Ask A Sacramento Expert: How To Keep Your New Year's Weight Loss Resolution
Founder, Fitness Without Borders
5050 Laguna Blvd, Suite 523
Elk Grove, CA 95758
(916) 833-1493
www.mariakang.com
Also known as Fit Mom, Maria Kang covers a lot of thought-provoking ground with her entrepreneurial prowess. She is an author, a business owner, a fitness nonprofit founder and mother of three boys. Her trailblazing No Excuse movement of free mom groups has motivated parents around the world and her viral "what's your excuse" image has evoked an international discussion on everything from health and body image to shaming and motherhood.
"Everyone wants to get to their goal as fast as possible, so the faster you fail (because you will) the faster you will succeed," says Kang. She uses a simple acronym to troubleshoot and organize goals. According to this expert, SPEED's letters spell out these concepts: "S is for 'Set your goals.' Be specific and set a deadline. P is for 'Plan the attack.' Figure out your training and your meal schedule. E is for 'Envision the journey.' Imagine overcoming challenges. E is for 'Execute the plan.' Take action! And D is for 'Deliver the goods.' Whether you have succeeded or you have failed, reflect and recalibrate your goals to start anew," explains Kang.
"You need to create a successful environment," says Kang. "This not only includes the food in your cupboard, most importantly, it's the people in your life. You need people to hold you accountable to stay on track and perform your best daily." This expert suggests, "Seek a mentor, someone who you can look towards for help and motivation, seek a supporter, someone who will cheer you on along the way, and seek a follower, someone who you don't want to fail."
Maria thinks you should take a gradual approach to weight loss. "Many people go from eating 3000 calories daily to 1200, or go from training zero times a week to five. Extreme changes are difficult and hard to maintain in the long haul. Everything is a process, so in order to make progress you must take small steps. Remember, the slower you lose weight, the slower it will come back! Pacing your progress ensures you are truly making a healthy lifestyle change," explains Kang.
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Kang believes that education is key. "Take some time to learn about nutrition, how to measure your macros, calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate and staying within your target heart rate while training. Join a gym, buy my book 'The No More Excuses Diet,' purchase some home DVDs and get cute workout clothes. The more you invest in your effort, the more you will be equipped to succeed."
Take a positive approach to weight loss, Kang suggests. She says, "How you feel about yourself reflects how you act and ultimately how you look. Affirm yourself every day to be fit, energetic, beautiful, healthy and strong. Remember that everything, especially a thought, is a seed that grows from within and eventually without. Protect your thoughts."
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