Actions you can take RIGHT NOW to help get you start making progress on your weight loss journey RIGHT NOW.

1. ONLY EAT WHEN HUNGRY AND STOP WHEN YOU’RE SATISFIED. Portion sizes are ridiculously large in today’s society, but with many of us growing up in the “clean your plate” generation, we’ve simply forgotten what true hunger and fullness feels like. Only eat when your body NEEDS food, and STOP when you feel satisfied before feeling stuffed.

2. MOVE YOUR BODY. You don’t need to do an “official workout” every day, but you DO need to move your body. Park your car far from the door at the grocery store, or take the stairs instead of the elevator.

3. TAKE YOUR HEALTH SERIOUSLY. No matter how you look at it, you only get ONE BODY. It needs to last your entire life, so don’t waste your time (or your health) taking magic diet pills or drinking “fat-burning” shakes. Focus on learning sustainable, healthy habits that will last MUCH longer than any magical diet pill or shake.

4. BE CONSISTENT AND PATIENT. Sustainable weight loss takes TIME. More time than most of us would like. Learning patience and consistency is JUST AS IMPORTANT as teaching yourself how to eat nutritiously and how to move your body.

5. PLAN AHEAD & TAKE MESSY ACTION. Planning ahead looks different for everyone, so find a way to make a nutrition plan that works for you. Then DO IT. Don’t get caught up trying to be perfect. Executing your plan half-way is better than nothing. Both planning AND executing are EQUALLY important to the healthy life equation.