At Whole Intent, we believe that the health and wellness industry is overloaded with misinformation and inaccurate advice. Between fad dieting strategies and unreliable fitness advice on social media, it can be tough to know what's the right approach to lose weight and keep it off. We're here to shed some light on that topic.

4 Tips to Support Your Weight Loss in Denver

Remember: weight loss journeys look different for everyone! These tips will provide helpful guidance for your journey, but you'll likely take a different route to get to your destination than your friends and family.

1. Determine Your Motive for Losing Weight

Your decision to lose weight should not be influenced by others. It should be your decision and yours alone. Why? Because you'll be more likely to follow through on your weight loss plans if you've made the decision to lose weight based a good personal motivation.

Take some time to reflect and ask yourself "Why do you want to lose weight?" Find a reason, or a few, that resonate with you on an emotional level. Be sure to jot down your motivating factors in a personal journal or in a space that you see every day. This way, you can reference your motivation for weight loss each day and maintain your commitment to your plan.

2. Create an Action Plan with Realistic Goals

Every successful journey starts with a plan. Losing weight is often tricky because numerous factors influence your weight including exercise and nutrition, but also genetics, lifestyle, and more.

To create an attainable weight loss plan, it's a good idea to establish SMART goals for your journey. That means these goals need to be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. Why? Because those goal parameters will hold you more accountable to your overall plan and will reduce the number of loopholes that you can exploit. They also can provide a simple roadmap to get you back on track if your ever stray from your weight loss plan.

For example, if you want to lose 30 pounds, your SMART goal could be along the lines of: "I want to lose 10 pounds per month, totaling 30 pounds in three months, by eating at least two well-balanced meals per day and doing moderate-intensity exercise for one hour at least three days per week."

By outlining your plan based on this SMART goal, you can set yourself up for success!

3. Don't Fall for Fad Dieting Strategies

Have you ever tried Atkins or Paleo? If so, you're already familiar with the shortcomings of fad diets. These plans are sold as the best and fastest approaches to losing weight, and while some can help you shed pounds of fat, they are rarely ever a healthy approach to losing weight.

Fad diets are not well researched and many restrict calories or necessary nutrients. They boast claims that sound too good to be true and draw simplistic conclusions from inaccurate data.

Even if you end up losing weight on one of these diets, there's a good chance that you'll just regain all of that weight in a few weeks. Why? Because you will just revert to your old eating habits as soon as you're off the diet.

Want our advice? In general, it's best to aim for a well-balanced diet that's rich in veggies and fruits, and limits processed grains and junk foods.

The right dieting strategy for you will be unique to your personal needs, so it's a good idea to speak with a nutrition coach to get a sense of your dieting plan.

4. Long-Term Success is All About Habit Building

If you want to successfully lose weight and keep it off, you need to prioritize building healthy habits to replace your old unhealthy ones. Here are a few examples:

• Take time to slowly and mindfully eat at the dinner table instead of in front of the TV. This will help you stop eating when you are full and avoid overeating a large portion.
• When you're feeling hungry, drink some water first. Sometimes a hunger pang is caused by thirst, which can lead to unnourishing snacking.
• Keep a food journal to track your eating habits. You can likely find areas where you're consuming a few extra calories that can be cut out.

Start Your Personalized Approach to Weight Loss in Denver Today

At Whole Intent, our nutrition and fitness coach will develop a completely customized solution for your weight loss goals. We'll take into account everything from your medical history and current diet to your exercise routine and more when developing your plan. With our weight loss accountability coach, you'll be able to shed excess pounds and achieve your weight loss goals on your schedule.

Contact Whole Intent today to uncover your ideal personalized solution for weight loss in Denver.