Modern Dilemmas: Change of lifestyle is key to keeping the weight off

Dear Alex – During the summer, I lost two stones, having been overweight for many years, and I loved feeling and looking better. But over the last weeks, I have began to relax my régime and so the pounds are piling back on. How can I lose the weight I want and keep it off for good?

Many people like you try diet after diet with varying results and many of us experience weight loss and then weight gain as soon as we stop the diet. That's why diets don't work.

The foundation of every successful weight-loss program still remains a healthy, low-calorie diet combined with exercise; in other words, a lifestyle change. The only way to be the way you want to be is to change your habits for good. Drop the habits that keep you over weight and replace them with the habits that will help you lose the weight you want to and keep it off.

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Now, as you may have guessed, changing habits is not a quick fix – it's more the long term solution, but the shifts you make can happen fairly quickly.

Lifestyle changes start with taking an honest look at your eating habits and daily routine. After assessing your personal challenges to weight loss, try working out a strategy to gradually change habits and attitudes that have sabotaged your past efforts. It's not enough just to recognise your challenges – you have to plan for how you'll deal with them if you're going to succeed in losing weight once and for all.

As you're planning new weight-related lifestyle changes, try to resolve any other problems in your life. It takes a lot of mental and physical energy to change your habits. So make sure you aren't distracted by other major life issues, such as marital or financial problems. Timing is key to success. Ask yourself if you're ready to take on the challenges of such changes but at the same time don't let the old habit of procrastination prevent you from starting in the first place!

Remember you have to be responsible for your progress and hold yourself accountable but at the same time make sure you have emotional support from family or friends who can listen to you and encourage you. In my experience, what people call discipline, I call motivation.

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Before you start your habit change, think through your motivations. Why are you doing this? What will keep you going when you forget your reasons? Public commitment is a big motivator, of course, but you should have internal ones too. Write these down. Set a start date and set realistic goals for yourself. Good luck!

Alexandra Watson is a leading Happiness Coach and best selling author. If you have a dilemma, ask Alex by going to www.AlexandraWatson.com