Developing Long Term Weight Loss Goals

Before you get started on weight loss, take some time to think about your long-term goals. Develop a strategy that will give you the best chance of losing weight and keeping it off after LAP-BAND surgery. Here are a few tips for getting started on your weight loss program the right way.

1.  Know Your Weight Loss Personality

Our personalities play a role in how we look at food and dieting. Your personality can also give you some insight into what obstacles you might encounter along the way and how you can prepare to overcome them.

• Impulsive. If you’re an impulsive person, you might be more likely to see a pint of ice cream in the freezer and dive in. Having tempting foods around will make dieting more difficult for you. Take the time to clear your kitchen cupboards and refrigerator of unhealthy food choices.
• Oblivious. You may not describe yourself as “oblivious” in the rest of your life, but do you notice that you tend to be unaware of how much you’ve eaten until long after you’ve overfilled yourself? Do you often find yourself snacking mindlessly in front of the TV? Avoid situations where you can eat without watching your portions. Sit down to eat your meals and snacks and try keeping a food journal.
• Uptight. People who are anxious, nervous, or depressed will sometimes eat to feel better. If you think of yourself as an anxious person, be on the lookout for emotional eating.

2.  Know Why You Want to Lose Weight

Successfully losing weight and keeping it off requires making a serious commitment to yourself. Before you decide to drastically change your eating and exercise habits, take a moment to examine why you’ve decided to lose weight.

Ask yourself:

• Am I ready to do this?
• Am I doing this for me, or someone else?
• Am I prepared for occasional setbacks or lack of progress?
• Can I focus on weight loss fully?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, you have a pretty good chance of succeeding. If you answered no or aren’t sure of your answer to any of these questions, it might be worth it to invest some time and thought into figuring out what’s holding you back.