Setting a healthy routine for our diet can be easy, but some of us can have trouble sticking to it. Did you know that having a healthy diet can reduce your risk of disease? Of course, it can also improve your overall mood. If you’re one of those people who want to stick to their diet or don’t know how to set up a healthy routine successfully, here’s my advice for you.

1. Start by having an end goal or simple expectation of what you want to achieve within three months, six months, one year, or a lifetime diet you would like to stick to. So having an achievable expectation can help motivate you and increase your chances of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

2. A perfect diet plan or a perfect combination of food doesn’t exist, so stop looking for it! You read it right. You can eat in a very healthy way but still have one favorite food. Remember, the secret to a successful diet is not just the food we eat but also eating everything in moderation every day. If you get tempted to eat something that isn’t on your “diet plan” list, eat it shortly before bedtime. Allow yourself to enjoy food once in a while but in moderation.

3. Motivation is indeed needed. Rethinking why you’re making healthy choices or what motivates you can help you stay on course. It may sound not that important to you, but listing down specific reasons can help you adhere to it. So, whenever you feel like you need a reminder of your end goal, you can refer to this list.

4. Weigh yourself every day. You have to stay accountable, whether or not you have followed your diet list. It helps to have an accountability buddy to email, call, or text to report your everyday progress. If you don’t want to or don’t have someone as your accountability buddy, you can also have a diary to keep posted on daily progress.

5. Know and teach yourself the difference between craving and hunger. The feeling of wanting or desiring something to eat is called a craving, while the empty feeling or growling stomach when you haven’t eaten for hours is hunger. Knowing and teaching yourself the difference can discipline you to stick to your healthy diet routine. 

6. One ground rule to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is eating when it’s time, not when you feel like it. Set a plan of meals with or without snacks, pick a time, and regularize that eating pattern.

7. Remember to remind yourself that every time matters. When you’re tempted to eat something else, and every time you choose to stick to your plan, you strengthen your resistance muscle no matter how tempted you are. You’re simply training yourself to resist next time and the time after that. On the contrary, if you give in and eat something you’re not supposed to, you’re training your craving muscle, which is more likely to keep giving in the next time after that.

There are times when we know we have issues with weight gain, and we know we need to get it under control, but we just can’t afford a doctor’s visit. In this case, a lot of people turn to over-the-counter supplements. 

 The question is since these things are not generally prescribed by a medical professional, are they safe to consume? Do they have any side effects we should worry about? More importantly, do they have any effect at all?

 The answer is, it depends on the supplement. There are a few little signs to look for. Here is a shortlist of the things you should look for when considering an over-the-counter weight loss supplement.

 1. FDA Approval

 One of the most important things to know if you are considering a specific health supplement is whether or not the FDA has considered and approved it. You can find out by going online and researching your specific product before you buy it.

 2. Researching Side Effects and Allergies

 If you are worried about the side effects your chosen supplement may have, then you can go online to research the providing company’s site. While you’re at it, it’s probably a good idea to check and see if you are allergic to any ingredients in it.

 3. Look Up Ingredients

 In addition to researching possible side effects and allergic reactions, you can also benefit from looking up all the ingredients of the supplement in general, so you have a better idea of whether or not it will be safe for you to consume.

 4. Fellow Consumers’ Experience

 If you are confused about or unsure about the weight loss product in general, it’s not a bad idea to look at reviews from other people who have tried the product. If you see more positive reviews than negative ones, chances are it’s probably safe. Still, proceed with caution.

 5. Doctor Advice

 Sometimes we are able to afford a visit, but not a prescription. When this happens, you can ask your doctor about the supplement of your consideration, and they will most likely look into it and tell you what they think or seek the advice of a nutrition specialist.

 6. Multiple Choice

 It is always good to have multiple options to choose from. In addition to all of the above options, you can also take down a list of multiple weight loss supplements and have your doctor look at them all to help you determine which ones might be the safest. 

 In conclusion, whether or not a weight loss supplement is safe depends entirely on the company, in addition to the active ingredients in that particular product. Therefore, it is always a good idea to ask questions and take precautions. 

 So whether we can’t afford a prescription from the doctor, or we’re just trying to look at all of our options before we decide, weight loss supplements are an option that can sometimes need extra careful consideration. 

 That is why it’s a good idea to consult the doctor or nutrition specialist, look at multiple supplements, and take our doctor’s suggestion in mind because while weight loss vitamins are not a terrible solution in general, you can never be too careful.

 Also, some weight loss supplements might say they are FDA approved, but the only way to know that for sure is to ask a professional. If the doctor doesn’t know, they can always consult or refer us to somebody who will.