Congratulations, you made a decision to lose weight!  Once you lose it, my guess is that you would like to maintain that healthy weight loss.  If so, that’s another fabulous decision on your part!  Okay then, what have you decided to do about setting the time aside to lose weight?  Oh right, you forgot about that part.

In my experience, the number one reason someone fails to begin a weight loss program is because they feel it is going to take a lot of their time.  It’s true; it can if you let it.  However, with some planning, weight loss doesn’t have to take up your day.  And once you get into a new routine, you create a habit and it becomes second nature.

I always tell my clients, “In the beginning, you will struggle.”  Whether they realize it or not, usually that is the reason they hire me.  They know I am there to hold their hand, help them figure out ways that work specifically for them and to pick them up when they fall down.

Here’s a tip: the joy in reaching any goal is in the journey.  That’s right, the good stuff as well as the not-so-good stuff.  See, it is in the not-so-good stuff where the greatest accomplishments lie.

Trying to change a habit, a behavior, a way of being is not easy but it is so worth it.  Until it becomes ‘just what you do’ and you no longer question it or struggle with it, you need to figure out a plan to make it work.

Here are three things for you to think about as you set off on your journey to losing weight and keeping it off.

• Change how you think about time.  You might think time is limited – but is it really?  You do only have a certain number of hours in a day – everyone does – so how can you utilize time to work for you?  Try this.  List out what tasks you do in a day, then approximate how long it takes you to do each.  Before you actually begin a task, note the time and write it down.  When you end a task, note the time again and see how long it actually took you.  Seeing how long things truly take you will be big eye opener.  Most people are shocked at the time they lose during a day because they think something is going to take ‘just a moment’.
• Are you satisfied with how you spend your time on a daily, weekly or monthly basis?  On a scale of 1-10, rate your level of satisfaction with how you spend your time.  Go back to your list and rate each of your daily tasks.  If something isn’t an eight or higher, challenge yourself to stop doing it.  In other words, if you are wasting your time on things that do not bring satisfaction, you will have no time for the things that will bring you satisfaction.
• Map out your day in time blocks.  It’s easy to say “I don’t have the time”, but you do.  When you know how long your tasks actually take you, schedule them on your daily calendar.  It will help you visualize where your time goes.  You will see where you are losing time and also where you can fit in exercise, shopping for and preparing healthy foods, and taking time for yourself.  If you don’t have enough time for everything, then you need to re-evaluate your priorities.

Following my tips above will help you create the time you need for your weight loss success.  Truly, time is on your side.  Tell me your new plan or share your thoughts, insights and revelations below!