Most people try anything and everything to lose weight when first starting. They will try the latest supplements, liquid diets, eating only select foods (cabbage soup anyone), the hottest fitness craze, eating at only certain times – you get the picture. Let’s do A through Z and sticks to the wall and un-sticks my diet.
I was a proponent of the more is more approach for years and it didn’t work. Over the years as my weight climbed and my hope failed, I tried everything, many simultaneously, from being a vegetarian (failed because M&M’s are not meat!), popping Green Tea pills, cleansing in various ways, the latest exercise craze, and on and on… Then I discovered two things. Weight Watchers (WW) and the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18077875-essentialism . Both teach the same thing – Do less, but better. The key to weight loss and a better, more successful life is by correctly assessing the few important priorities, focusing on these priorities exclusively, and dumping the rest. Mr. McKeown provides how to do this in his book and WW in its classed for a Essentialist’s Playbook for Weight Loss.
You can lose 170+ pounds like me by not doing everything but these three things:
- Track everything you eat or drink. The best way to know how to lose weight is to track what you eat. By consciously tracking your food intake, you will better understand portion control and the trigger foods you need to avoid. You use this along with weekly weight tracking to find out what works and what foods to avoid. That way you focus on what works, rather than trying everything that doesn’t!
- Be kind for yourself. You can’t focus on what is important if you are unhealthy in body or your soul. It is therefore important to focus on your health both mentally and physically. Take time to journal positive thoughts, rest, and relax. A few minutes a day of being kind to yourself will not only help you lose the stress that sabotages most people’s health.
- Take time to exercise. Study upon study have shown that sitting is the equivalent or worse to smoking for health. It does not take much to get the exercise your body needs and craves. Get up for 10 minutes every hour and take a walk. Also, block out 30 minutes in the morning to recharge and energize.
Bottom line: You do not need to do A through Z to lose weight and be a better you! All you need is the essential 1-2-3! Go out and practice Essentialism to gain a new body and soul.
Weight Loss and Leadership 