Best Weight Loss: 4 Things to Look for When Choosing a Weight Loss Program

So it's about that time. "What time?" may you ask... that time when you look in the mirror and say, "I gotta lose some weight." We all know what it feels like, it happens a few times a year, we look at ourselves in the mirror and we're just over it, then we search high and low for the latest and greatest innovation in weight loss, we ask around a bit about it, we wait another few weeks thinking about starting then we do. Well, I'm not going to tell you the eventuality of that story because you can probably guess what happens, we live this yo-yo cycle here in America! Neither am I going to tell you what the best weight loss program is. Rather, I will be sharing with you 5 things to look for when you are looking for a program to help you reach your goals of fat loss and weight maintenance.

1. The weight loss program should focus on lifestyle change. Too many diets these days focus on the "quick fix." I think we've tried enough quick fix weight loss programs that we can all agree that the only way to successfully lose weight and ultimately keep that weight off is to change our lifestyle. The best weight loss program would have a strong focus on helping you to make the better choices so the weight not only comes off but stays off! Each individual is different so making lifestyle change for each person will be different, but the best weight loss program would have a strong focus on helping you to make better choices according to your life, so the weight not only comes off but stays off!

2. The weight loss program must be sustainable. In other words, don't even try to lose weight doing something that you cannot be doing for the rest of your life. If you can't continue doing what you did to take the weight off in the first place, then you will not be able to keep the weight off. For example, if you exercised at the gym for 4 hours a day 7 days a week to drop the 20 pounds, chances are that you will not be exercising that way for the rest of your life and therefore will probably put the weight back on. Another example, if you replaced 2 meals a day with a liquid drink for 3 months to lose 20 pounds, chances are that 3 years from now you will not be drinking 2 meals a day and will likely be putting back on that weight that you lost. The best weight loss program would be one that you feel you can do not just for the next 3-6 months, but for the next 3-6 years.

3. The weight loss program must be able to meet you at YOUR commitment level. Too many time's I've seen coaches, basically force their clients do what they we're NOT ready to do, ie. throw out all processed foods in their home, vow not to eat any sugars or starches (forever), actually buy a membership and commit to 3-4 times a week at the gym (when they had probably never even seen the inside of a gym.) Don't get me wrong, none of these things are "bad," of course I want you to get rid of all the processed foods you've been living off of and to break the sugar addiction and to get active, however it never works when the customer themselves are not ready to do it. The best weight loss program would still be successful even if you we're not as committed as the crazy coach that you signed up do it with.

4. The weight loss program must come with a support system. So this rules out any "do-it-yourself" program unless you go out and create the support system yourself (possible, but I'm not sure how long it would last.) You cannot do it by yourself, if you could you would have already. So the best weight loss program would come with a stellar support system. You support system should consist of a number of different things: instruction, a real person you can call when you need support, on-going motivation, accountability. The best weight loss program would connect you to a community of like minded individuals who are committed to supporting you in attaining your weight loss and weight maintenance success!

Successful weight loss and weight maintenance takes a combination of many different factors. The above 4 points should get you started in the right direction and always keep in mind, "If you don't give up, you will get there."