How to Choose the Best Weight Loss Plan

Let’s be honest, losing weight and keeping it off is WAY easier said than done – despite what many nutrition gurus tell you! 

Many women have been told it’s simply about “eating less and moving more”. Others have been told that the only way to lose weight is by following a restrictive diet and being “perfect”. 

It’s very common for women to feel overwhelmed by all of the conflicting information out there on weight loss and to feel like they have no idea where to start. This can drive a womn to choose a quick-fix and often harmful approach like a restrictive fad diet.

Here’s the thing: there are many pieces to the weight management puzzle and when a weight loss plan is missing one or more pieces, it may not work. Or, it might work in the short-term but not in the long-term. 

Unfortunately, when it comes to weight loss, many women have trouble. For women who have been successful at losing weight, the majority will eventually gain the weight back, and many will gain back more weight than they lost. 

This can lead to a tremendous amount of frustration and disappointment. 

Therefore, it’s essential for a woman to choose the right weight loss plan from the start to increase the likelihood of long-term success! 

Steps for Choosing the Best Weight Loss Plan:

1. Speak to your doctor

Certain medical conditions are associated with weight gain or trouble losing weight including PCOS, hypothyroidism, and insulin resistance.

It’s a good idea to rule out these medical conditions before choosing a weight loss plan. If you do have a medical condition, it’s best to discuss the right course of action with your physician. 

This could include getting help from other medical professionals like a Registered Dietitian.

2. Choose a safe plan that fuels and nourishes your body 

There are millions of weight loss strategies out there and unfortunately, many of them aren’t safe, healthy, or scientifically sound. 

Many women can lose weight by starving themselves, cutting out entire food groups or skipping meals, but these restrictive approaches can be harmful to our health. They can lead to a host of physical, mental, and emotional issues. 

The weight loss plan you choose should be balanced and based on whole foods to provide you with the energy and nutrients that your body needs to thrive!

3. Choose a weight loss plan that you can follow for life

For many women, the plan they use to lose the weight is the plan they need to keep the weight off!

This means that your plan must be:

• Personalized and consider your food preferences/intolerances, lifestyle, schedule, and medical history 
• Flexible so that you can adapt it anywhere you go including restaurants, social events, and while travelling 
• Balanced so that you can treat yourself without feeling guilty 
• Easy to follow and enjoyable

4. Look out for red flags 

Unfortunately, many diets can have nasty consequences such as hunger, intense cravings, and fatigue. 

As a result, a woman either struggles with this diet or quits and blames themselves for their failed efforts. 

This can completely sabotage a woman’s relationship with food and make them feel hopeless.

Let me tell you this: you DO NOT need to suffer to lose weight! In fact, the right weight loss plan will prioritize your health and help you feel better, not worse.

Your diet should optimize your energy, mood, and mental clarity. It should keep your hunger and cravings at bay and should be satisfying.

If you notice any red flags on your weight loss journey, speak to your doctor right away and get help from a Registered Dietitian who specializes in weight management.

5. Consider Your Obstacles 

When it comes to weight loss, a nutrition and exercise plan is often not enough.

It’s one thing knowing what to do but it’s another thing to actually follow through on doing it. 

Every woman faces a unique set of challenges that can make it difficult to stay on track. 

This could include a woman’s:

• Mindset around food and weight loss (i.e. all-or-nothing thinking)
• Deeply engrained habits (i.e. mindless eating such as grazing while making dinner or watching TV)
• Relationship with food (i.e. restricting then overeating followed by guilt)
• Emotional eating patterns (i.e. eating for comfort, reward, or as a distraction too often)
• Busy schedule (i.e. difficulty finding time to plan, prep, and sometimes even eat)
• Competing priorities (I.e. family, friends, work, housework)
• Social events (i.e. restaurants, parties, and travel)

Through mindfulness and self-reflection, you can identify your challenges and develop strategies for overcoming them. Only then will you have the confidence and skills to stay on track no matter what life brings you.

6. Find Your Tribe 

Weight loss requires change, and change can be difficult, especially when we consider all the challenges listed above!

Having the right support system helps with motivation and accountability. It can offer a safe opportunity to share, get feedback, and set goals. 

Research has shown that women with support from their peers and loved ones are more successful at losing weight.

7. Choose a holistic approach 

Weight loss isn’t just about food and exercise. 

A weight loss plan should keep your well-being as its main focus. It must consider your physical, mental, and emotional health and emphasize a holistic self-care routine that helps you feel your best inside and out. 

Remember, it’s not about the number on the scale. It’s about your health, how you feel, and choosing an approach you can stick with long-term. 

In conclusion…

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss. What worked for your friend, colleague, or sister may not work for you and that’s okay. 

Different approaches work for different people. That’s why it’s crucial to choose the right weight loss plan for YOU and understand how to tweak your plan over time based on what’s working and not working. 

With time, patience, the right knowledge, skills, and guidance a woman CAN achieve long-term weight loss success. 

If you need help finding the right plan for you, speak to a health professional who focuses on weight management such as Stefanie Senior, RD. 

As an experienced Registered Dietitian, Stefanie helps her clients create their own personalized weight loss plan that considers their unique needs and circumstances and empowers them to overcome obstacles and achieve long-term success. 

Learn more about Stefanie and her LIVE LEAN program or book a discovery call here.