From setting realistic goals to eating well and watching your portion sizes, there's a myriad of ways to sustainably lose weight.
But, it's understandable if it feels anything but straightforward — losing weight is a journey and it can be a frustrating one at that (especially if you're doing all the right things but still experiencing weight gain).
With this in mind, we're here to dive into the realm of losing weight in a way that works for you — so you'll be able to achieve your weight loss goals and improve your health.
Why losing weight fast isn't the goal you should be aiming for
While it's always exciting to achieve your biggest life goals in short succession, sometimes it's not the best approach.
After all, sustainable weight loss for men involves a lot more than just kicking belly fat to the curb — it's more important to make healthy lifestyle choices that you can maintain over a long period of time.
Losing weight is a gradual process that involves a lot of small steps. And, although approaching it in this light may not give you immediate weight loss-related satisfaction, you're more likely to see long-term weight maintenance and better overall health when you approach it with care.
Some of the ways that losing weight quickly can harm you include:
A loss of muscle mass
Did you know that losing weight rapidly can result in a severe loss of muscle mass? This can greatly affect your metabolism and make it trickier to kick weight to the curb over a longer period of time [1].
Nutritional deficiencies
Yo-yo dieting and restrictive fad diets can lead to nutritional deficiencies that negatively affect your overall health.
Dehydration
Keeping up your water intake is one of the most important elements of losing weight, so the fact that fast weight loss can cause men to experience dehydration makes this approach an instant no-go [2].
Reduced energy levels
Rapid weight loss in men can have a huge impact on energy levels, which can make it harder to stay active and prioritise exercise in the long run.
How to achieve healthy, sustainable weight loss
Looking for weight loss tips that won't leave you hungry or hopeless? Luckily, Pilot has your back. Losing weight in a way that works is sustainable and consistent.
By using a combination of a healthy diet, regular physical activity and a positive mental approach, you'll find weight loss success in no time.
Set realistic goals
The most important thing you can do when beginning your journey to weight loss is to set goals that work in your favour. Forget the fast and furious ideas of burning excess fat — all it does is evoke unnecessary pressure to perform.
Instead, aim for a sustainable weight loss goal of 0.5kg-1kg per week [3]. You'll likely find that chopping your goals up into smaller bits makes them feel more achievable and less overwhelming.
Eat a healthy diet
When it comes to losing weight, we all know how vital it is to make healthier food choices. But making healthy choices and consistently consuming fewer calories makes all the difference when it's done sustainably over a period of time.
Adopting a healthier approach to eating that includes a wide range of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats can take your weight loss efforts to the moon.
You might want to consider trying meal replacement shakes as a way to kickstart your weight loss and be sure you're getting a balance of protein and fibre.
Pilot's Weight Reset Shakes are formulated to cater to your dietary needs while also keeping you feeling satisfied and encouraging weight loss. Our Weight Reset Shakes are packed with good stuff including 20 vitamins and minerals, high-quality whey protein and fibre to keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Plus, more than 40% of your daily vitamin needs for immunity and overall health are taken care of with 1 shake.
Be mindful of your portion sizes
While eating well is important, how much you eat is a vital consideration, too.
Eating slower and savouring your food can also help you to develop a healthier relationship with food, which will support the maintenance of your weight loss too.
Drink plenty of water
While it might seem simple, drinking enough water can make or break your weight loss journey. Not only does it keep you hydrated, but it also keeps you full which can prevent overeating.
Get moving!
Ready to shred the calories and burn fat while you're at it? Incorporating regular exercise into your life can change the way your body burns fat for good!
Start with moderate-intensity exercises like brisk walking, and make your way up to high-intensity interval training if you're up for it. Incidental exercise is also super important and can make a big difference to your daily step count.
Prioritise sleep
When it comes to losing weight, you'll want to catch up on your sleep. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night can greatly boost the effects of weight loss and stop you from overeating to boot [4].
Stay connected
Weight loss for men can be a challenge so consider connecting with others for an emotional boost. Joining an exercise club or a weight loss group can make a world of a difference when it comes to making your move.
What to avoid
Overly restrictive diets
It can be tempting to jump straight into the deep end, but one of the best things you can do for your body is to avoid restrictive diets.
While they might be able to promise immediate weight loss, you'll pay for it when it comes to nutritional deficiencies and a lack of energy (or in some cases, hair loss!).
Focusing only on the scale
While watching the scales change is incredibly motivating, it shouldn't be the only point of focus on your weight loss journey. Tracking your weight is a helpful tool for monitoring progress but it doesn't reflect the whole picture of weight loss.
For example, the number you see when weighing yourself isn't a good indicator of the body's overall composition — it only reflects the total body weight and there's no consideration for the individual elements of fat, muscle and tissue in the body. You might be losing weight and converting it to muscle, but the scales would never show that.
Plus, there are a number of other non-scale victories that can happen including losing centimetres around your waist or noticing your clothes are looser and these are all just as important for motivation.
Get support through health coaching
Depending on your struggles with sustaining weight loss, you might also like to engage the help of a health coach. A valuable tool for folks looking to achieve their goals in a sustainable way, health coaches can boost benefits by:
Goal setting
Setting realistic goals is the key to sustainable weight loss. Health coaches can support you with the creation of meal plans, the development of exercise routines and setting milestones to track progress.
Accountability
We all know how easy it is to get sidetracked — that's why the accountability of a health coach can work wonders. From staying motivated, on track and accountable, you'll be kicking weight loss goals in no time.
Education
There's a whole world to explore when it comes to information on staying healthy and it's understandable if it feels overwhelming. A health coach can boost your knowledge in this department by keeping you up to date on nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle factors.
Personalisation
One of the major reasons that people find it tricky to lose weight is because they believe there's a one-size-fits-all approach. In truth, each body is vastly different and deserves personalisation.
From your nutrition needs to the best way your body burns fat, a health coach can help you to make realistic and sustainable changes that work for you.
Weight loss programs that work
Feeling a little over your head? Maybe you'd like a helping hand? Pilot's healthcare team is here for you. In fact, Pilot's Metabolic Reset Program was created to help those who have long struggled to lose weight.
Our Metabolic Reset Program includes clinically-proven treatments — which works to decrease your appetite and keep you feeling fuller for longer — with community support from our medical team and health coaches, while also connecting you with a supportive community of like-minded men to help keep you motivated and accountable to your weight loss goals.
Pilot has helped over 6,500 members lose over 16,800kg with the Metabolic Reset Program.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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