If you’ve ever gone on a diet, then you know about the frustration that comes with staying consistent throughout the process. Dieting can become especially challenging if you are doing it solo. Worry no more! Here are a few healthy approaches to help you stick with a diet. 

What is a Diet?  

Dieting is a short-term practice of regulating the way you eat food. People choose to do it for several reasons, such as to lose weight or to become more healthy. 

Not to mention, there are multitudes of different diets. Since no one size fits all, it’s best to personalize a plan that’s right for you.

Best Approaches to a Diet Plan? 

As we mentioned, there is no single diet plan that works for everyone. Your diet will be unique to your needs. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions to consider when beginning any diet. 

Setting a Realistic Goal

Take your time to set realistic goals for yourself. Fitting in your skinny jeans from your teen years may not be a realistic goal, nor is getting 6-pack abs in a week. The goal should be realistic, achievable, and sustainable over time.

Stepwise goals are more manageable than setting a sizable ultimate goal. For example, if you are overweight, aim to lose 5-10% of your starting body weight for your first milestone. Once the initial goal is reached, you can then set a new goal for losing another 5-10% from your first-milestone weight.

Having realistic and achievable goals will make your dieting experience more fulfilling and rewarding instead of a stressful one. 

Meal Prepping 

Prepping your meals in advance can be a plus if you lead a busy lifestyle and are always on the go. Therefore, having your meals packed and ready to take to your next destination will allow you to be in control of what you are eating. 

Healthy Snacking  

If you are a snacker and need frequent snacks throughout the day, make sure to have healthy options stocked in your home. 

Being on a diet does not mean that you deprive yourself of everything! Rather, it is an opportunity for you to exercise more awareness in eating food. 

Tracking Your Progress 

To help yourself remain motivated, track your progress in a journal or on an app. Recording your daily meals and progress is a great way of keeping all your information in one place. It allows you to review what you’ve done easily and to make adjustments to your diet and meal planing as needed. 

A popular health and fitness tracking app called My Fitness Pal can be downloaded on your smartphone for easy usage.

Rewarding Yourself 

Make your process fun by rewarding yourself for small achievements from time to time. Your reward can be a guilty pleasure, such as ice cream, some chocolate, or anything that you enjoy, but in moderation. 

Remember that acknowledging your achievements is an essential part of helping you stay motivated! 

Working with Nutritionists 

If you find yourself going on different diets all the time and not really getting anywhere with it, consider working with a dietician or nutritionist. They can help you develop healthy eating habits, so you are more likely to get the results you want. 

Practicing Compassion

Above all suggestions, the greatest gift that you can give yourself with your diet plan is to have compassion. Be gentle with yourself as you make dietary changes. It’s okay to make mistakes along the way since that is how you will learn. 

After all, the focus is all about nourishing your body to its healthiest state.

It’s All About Mindset 

All in all, when you embark on a diet, it’s best to have a mindset of empowerment. Consider how you can empower yourself by: 

• Setting realistic goals
• Preparing your meals and snacks in advance
• Tracking your daily progress
• Rewarding yourself
• Working with a team as needed 

These key strategies will help you be successful while dieting. While your diet is going to be an individual journey, you can still have a support system around you to help you meet your goals. 

Z.E.N. Foods for You 

If you are in need of a meal delivery program to save time and money, we’ve got you covered. At Z.E.N. Foods, we make “Zero Effort Nutrition” easy and accessible for you. Our clients are supported on their health journey every step of the way.  

We provide health-conscious meals for weight loss, healthy eating, or for vegetarian lifestyles. Check out our sample menu and call (310) 205-9368 to speak with one of our Z.E.N. consultants for more information!