With the festive season fast approaching, not many people’s minds will be on weight management and healthy weight loss.
However, when 2012 comes, many UK residents will make a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight, but very few will stick to it.
Below are just some of the reasons why deciding to take weight management seriously come the 1st of January is doomed to failure for so many people.
* Going from one extreme to another
The best way to achieve healthy weight loss is to adapt your everyday lifestyle so that you eat healthily and exercise regularly.
The problem with launching into a diet or weight management programme as a New Year’s Resolution is that you’re taking your body from one extreme to another.
Most of us indulge over the festive period, whether it’s office parties or eating too much chocolate and puddings at Christmas time. Taking the leap from over-indulgence to a sensible and healthy lifestyle is a step too far for many and a common reason why healthy weight loss resolutions fizzle out by February.
* Lack of willpower
If you struggle with willpower and haven’t been able to stick to a weight management programme at any other time of year, why will January be any different?
A lot of people put on weight because they are ‘emotional eaters’ i.e. they use food as a crutch when they’re feeling tired, stressed or upset. When the cold dark nights of January are upon us, it’s hard for many people to stick to a healthy weight loss regime including regular exercise, for example, going out for a walk after dinner isn’t as appealing in January as it might be in July.
* Doing too much too soon
A healthy weight loss programme should result in you losing weight gradually over a long period of time. The trouble with many weight-related New Year’s Resolutions is that people try to do too much too soon and burn themselves out.
If you’ve been eating and drinking more than you should over the festive period and then suddenly switch to eating lettuce and exercising five times a week, your body will struggle to sustain your new approach.
Start now for healthy weight loss in 2012
If you’re really keen to achieve healthy weight loss in 2012, now is the time to start. Remember, weight management is about a lifestyle change, not faddy short-term diets.
You can still enjoy the festive season without going overboard, but if you start to try and lose weight now, you’ll have a much better chance of long-term success than if you make it a New Year’s Resolution.
The Co-operative Pharmacy has weight loss aid alli available to buy online which can help you achieve a healthy weight loss.* There are also details on their website about weight management programmes as well as free dieting advice.