Journal Your Intake: One of the most common mistakes is making an assumption of how much you have eaten. Many people are reluctant to, but without weighing and charting your food, it is impossible to correctly gauge how much you are eating, and all your efforts could be for naught. Keep a food diary, either on your phone, a notepad, or your fridge. It’s the number one tool that big weight losers use. Continue keeping a food diary even after you achieve a healthy weight.
Self-Medicate In Other Ways: Had a hard day and just want to treat yourself with a half a cake and a gallon of ice cream? Consider how you’ll feel after you finish your feast. Rav Noach said when you hear that voice in your head saying, I should do ABC, but I feel like doing XYZ, the should voice is your yetzar tov guiding you to the path of least regret and the feel likevoice is your yetzar hara leading you into temptation. Find a healthier way to self-sooth.
Avoid Temptation: We all have that food that once we start eating we just can’t stop. It could be chips, chocolate babka or pickles. Whatever it is, make sure you don’t bring it into your house. It doesn’t matter if your kids are literally dying for it. When they have their own homes, they can stock up on chocolate chips. You are most likely doing them a huge favor not bringing it home, as odds are it’s not good for them either.
Exercise Daily: Daily exercise is important, not just for the calories you will burn, but to increase your metabolism and many other health benefits. This is important, because once you gain weight, it’s much harder to lose it and keep it off.
Fully Commit Yourself: If you are one of those people, constantly promising themselves that this time they will “eat good” and “not cheat”, try another tactic to keep your commitment. Make a bet, either with a friend or online. Two options where you can commit real money to keeping your promise is stickK.com where you make legal contracts to meet a certain goal, and dietbet.com where you wager money that you will lose four percent of your weight in a month. I personally lost fifteen stubborn pounds using dietbet, and not only did I not have to pay someone or buy expensive products – I actually made money!
Do what you need to do to feel good and energetic, but always remember, you are not what you eat – you are what you do with your life.