by April Wilson

Created on: November 17, 2009

Losing weight is easy. It's just that it takes a long time to do. Because weight loss is so slow, we often revert back to old habits before we've seen much success. If we've done things to slow our metabolism during our weight loss attempts, we regain the weight, and more. I've experienced this problem in the past. Losing a few pounds then gaining them back, all to come to the conclusion that weight loss was impossible and way too hard.

Only "certain people" could do it and though I'd started out rather thin in high school and had been what is termed as "naturally thin," I was no longer one of those people.

Since that time I've lost 45 pounds and maintained that weight loss for two years. What changed? How did I come to see weight loss as "easy" where before it had been so hard? It took a tiny mental shift.

We live in a fast food culture. And I don't just mean dinner options. People want everything right now. Microwaves, dishwashers, and sitcoms have taught us that we can have whatever we want in thirty minutes or less. Even pizza, or it's free. But the rest of life doesn't work that way. If you want to improve your health, or lose weight, or accomplish any larger goals, you won't do it in thirty minutes, or even thirty days.

Those books and videos you see about having a flat belly in 3 weeks guaranteed, is all a bunch of hype and unrealistic expectations which will make weight loss seem far more difficult to you than it really is. The only way you're getting a flat belly in 3 weeks is if it was almost flat when you started. This stuff takes time.

But time, isn't the same as difficulty level. Yes, you can lose weight easily, it's just going to take time. And a lifestyle change. You're going to have to pick a new lifestyle and commit to it for life. Yes, you'll have bad days, days where you won't exercise, or where you'll eat too much. But don't act like your diet is shot, just keep going.

First calculate how many calories you are supposed to be getting a day to just maintain your current weight if you're sitting around all day. For this, you'll need to use a BMR calculator. Type in your stats: age, weight, height, and it will tell you how many calories you need.

Add exercise onto this. And then make sure the calories you consume are less than that. If you're starting out very heavy then you will be able to eat more and still lose weight than someone thinner than you. Don't crash diet. If you're 300 pounds do NOT try to subsist on 1500 calories a day with heavy workouts. You need enough fuel to get you through your workouts.

ideally you only want to cut about 100-200 of your calories a day from diet. The rest of your cut calories need to be from exercise 300-400 calories a day burned.

If you're trying to lose fat, and not just "weight," you should walk and start a strength training routine. The strength training doesn't have to be super difficult when you start. As your fitness level grows you can do more. Don't try to do everything at once. It's all about consistency and lifestyle.

The less insane and strenuous you make your lifestyle changes, the more likely you'll stick with them so they become an actual longterm lifestyle.

Weight loss really is easy if you focus on consistency and little changes. It just takes a long time. But the time will pass whether you lose the weight or not. If it takes you five years, it takes you five years. This isn't a race. Five years from today you can be fitter and thinner than you are today, or you can maintain, or you can be fatter and less in shape. The choice is yours.

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