Recently, I had a chance to read “I am so smart, why can’t I lose weight?” book by Brooke Castillo. It’s an excellent book about tips that you can incorporate into your everyday life to lose weight. After reading this book, it just hit me. Not losing weight is not always about not knowing what to eat or what to do, but rather having the determination to go ahead with a plan. I always compare eating food to being addicted to cigarettes. A lot of it comes down to shedding those bad habits. A lot of people who struggle to lose the weight find it difficult to change their lifestyle. Eating becomes a habit for them, and they can’t stick to their plans the way they should.

Another reason why people don’t lose weight is due to them having a “there is a tomorrow” attitude.  I remember when I was overweight and went to my doctor. I wasn’t overweight by much, but it was still significant enough for my doctor to tell me that I would die if I didn’t stop eating unhealthy food. That’s the attitude that’s going to help you lose the weight. If you approach weight loss as a life-saving measure, you are going to have more success with it. There will always be temptations. You want to eat more today and promise yourself to eat less tomorrow, but that never works. Having a balanced diet each and everyday is key here!

Just like those who are addicted to cigarettes, you should avoid giving into temptations. It’s easy to say, “I am going to have this piece of chocolate today and not have any chocolate for a month.” It would be great if you could stick to that plan. But in reality, that is a promise that is hard to keep. It’s always better to set a long-term goal and “celebrate” when you reach it. Never take breaks or give in before you have reached you weight milestone (e.g. dropped 5, 10, 15, … lbs). Eat well and exercise often, and you’ll be on your way to a healthier you.