Lose weight one ounce at a time

One reason why truly overweight people fail to lose weight is that the task seems so big. When you are overweight by 50 lbs or more, it seems so overwhelming that you find it hard to even get started. So what do we suggest? Keep your goal small. How about one ounce (or whatever unit of weight you use in your country) at a time? (Related article: Lose weight and have fun too)

Small steps, big rewards? Indeed, it is possible. Robert Maurer, a psychologist, has written a book based on his experience about how to reach your goals by taking small steps. The book “One small step can change your life: The kaizen way workman” explains how the plan works.

Kaizen is a Japanese word that means “continuous improvement.” It is used in manufacturing systems in Japan and many other countries, including the United States. It is a key philosophy of how business is done in Japan. The author believes that if we divide large projects into small steps and take them one at time, we can reach even the biggest goals in our lives. (Related article: Japanese diet for weight loss)

The story is that when Robert Maurer decided to lose weight, he did not follow a complex diet or fitness program. Instead, he decided to throw out the first French fry on his plate. Eventually, it became two, then three French fries, or a tiny bit of whatever other food he was eating. He cut down the portions little by little. (Related article: Oprah's bootcamp)

In this way Dr. Maurer lost 45 pounds in 18 months and became a living example of the premise of his book. Kaizen works very well in quality improvement, so Maurer took the concept to our lives.

The United States has traditionally preferred dramatic innovation. "Americans have this myth of the big change," Maurer says. Maurer says anxiety stops people from reaching their goals. He believes this destructive emotion paralyzes the cortex, the thinking area of the brain and center of creativity. If one begins by taking tiny steps, panic and anxiety can be sidestepped. Maurer in his book gives many examples on how small steps can bring big rewards if the person is persistent and increases the activities one step a the time. (Related article: How to overcome fears and anxiety?)

So buy a more accurate scale (the one that can also measure ounces and not just pounds) and get started. And just focus on an ounce at a time. It is up to you if you want to lose an ounce in a day or three days or a week, but what is important is that you can set a goal that is achievable and once you achieve it you can set another achievable goal. It will take you longer though, but you are guaranteed to produce results. And once you have lost the weight, apply the idea to other aspects of your life.

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