Weight loss is not “one size fits all.” People who want to lose weight are coming from different backgrounds and have different habits. They have different starting weights and different pant sizes. They have different goals, different motivations, and different ways to push themselves through when things get hard.

And yet, many of us try to fit ourselves into a box when it comes to a weight loss plan. We must wake up at (x) time, eat (x) for breakfast, exercise for (x) minutes, and so on. We think if we can’t stick to what weight loss “should” look like, then we can’t succeed at it.

It’s no wonder that so many people give up on weight loss plans before they reach their goals. It’s hard to stay motivated when you’re eating food you hate, trying to squeeze in a workout at your busiest time of day, or being perpetually discouraged by the numbers you keep seeing on the scale.

We’re setting ourselves up for failure, over and over again.

With the new year approaching, many people have New Year’s resolutions on the brain—and there’s a good chance that at least one of the resolutions they have in mind has something to do with weight loss. In 2018, two of the top three most common resolutions were “eat healthier” and “get more exercise.¹ However, within six weeks of the new year, about 80% of people have already given up on their resolutions.² Ouch.

But what if this year could be different? What if you could crack the code and develop a weight loss strategy you could actually stick to? What if you could be one of the elite 20% who keep their resolution going strong well into February, or (gasp!) beyond?

We believe that it’s possible, and we believe we’ve got at least part of the answer to helping you get there. It’s ditching the “one size fits all” approach to weight loss and instead of coming up with something that works for you, because it was made for you. You don’t even have to start on January 1. That’s how flexible this whole thing is.

Here are our best tips for creating a customized weight loss strategy that will be sustainable, effective, and potentially life-changing.

1. Write down your goals, including a realistic timeline. Trying to drop 30 pounds in a week? You’ve come to the wrong place (and perhaps the wrong planet). Such drastic weight loss is hardly realistic, and may, in fact, be downright dangerous.

It’s important to be realistic about your weight loss goals. In order to do this right, you first need to decide how much weight you want to lose. Do you have a specific weight you want to reach? Or maybe a pant size you want to fit into? Knowing where you’re going is an important first step to actually getting there.

Next, decide on an achievable timeline. If you’re not sure what that might be, do a little Internet research on the type of weight loss plan you’re wanting to follow, along with typical weight loss rates for someone with your starting weight. As you’re trying to decide on a target date, remember to give yourself a little grace. Account for holidays, birthdays, or other special events that might make it too hard to pass up a little extra treat. Nail down a specific date, rather than saying something like “by June” or “within eight weeks.” The more specific your target, the more you’ll be able to visualize hitting it.

Once you have your target weight and date, write them down. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it’s actually a vital one. Writing your goal down creates a physical manifestation of it—one you can hang on the bathroom mirror or tape to your steering wheel so that you’re regularly reminded of where you’re trying to go. Not only that, but writing down your goal also triggers a process called encoding, referring to the information being more firmly ingrained in your mind and therefore easier to recall.³

As a result of this step, you’ll have a goal that reads something like, “I will lose fifteen pounds by March 15.” If you want to elaborate—by adding what pant size you’ll be or how reaching that goal will make you feel, for example—all the better!

2. Create accountability. Are you really going to stick to your plan if nothing, or no one, is holding you accountable? It is much harder to follow through with a weight management strategy if you feel like no one would care much if you achieved your goal or not.

The solution: create some accountability. This will probably come in the form of external accountability, meaning something or someone other than yourself that tracks your progress, cheers you on, and helps you get back on track when you’re stuck. The most obvious way to do this is by enlisting a friend or family member to be your accountability buddy. That person will ask about your progress, send you encouraging thoughts, and maybe even talk you down when temptation strikes. They might even join in with a weight loss goal of their own, so you can help and support each other. Having such a person could very well prove invaluable to create a weight loss strategy that actually works.

If you aren’t sure about roping someone else into your plan, you can at least take some steps to create accountability for yourself. This would be a way for you to track your own progress, take note of what’s working (and what isn’t) and keep yourself motivated. You could keep a journal to specifically record your progress and thoughts. You could use a weight loss app and track your stats digitally. You could set reminders that pop up throughout the day with motivational quotes or words of encouragement. Whatever you choose to do, make sure that it holds you accountable to your results, keeps your goal at the forefront of your mind, and lets you see how far you’ve come and how far you still have to go.

3. Develop a meal plan. One of the biggest reasons people stop dieting is because the food—pardon our French—sucks. Many people approach weight loss from a “deprivation” standpoint. They think about the things that they can’t have (donuts, soda, french fries), making the things they can have (kale, water, carrot sticks) seem like torture devices in comparison.

If you try to force yourself to eat food you hate, the odds are stacked against you. Instead, create a list of meals and snacks that (1) fit into your weight loss plan and (2) you actually like to eat. This way, you’ll never be scrambling to throw together a healthy meal, and you won’t have to cringe with every bite. Focus on the healthy foods you do like, and utilize those to make great tasting meals that you’ll actually be excited about.

Additionally, look into adding meal replacements into your weight loss regimen. These ultra-convenient options fill you up, so, in theory, you eat less. Of course, not all meal replacements are created equal. Some have unhealthy filler ingredients, don’t have enough nutrients to truly replace a healthy meal, or simply taste terrible. Lucky for you, the Plexus Lean^TM line (available in vegan and whey protein options) provides satisfying nutrition with an amazing taste (chocolate for breakfast, anyone?). It’s the easiest, most delicious way to squeeze a healthy meal into your busy day.

Looking for more healthy recipe options to add to your meal plan? We’ve got you covered.

4. Let’s get physical. Diet is undoubtedly a huge part of a weight loss plan, but let’s not forget the other half of the equation: exercise. Burning calories can amplify your weight loss efforts and help you reach other fitness goals.

However, similar to changing your diet, it can be really, really hard to try to fit yourself into a typical exercise routine “box.” Spending an hour at the gym may not be your cup of tea. Turning on a workout video at home may not be motivating enough. The secret—as it is with dieting—is to find out what works for you.

What works for you could be as simple as sneaking in a little more physical activity into your day. You might walk the kids to school, go for a short bike ride each afternoon, or take the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Even doing something as simple as parking farther away from the store will boost your activity a bit. Not only is it easy to incorporate changes like this, but it’s also sustainable: these really are simple changes that require little effort.

Of course, if you’re more of the “go big or go home” type, you could get the gym membership, register for that 5k, or sign up for a Zumba class. Just make sure that whatever you do, it fits into your life and your schedule. That’s going to be the way to create lasting change.

5. Fill in nutritional gaps. Even if you are eating whatever you want, whenever you want, it can be hard to get all the nutrition you need on a daily basis. Too many of our foods in today’s world fill us up with all of the wrong stuff (sugar, salt, fat) while depriving us of the stuff our bodies truly need (essential vitamins and minerals). And if you are watching what you eat and working to burn off more calories, it can be even trickier to make sure your body is being truly nourished.

That’s where the multivitamin comes into play. Multivitamins have become the gold standard for convenient and complete nutrition. Like meal replacements, some options are better than others, and you barely have to glance at the vitamins on the grocery store shelf before you’re bombarded with claims, formulas, and different varieties of different nutrients. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.

But before you end up in the fetal position in aisle 13, check out Plexus XFactor Plus^TM. XFactor Plus contains more than 100% daily value of 19 essential vitamins and minerals and uses bioavailable forms of ingredients for superior absorption. Add in over 50 naturally-occurring trace minerals to the 100% vegetarian and non-GMO formula, and you’ve got yourself a winner.*

By the way, when you’re thinking about complete nutrition, you can’t forget about gut health! Your gut affects not only your digestive system, but also your overall health, and caring for your gut just might bring you greater nutrition and better weight management results. For a healthier gut, try Plexus Slim® Microbiome Activating, Plexus Vitalbiome^TM, or Plexus Bio Cleanse^TM.*

6. Burn, Baby, Burn. Effective weight management supplements may not be the one and only answer for your weight loss routine, but they can do wonders for getting things jumpstarted and for boosting your weight loss efforts.

Plexus Accelerator+^TM is a metabolism booster that helps your body burn fat more efficiently. Plexus Boost^TM contains a proprietary blend of botanicals and superfoods to help suppress hunger. Plus, Plexus Metaburn^TM is a revolutionary thermogenic (fat burning) supplement that targets stubborn belly fat to help improve your body composition. With a synergistic, unique blend of powerful ingredients, plus L-theanine and Rhodiola to help improve your mood, you can get real weight loss^ results, without the crankiness that comes from feeling ‘hangry’. Combined with your customized diet and exercise plan, these products could give you the extra help you need to get the results you’ve been working for. Get ready to pull those skinny jeans out of hiding!*

There isn’t really a “magic formula” for weight loss, but with a little thought and a little planning, you can find a formula that works for you. Use these tips to create your winning strategy, add a little diligence and a little patience, and you’ll start seeing the results you’re looking for. We’re rooting for you!

References/Sources:
1. https://www.statista.com/chart/12386/the-most-common-new-years-resolutions-for-2018/
2. https://www.businessinsider.com/the-psychology-behind-why-we-cant-keep-new-years-resolutions-2018-1
3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2018/04/15/neuroscience-explains-why-you-need-to-write-down-your-goals-if-you-actually-want-to-achieve-them/#1f0104b79059

Disclaimers:

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

^When combined with a reduced calorie weight loss diet plan.