What would you say is the most important thing you can do to lose weight?

Take your time.

You might think this is a silly thing to say to someone who wants to lose weight. Yet it's a powerful, effective idea.

Thinking about it...

Planning for it...

They are different, they are necessary, and each one needs to be done in its own good time. This is what the "time" in "take your time" means.

First comes thinking about it, the it being your weight gain, your overeating, and your interest in solving the problem. Thinking about it means to consider the value of dieting and losing weight. Thinking about it means envisioning how losing weight will change your life for the better.

Thinking about it is the first thing. Then you need to plan exactly how to do it and that's where "take your time" comes in again. This is when you begin to think about more action-oriented steps, even though you are not yet actually taking the steps. In this planning-for-it phase, you sharpen your goal and plan when, where, and how you will act to reach that goal.

So when you feel you are putting pressure on yourself, rushing to do something on the spot about losing weight, don't jump into action right away. Even if someone else tells you to move ahead because you've dallied too long and you are much too heavy for your own good—even then, take your time.

© Maria's Last Diet. Maria's Last Diet is an online weight loss support website for women. At Maria's Last Diet, you'll find the tools to fix the thoughts, feelings, and automatic habits that fight against you when you diet. Because it's never just about the food. Visit www.mariaslastdiet.com for more diet tips and weight loss motivation.

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