If you have a weight loss goal of ten pounds within a month, you need to be prepared to work hard regardless of the outrageous promises made by supplement companies, infomercial gadgetry, or celebrity-endorsed.
A goal such a trying to lose 10 pounds in one month is a tough one, but it is not impossible. The best thing about setting a goal such as this one is that even if you do not reach it, you will certainly lose more than five pounds.
The most important thing to focus on is losing weight safely. As tempting as it may be, resist taking dangerous supplements or enrolling in hazardous programs that can lead to injury. In order to reach your goal of a ten pound loss, you will need to work very hard. An injury would make losing weight this month nearly impossible.
You will need to reduce your calorie intake by roughly 500 calories. That is key to your success. Be prepared to work out—and work out hard. But living in the gym will not counter bad eating habits. In order to see the scale register ten pounds less, you have to clean up your diet.
Avoid fad diets. Do not fall for the hype around cutting entire food groups. The best diet is a balanced, healthy one. Increase your fruits and vegetables. Cook your meat leaner by removing the skin, and grilling rather than frying. Cut fat—especially unhealthy fat—from your diet—that means eschewing French fries, potato chips, and bacon. Increase your water intake. Cut processed foods from your diet and reduce your sugar intake. That means no more sodas and dessert.
The best way to ensure your eating habits will help you lose 10 pounds in one month is to journal. Keep a food journal of everything you eat. This will show you places where you can improve your diet. It also helps you track calories.
Along with the changes in your diet, you need to commit yourself to consistent exercise. You want to aim for cardio every single day. Ideally, you will spend an hour breaking a sweat each day. Although people often want to work out with a buddy, if you are strolling around the neighborhood chatting with your friend you are not working toward your goal of shedding ten pounds. You want to break a sweat with your exercise efforts.
In addition to this, you should strength train three times a week. Full body toning will help you build muscle, which helps burn calories even when you are at rest. If you don’t have time to tone your whole body at once, split your sessions in half. Then aim for training your upper and lower body twice each weekly.
On top of this, try to add more movement to your everyday routine. Park further away. Use your lunch to take a stroll. Walk to talk to someone face-to-face rather than sending an email. The more you move about, the better. Some dieters find it motivating to invest a pedometer and track the number of steps they take each day. Studies have shown that people who take 10,000 steps a day tend to be able to maintain their weight. Set that as a goal for yourself each day.
Although trying to lose 10 pounds in one month is a lofty goal, it is one worth striving toward. Just make sure you take the path that leads to losing weight safely. You want your efforts to have a lasting impact and to create a healthier lifestyle.