Easy Routines to Lose Weight for the Long Term

Want to lose weight? Many of us want to lose at least a few pounds but have a difficult time keeping up with what we need to do to achieve it.

We also want sustainable weight loss – after losing the weight, we want to keep it off, not gain it back.

When it comes to weight loss, small steps and consistency are key.

The habits we adopt can make or break our success. In this article, we discuss a routine to make it easier to lose weight.

How do routines make weight loss easier?

Healthy, sustainable weight loss is considered to be around 1 to 2 pounds a week.

This is achieved by consistently consuming fewer calories than you burn over a period of time.

A routine helps you achieve this by making you repeat actions and choices every day that brings you closer to your weight loss goal.

This also helps you develop habits that will help you in the long term.

Another thing to consider is that routines make it easier to juggle different aspects of your life.

You already know what you have to do, you just have to stick to it and you will achieve your goal! 

7 Easy Routines to Help You Lose Weight

1. Wake up at the same time everyday – the earlier the better

Waking up at the same time every day – and the earlier the better – is the first part of your daily routine.

It is another practice that fosters discipline and helps you with the other parts of your life like your job, your personal life, and your weight loss goals.

The way you start your day sets the course for the rest of the day.

And waking up early, at the same time every day, makes it more likely that you stick to your routine and achieve whatever you set out to do for the day.

2. Have fixed mealtimes

Whether you enjoy breakfast or eat small, frequent meals or practice intermittent fasting, it’s a good thing to have fixed meal times and stick to them.

This prevents snacking in between meals and fosters disciplined eating habits.

Snack foods are usually processed foods that are high in calories, refined carbohydrates, sugar, and fat, like chips and cookies.

They also tend to be consumed mindlessly.

At the end of eating a pack of cookies or chips, we may not even realize how much we’ve consumed, and the calories add up.

3. Do the kind of exercise you enjoy, at a fixed schedule every time

Whether it is dancing, hiking, running, going to the gym, and doing strength training, do the kind of exercise you enjoy, and do it at a fixed time every day.

Just like with your meal times, this fosters discipline and healthy habits in the long term.

If you’re a serial couch potato and hate exercising, do the exercise you least dislike.

Don’t force yourself to do something like CrossFit or run 5 miles a day if you hate it.

After all, what good is it if you’re only able to keep it up after a week or two?

4. Meal prep

Meal prep is such a trendy idea nowadays. It’s probably because it helps you stay on track.

Some people like to cook all their meals for the week on the weekends.

Others like to cook for a few meals at a time in one go.

Whichever you prefer, meal prep helps on days when you’re tired, too busy to cook, or just want some time off from the kitchen.

Related: Meal Prep Benefits: 10 Reasons Why It’s Good for Your Health and Wallet

5. Incorporate as much movement into your day as you can

To burn more calories throughout the day and to keep your metabolism up, try to keep yourself active. This is one of the sustainable easy routines if you want to lose weight.

It can be in simple ways like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking on the far side of the parking lot.

This helps keep you from being sedentary and developing feelings of laziness.

6. Have meals that you enjoy in reasonable portions.

One mistake people make is going on diets that are too difficult for them and giving up too many foods that they enjoy.

Yes, it’s important to eat fewer calories to lose weight, but you should also do it in a way that you can sustain in the long run.

Instead of the popular practice of quitting carbs or cutting fat intake, how about reducing it to a smaller (but still reasonable) portion size? Or adding more veggies and protein to your meal?

Or how about instead of cutting out sugar, choosing desserts that require less sugar overall, like crème caramel, instead of brownies?

7. Practice self-love

Although you want to lose weight, remember that your worth is not tied to the number on the scale.

You should love and value yourself no matter what you look like, no matter what your weight or clothing size is.

Looking good is just a bonus and it should never be tied to your self-worth.

With this idea in mind, it will be easier to achieve your goals (not just your weight loss goal) and you will not be deterred by any obstacles or setbacks you experience along the way.

Takeaway

Forming new routines which make you have healthy, habits in the long run, play an important role in the achievement of your goal.

Losing weight is a challenge, but it can be conquered with consistent work and effort.

We hope this article has helped you come up with a routine that suits your lifestyle.

These small steps that you take every day will bring you closer to the finish line and a healthier, happier you!