October 01, 2015
6 Ways To Get Started When You Have More Than 50 Pounds To Lose
You can't start a journey without taking a step. But when it comes to weight loss, the more you have to lose, the more difficult it may be to feel motivated at the start.
"I think people who've never been overweight don't understand how intimidating it can be to start losing weight," says Louise Green, a trainer, fitness writer, and founder of Canada's Body Exchange exercise programs and retreats, which are designed for plus-sized clients. If this sounds like you, Green has this to say: "There’s a lot of fear surrounding fitness... But you're more capable then you assume."
Green and other experts have provided you with these tips to get going when you have 50 or more pounds to lose:
If you set the bar too high, you're opening yourself up to failure. Dyan Tsiumis, founder of GET FIERCE Training in New York, who lost 70 pounds, says, "I often have my clients start by drinking two liters of water every day for a month. They're amazed at how good they feel." Give yourself a modest target and then you will avoid burnout and the disappointment of not meeting your goal.
1. Hide the bathroom scale
Weight loss is a slow process. Watching that number on the scale too closely can be depressing. If you are really set on losing a certain number of pounds in a certain period of time, missing that mark can be enough to just obliterate your motivation. "Some people are just born bigger, and they won't be able to lose a lot of weight without taking unhealthy, unsustainable measures when it comes to diet or exercise," Green adds. Because of this, Green says that losing weight should be a secondary benefit to your healthy lifestyle and not the main goal.2. That's right: focus on your health
Michelle Steinke, founder of One Fit Widow recommends that you focus on how you feel. After the death of her husband, Steinke lost 80 pounds. When you're active, you'll have more energy and feel better about yourself. "Enjoy the sensations of being active and strong," Green says. Don't treat exercise like some bootcamp hellish nightmare, have fun with it. For over 80 hours of fun, on demand, workout options, check out SweatFlix℠! With new content added all the time, you'll always find something to boost your mood!3. Drink more water
