When you decide to go on a diet, you have to ask yourself some questions that help us understand how much you really want to lose weight. Not everyone knows that before starting a diet you have to be decisive and really want it without falling into the trap of snacks or other junk foods that make you fat. But let’s see what to do before going on a diet. How did I get down to this? – The question is inevitable when we face the scales and his response dismays us. If it is a long series of happy moments in company, in which we enjoyed good food and conviviality, never mind: we had a good time and enjoyed it. A good, balanced and detox regime will get us back on track. If, on the other hand, we only have evenings in front of the TV devouring whole packs of biscuits, it is not good at all:

Why do I want to lose weight? – Does my health require it or simply the desire to wear a nice dress seen in the window? Both reasons are valid: feeling good and being beautiful are two excellent reasons to review our diet. What meaning do I attribute to food? – Sometimes it seems to us that eating is the only thing that gives us joy. If the refrigerator is our main form of comfort, there is no diet that fits: we can hold on for a while, but we have no escape. We find other forms of gratification (friends, work, interesting activities) and we give back to food the role it deserves: it is what sustains us and gives us energy, it can be a pleasure, but nothing more. Can I define my goals? – Usually, when you go on a diet, the goal is to see the needle drop or to be able to fasten the belt of your jeans. But be careful: having the general goal of “losing weight” is not entirely effective. You can lose weight simply by eliminating excess fluids, but these are pounds that regain very easily. To lose weight you need to lose fat mass and this is only achieved by scissoring calories and burning more with movement. It is not said, then, that the kilos lost go away from the critical points that we would like to slim down: instead of throwing down the pads on the hips, we could see ourselves more hollowed out in the face. Too much fat is burned across the board and it takes time and patience to slim down exactly where we want it. Therefore, it is better to set specific goals, such as losing a kilo a week until you drop one size.

Alone or with a specialist? – One thing is to propose to drop three or four kilos, another is to lose ten or more. In the first case it is enough to reduce portions and do physical activity, in the second it is a more complex path that requires the guidance of a specialist who knows how to help us lose weight and, at the same time, correct our eating habits. Do-it-yourself in this second situation is not recommended. What is the best diet for me? – It is useless to start suddenly when we are used to lucullian meals or to follow a regime that imposes on us foods that we do not like or that binds us to super calibrated meals when our work or our lifestyle force us to eat out often home. Better to ask for advice from a specialist who can teach us how to cope with the situations we run into most often, without upsetting our habits. Am I willing to play sports? – A healthy physical activity is very useful if we want to lose a few pounds of weight: moving more will also help us to tone the muscles and tissues which, at the end of the diet, could appear withered and flabby. A diet is also an excellent opportunity to review our entire lifestyle in favor of healthier habits. Does the gym bore us and sports don’t enjoy us? Just walking and cycling: a nice brisk walk of at least thirty minutes a day can already help us a lot. Am I willing to play sports? – A healthy physical activity is very useful if we want to lose a few pounds of weight: moving more will also help us to tone the muscles and tissues which, at the end of the diet, could appear withered and flabby. A diet is also an excellent opportunity to review our entire lifestyle in favor of healthier habits. Does the gym bore us and sports don’t enjoy us? Just walking and cycling: a nice brisk walk of at least thirty minutes a day can already help us a lot. Am I willing to play sports? – A healthy physical activity is very useful if we want to lose a few pounds of weight: moving more will also help us to tone the muscles and tissues which, at the end of the diet, could appear withered and flabby. A diet is also an excellent opportunity to review our entire lifestyle in favor of healthier habits. Does the gym bore us and sports don’t enjoy us? Just walking and cycling: a nice brisk walk of at least thirty minutes a day can already help us a lot. Does the gym bore us and sports don’t enjoy us? Just walking and cycling: a nice brisk walk of at least thirty minutes a day can already help us a lot. Does the gym bore us and sports don’t enjoy us? Just walking and cycling: a nice brisk walk of at least thirty minutes a day can already help us a lot.

What if I can’t? – Every path is littered with setbacks and possible falls, but if we don’t try, we will never succeed. Let’s take into account some dafaillance and some “sneaky”: the important thing is to recover, not feel guilty (or at least not too bad), forgive ourselves without feeling failed and pick up where we left off. What will others think? – They will think nothing, except admire us for the decision and the modicum of courage it requires. Being on a diet does not mean giving up company: it is enough to learn to choose, when eating together, the foods that we can afford and that are still satisfying enough. A larger meal, over the course of the week, can be compensated for and “made up for” quite easily. Is it a sacrifice or a means? – Thinking constantly that we are on a diet makes it more difficult to follow it. The way we approach our diet can be the key to success or failure: living it as a means to obtain a result rather than as a costly sacrifice, is the first step to success.