to get ourselves to the goal weight. Don’t overthink it, and just stay on the path. It may be hard to not try to do more than you can handle, but just breathe and stay calm.

5. Don’t just do plain exercise

You don’t have to specifically spend an hour on the treadmill to get that dream body. You can do dance and yoga classes to make things interesting and to help tone your muscles. Even if that doesn’t work, walking around for a few miles or doing something physically active with your friends can do the trick.

6. Get your buddies in on the journey!

Studies have shown that if you have friends or gym buddies who help you, then you are more likely to stay on the path to your weight loss goals. Have your friends get in on the action and go to the gym together! Eat out at healthy restaurants together, motivate each other and watch as you guys easily and happily lose the weight together!

7. Don’t ever deprive yourself

This is also a big one. If you get a craving, just curb the craving. If you have been craving chocolate for a few days, then go grab a few pieces of chocolate and enjoy every bite of it. It’s okay to curb the cravings if they are becoming too powerful. This is especially useful if you are around ‘that time of the month’.

8. Splurge!

Weekends are the perfect days for splurges. Save the weekends for the nights out and for eating out with friends. The weekends should be a time when you can reboost your body’s metabolism with some junky food, if you like. This won’t hinder your weight loss, and it will keep cravings at bay.

9. Forgive yourself

It can be very easy for us to start blaming ourselves when we eat too much of something. Just take it easy, breathe, and don’t let it get to you. Forgive yourself and move on with your journey. Eating a meal at a fast food restaurant won’t make you gain all the weight back. Just forgive yourself and get back into the game.

10. Look to inspirational things

Look to the things you love and the things that inspire you. This will really help when you are getting low and you are lacking determination to stay on track. Hang them in your bedroom, bathroom mirror, or anywhere you are going to see them. You can do this, and you will do this!

BDST: 1711 HRS, JAN 03, 2015