Dieting is amongst the most popular resolutions, as individuals will be looking to get into shape to set them up for success during the year. The problem is, diets are often hard to maintain. Whether it’s due to lack of results or getting too busy, failing to maintain your diet can be a real disappointment. Here are seven ways to ensure that you will accomplish your goals and stick to your diet plan.

When you are setting up your diet, understand that losing weight is a marathon and not a race. You shouldn’t be expecting to lose weight all at once. Start by setting a goal weight within your set time frame. A good rule to follow is the more weight you are trying to lose, the longer your diet should be.

Now that you have decided how long your diet will be, it is time to decide what your actual diet will consist of. Don’t force yourself into a diet with food you won’t eat. Not eating enough can lead to fatigue which won’t help you or your goals at the end of the day.

As they say, variety is the spice of life. Establishing consistency and what your diet is going to consist of is important to achieving your goals. After a while, however, things can start to feel mundane. If that is the case, feel free to try new things. Incorporate new foods or exercises into your diet that will excite you and motivate you to keep moving forward. 

You can have the best diet plan ever created, but if you don’t get enough sleep, it can all go to waste. When your body doesn’t get enough sleep, your cortisol levels will fluctuate, causing you to be more stressed out during the day. This can throw off the rhythm of your diet. Try to maintain 7-9 hours of sleep every night to keep your cortisol levels down and functioning at a normal rate.

While going through your diet, keeping note of your progress can help motivate you to keep going. Whether you are using a journal or weight tracking apps such as MyFitnessPal®, keeping track gives you a visual representation of how far you have come.

Whether you are on a diet or not, drinking enough water is vital to a successful routine. When you are dehydrated, your body will not function the same and will lead to an increase in your cortisol levels. Doctors recommend drinking about 15.5 cups a day for men and 11.5 cups a day for women. Drinking enough water will lead to less mental fog throughout the day and help you accomplish your day.

Always remember that when you are on a diet, you are working towards a positive impact on yourself. Be proud of what you are doing and all that you have accomplished up to this point. Your diet should not be viewed as work, view it as a challenge and have fun with it.

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