TOPS offers 10 ways to overcome setbacks

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Losing weight is one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, year after year — and also one of the most commonly broken, according to Take Off Pounds Sensibly, nonprofit weight-loss support organization. According to a study by Brian Wansink, Ph.D., author of “Slim by Design: Mindless Eating Solutions for Everyday Life” and contributor to TOPS Club, 75 percent of research participants abandoned their new diet within the first month and 36 percent gave up within the first week.
On days when small weight gain or setbacks cause doubt, give the following tips a try, TOPS said.
1. Remember how far you’ve come. Pull out an old photo and consider: “What was I doing and how was I feeling at this time last year?”
2. Talk to someone who motivates you — a cheerleader in your life, like a friend, parent, sibling or mentor.
3. Forgive yourself for a bad day and move on. Tomorrow is a new day and another chance to get back on track.
4. Do something you love. What cheers you up — cooking, playing with your pet, or immersing yourself in a good book, for example?
5. Move. Exercise boosts your mood. Even simply walking your dog around the neighborhood can make you feel better.
6. Laugh. Play your go-to sitcom or head to the theater to see the latest funny film and get your mind off your day.
7. Pause to think about your triumphs. How much weight have you already lost? Do your clothes feel looser? Have you been eating more fruits and vegetables?
8. Put things in perspective and help someone in need. Give your time toward a worthy cause.
9. Return to what inspires you — your favorite songs, quotes, or poems. Let them motivate you to stay the course.
10. Imagine your life after you achieve your weight-loss goal. What are you doing? How do you feel?
TOPS Club was founded more than 66 years ago and is a noncommercial weight-loss organization. TOPS promotes weight management with a “Real People. Real Weight Loss.” philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise and wellness information. T
Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. Membership is affordable at $32 per year, plus nominal chapter fees. To find a chapter, view www.tops.org or call 800-932-8677.