After you have thought about your weight loss motivation it is time to prepare for your weight loss journey.

When you start something as challenging as losing weight, you should be well prepared! Think about the following:

Set and communicate a realistic weight loss goal!

Before starting your weight loss journey and choosing your diet program, you should set a realistic weight loss goal.

Well, how much weight do you want to lose until when? Come up with the amount of weight you want to lose per week.
Now, we recommend that this number be somewhere between one and two pounds (0.5 to one kilo) per week.

If you want to go on a serious weight loss program, one pound (half a kilo) per week should be your minimal goal. However, losing more than two pounds (one kilo) a week over a longer time could be too much and bad for your health.

Make a clear commitment after you know how much weight you would like to lose until when. Write your goal down and keep it visible! Tell your friends and diet community about it!

Your weight loss goal will help you to track your progress and measure the effect of your diet program. It will show you what works and what doesn’t.

Check if it is a good time to start your weight loss journey!

Reaffirm your motivation!
Recheck your motivation. You need to have solid weight loss motivation so that that losing weight becomes one of the top priorities in your life. Make losing weight your focus for the period you will need to achieve your goal!

Check your stress level at work and at home!
Life is always stressful and it seems to get worse and worse...
If you are in the middle of a very stressful time or even face a major life challenge in the moment you’ll need to assess if it is the right time to start with a weight loss program.

If you face too many challenges in the moment it might be necessary to delay the start of your weight loss journey. However don’t cancel it, just delay it for a while if you have to.

If you can, come up with ways how to reduce your stress level and take opportunities to simplify your life! And never use this point as an excuse to delay and delay and delay your weight loss journey.

Once you have thought about your situation and decided to start with your diet program, don’t let anything come between you and your weight loss goal!

Think about how you can clear out the obstacles to lose weight

You will face obstacles during your weight loss journey. This is 100% certain.

So, think about the obstacles that you will be facing and try to find ways to overcome them ahead of time.

All problems have a solution! You can overcome all obstacles to losing weight!

For example, you don’t have time in the evening for your weight loss exercise? Well, then try getting up earlier in the morning and exercise for 20 minutes before breakfast. Or cut down on television time if you have to, or get an exercise machine you can use at home while watching television.

If you are tempted by the ice cream in your freezer late at night, well, throw it out right now...

...did it? Back again? Great!

Simply don’t buy new ice cream. Don’t have any at home.
Of course you can include ice cream in your diet! But is it a big temptation? Then make it a rule to eat it always outside of your home and with limits, in line with your diet plan.

Based on your experiences and previous failures, make a list of what obstacles you might be facing and come up with a plan to overcome each obstacle.
Doing this early on will help you to avoid major potholes during your weight loss journey.

Realize that your weight loss journey is a marathon, not a sprint!

Don’t go on a short-term, extreme diet and hope that you will keep the weight off. When you start your weight loss journey, realize that it is a marathon...

..and that it should be the start of a new healthy lifestyle. Not just a short-term diet. You need to change your life-style. Your old life-style made you obese.

Get ready for your intense weight loss phase but at the same time already think about your diet after the diet. Use your weight loss phase to learn about yourself. Unlearn your bad habits. You most likely had too much food at the wrong time and did not move enough. Now is the time to change your habits and start a new, healthy life full of energy!

Well, are you prepared for your weight loss journey?

Great!

The next step is to get a great weight loss mindset day in and day out!