If you’ve been bouncing backward and forward on your weight loss journey, trying to improve your health and look your best, you’re not alone. Losing weight and then gaining it back and feeling like you never make any real progress is common.

However, this is usually due to following unsustainable methods, yoyo dieting, overly restricting yourself, and burning yourself out. The good news is that there are ways to healthily and sustainable lose weight, and actually keep it off!

Keep reading to learn some tips that will help you change your lifestyle and drop the pounds.

Use Weight Loss Products Safely

First of all, if you’re going to be leaning on weight loss products for assistance, make sure you do your research and choose wisely. It’s important that you use only the best weight loss products to ensure that you’re prioritizing your health.

Products like weight loss teas and slimming gummies can help you on your journey in numerous ways, but keep in mind that you can’t rely on these alone. You’ll also need to make sure your diet aligns with your goals and that you’re exercising regularly if you want to see the scale shift.

Track Your Macros

Instead of cutting out carbs completely or trying to intermittent fast, consider the technique of tracking your calories and macronutrients.

You’ll need to use a macro calculator online or speak to a professional to determine the right calorie and macronutrient breakdown your body will need to lose weight. When you have those numbers, you can use an app to track what you eat each day to ensure you’re aligning with your targets. This method of weight loss allows you to eat more flexibly and prepare meals you actually enjoy, so long as you are within your “calorie budget.”

Eat a Balanced Diet

With that being said, tracking calories and macros shouldn’t become an excuse to eat whatever you want on your weight loss journey. Many people follow the “If It Fits Your Macros” (IIFYM) approach to dieting and fill up their days with junk food.

However, this can make things more difficult. If you neglect to eat a good balance of proteins, carbs, and fats, you probably won’t feel very well or motivated to exercise. Additionally, if you don’t eat a good amount of lean protein and fiber (which comes from fruit and veg), you’re likely to feel hungry again soon after your meal, which will make it tough to stay in a calorie deficit.

Plan Your Meals Ahead

Taking each day as it comes is the easiest way to go off the rails when it comes to your diet. If you have goals, you need to put some kind of a plan in place to make sure you’ll reach them!

Each week, create a meal plan or a menu that details what you’ll be eating over the next couple of days. Plan out healthy, well-balanced, and delicious meals for every day and buy all the ingredients you’ll need to make them. Ensure that you choose meals that align with your goals, but that are also tasty and something you’ll look forward to eating.

Prepare Healthy Snacks

We all have those moments during the day when lunch has long passed, but it’s too early for dinner. Or perhaps your breakfast left you unsatisfied and you need something small to carry you over until your next meal.

It’s usually in these moments that we might reach for a chocolate bar or a packet of crisps that will take us off our plan and slow down our progress. Being prepared for these moments is important! When you’re planning your meals for the week, also consider what healthy snacks you can keep on hand to keep the hunger at bay. Remember that protein and fiber will help keep you full.

Stay Consistent and Patient

Finally, stop reading blog posts and watching videos teaching you how to drop ten pounds in a week and accept the fact that healthy and sustainable weight loss takes time. Quick fixes might work in the short term, but they’ll never help you learn weight management or feel very good.

Your weight loss journey will have ups and downs, and the scale probably will too – this is all part of the process and normal to experience! When progress feels slow or goes backward, instead of giving up, keep trying and stay consistent. You’ll thank yourself when you look back on those tough moments.