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Years ago, when I’d already lost a fair amount of weight and had 10 more pounds to shed, friends and relatives would often ask me what I was “doing.” In other words, what was my Big Secret for losing weight? At the time, I thought the answer seemed pretty obvious. I was eating less and moving my body more.

I know my “Big Secret” is easier said than done and may even sound a little flippant, as in ‘duh Ellen, thanks so much for that wonderful insight.’ But eating less and moving more has always been my “formula” for losing weight. The thing is I’ve never been a fan of the “special diets” with goofy names that require you to X out entire food groups – such as carbohydrates. Call me old school. But for some reason I still believe that eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly is the best way to shed pounds and feel better in the long run (that and I DO love a heaping mound of mash potatoes from time to time!).

Having said that, through the years, I’ve learned some tips and tricks that have helped me and many of my coaching clients lose weight when the scale gets a little tipsier than we’d like.

Listed below are six of those tips, but please keep in mind that we’re all so different and therefore require different strategies, so pick and choose and experiment until you find some solutions that work well for YOU:

Be Clear About WHY You Want to Lose Weight – If you’re reading this you may be thinking ‘come on, Ellen: isn’t it obvious why I want to lose weight?’ No it isn’t. The truth is everyone has a slightly different reason for wanting to lose weight. Some people may want to “look better.” Others may want to be able to keep up with their grandkids. And some people – who are overweight and at risk for heart disease and diabetes ----may want to live long enough to see their child’s wedding when that happy day rolls around. I once worked with a coaching client who wanted to lose weight and get in better shape so she could cover stories, as a journalist, that required her to spend time hiking in mountainous terrain. The thing is that if we have an intrinsic, or internal motivation for losing weight, or for making any kind of change in our life, we’re more likely to reach our goal. So while a doctor may convince you that it’s a good idea for you to lose weight, that will only go so far. Unless you have your own reason for shedding the pounds and keeping the weight off, you won’t be as successful as someone who is inspired by an internal flame.

Write it Out – Many of us have heard that writing out our goals can help us achieve our dreams, and I’ve certainly found that to be true, both in my personal life and as a coach. So write out your goals and make sure they are specific. In other words, how much weight do you want to lose, and by when? And how often do you plan on exercising each week? Each day, look over your weight loss goals, as a reminder.

Make it Fun – Are weight loss and fun mutually exclusive? I don’t think so, though some believe otherwise. In my opinion, when we approach weight loss in the spirit of fun, finding recipes that we like and creating an exercise plan that is enjoyable, rather than sheer drudgery, we’re more likely to achieve our goals.  Case in point: I once had a client who incorporated dance into her exercise routine, and looked forward to “exercising” because it was an enjoyable activity rather than something she “had to do.” I’ve also worked with people who recorded their favorite TV programs and then watched them while they were on the treadmill, and looked forward to “their guilty pleasures,” as they put it. The point is that if you can find a way to enjoy your exercise routine you’re more likely to stick to it, and in doing so you’ll be more likely to lose weight.

Make an Appointment with Yourself – Everyone has a different way of doing this, but what I do is block off an hour each weekday for exercise – usually at the same time everyday. That strategy has been working for me for more than a decade, because it’s in writing, and I’m committed to maintaining my health through exercising regularly. Years ago, I used a paper calendar. These days, I use an electronic Google calendar, which allows me to color code my calendars, something that provides me with an odd and inexplicable lift. So give it a try. Make an appointment with yourself to move your body, and hold that appointment dear. Because your goals are important, and you’re worth it!

Seek Out Support – Have you ever had the experience of really, truly wanting to make a change in your life, but no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t seem to make it happen? If so, that doesn’t make you a lazy person or a hopeless case. It just may mean you need a little extra support. So consider joining a support group for people who want to lose weight, or hiring a coach. Coaches can help you over that invisible hump. We can help you set measurable, reasonable goals, assist you in creating a plan that works for you, help you identify and overcome any limiting beliefs that are keeping you stuck, and hold you accountable to what you say you’re going to do.

Forgive Yourself  -- Unless you’re perfect, and I don’t know anyone who is, you’re probably going to experience some backsliding from time to time. Maybe you’ll get crazy busy with a work-related project and “forget” about exercising for a full week. Or perhaps you’ll indulge in a third piece of chocolate cake and feel glutton’s remorse.” We’ve all experienced our own version of that defining moment. The good news is that you have a choice, at that point. You can either beat yourself up and tell yourself that there’s no use in bothering to lose weight. Or you can be gentle with yourself, remind yourself that we all make mistakes, and forgive yourself. After all, tomorrow is another day, to start anew. Don’t forget that losing weight is a process,  not a destination, a path, if you will, to a healthier you.

What or who has helped you lose weight? I’d love to hear what you have to say. Please leave a comment, here on ShareWIK.com.

Ellen Brown is a certified professional coach, based in Cleveland, OH, and a regular columnist on ShareWIK.com.  Visit her website at http://ellen-brown.com.  

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