So often when set our sights on a particular goal, it is easy to be swept up by visions of victory and success. This can be a powerful motivator, but if you’re not realistic about the challenges that lie ahead, a simple stumble can leave you feeling deflated and discouraged. No doubt if you have attempted weight loss in the past, you have felt these low moments when things didn’t go quite as planned.

Instead of letting history repeat itself, learn from your experience! Take a moment to reflect and consider the next question on our list:

Which aspects of your previous diet attempts were difficult or frustrating?

While it may be tempting to answer, “What wasn’t frustrating??” take a minute to jot down what about those previous diets became tedious, irritating, or simply undoable.  Common culprits include nagging hunger, boredom, having to eat more/less often than you’d like, lack of cooking skills or time to cook, poor variety, and overly restrictive rules that left you feeling deprived.  If you can identify just a few strategies that simply did not work for you, you’ll save yourself precious time, effort, and willpower.

A weight loss plan doesn’t have to cause suffering!  By choosing a plan that best matches your preferences, you’ll be able to stick with it and adopt the changes as part of a new lifestyle.