Being someone who writes about weight loss and healthy eating for a living, I cringe when I feel the need to use the word “lifestyle.” It’s fast becoming an over-used, over-marketed term to describe how to successfully lose weight.
I know this. Yet, every time I need to describe the changes that must happen for one to successfully lose, I can’t fight it. The word somehow finds it way to the paper. And as I proofread my own articles I visualize all of eye rolling that will happen when it gets read.
Don’t deny it. You’ve done the pre-mentioned (eye roll). Thinking to yourself, ugh here’s that lifestyle thing again.” But you don’t want to change. You like to go out with friends, order pizza for the family on a Friday nights, and enjoy popcorn with butter at the movies. You also loathe the gym and have no time to exercise anyway. You like your lifestyle. It fits you ... probably better then your jeans.
If that’s the case yet you’d still like to drop a few pounds, I’m here to say “lifestyle” is NOT a dirty word. It is possible to make small changes that will soon become good habits. That’s really what the whole “change your lifestyle” thing is all about.
Let’s use a few of the examples I gave above.
You like to go out with friends
This isn’t going to change. You want to go out. You need to go out. Some people may approach this problem while trying to lose weight by NOT going out. They remove themselves from the situation. Bad idea! The “lifestyle” approach is to continue to go out but make it work with you goals. For example, ease up on the mudslides and replace them a light beer or vodka and diet. Split an entrée with friends. Stick with brothy soups and ease up on the bar food. It’s possible to go out and have a good time just be mindful and conscious of the decisions you are making. That’s a lifestyle change.
