While there are many ways to lose weight cheaply, there are still more companies that will try to exploit people who are desperate to achieve their fitness goals at any cost. While many people have tried different diet strategies, different foods, and different exercises at the gym, many inevitably give up or, more often, lack the consistency required for true results. This is usually because people often don’t enjoy the process. Believe it or not, it is possible to enjoy your time losing weight, and you don’t even have to give up on eating out at restaurants.
Restaurant Diet
Fred Bollaci, CEO of Fred Bollaci Enterprises, describes his battle to lose 100 pounds in one year. Bollaci is seven years strong on his weight loss journey and has not gained his weight back.
“I went to a couple of renowned weight loss facilities in the U.S. and sat down with other inmates,” Bollaci said.
The “therapy” was compared to detox, but one in which the diets does not even work. Clients were forced to choose their meals from a menu of nothing but terrible options. “There had to be an easier way,” Bollaci thought. A way to see results, and enjoy the process.
His method? Simply going to restaurants.
It may sound a bit too good to be true, and yet Bollaci insists that by going to restaurants and ordering healthy options, he was able to combine something he loves doing with healthy strategies for losing weight.
Bollaci also authors the Golden Palate blog, as well as a “how to” book called “The Restaurant Diet.” The problem with traditional diets is that the mindset encourages a time-limit to the healthy changes you have made. What is often called a diet should really be thought of as a “lifestyle change”. Bollaci recommends eliminating temptation and giving into at the same time. In other words, moderation.
“I’ve gained and lost a lot of weight over the course of my 40 years,” said Bollaci, who estimates he has gained and lost 1,000 pounds in total. By removing temptation and still doing what he loves, Bollaci developed an effective strategy.
Healthy routines, healthy life
Other diets don’t tell you “it’s OK to enjoy things,” Bollaci said. A restaurant diet is more of a foodie diet — if you love what you are doing, you are more inclined not only to stick with it, but also to be more efficient and have more fun while doing it. If you enjoy going to the gym, for instance, it makes it so much easier to get up every day and — well, hit the gym.
The same philosophy applies to eating. There are healthy dietary options. Consider switching out bad food for good food. Salad in exchange for pizza, or healthy vegan options. You don’t need to go full-on vegan or vegetarian in order to start making healthy lifestyle choices. With the right toppings and sides, virtually anything can taste the way you want it to.
There are thousands of weight-loss programs and companies. Some of them work, some don’t. But what will work is if you combine the right amount of self-determination and discipline with the right eating strategies. Even going to the gym isn’t necessary to lose weight — your metabolism works on a pretty straightforward system. If you burn more calories than you intake, you will lose weight. If you burn fewer calories than you consume, you will gain weight.
Takeaway
If you are desperate to lose weight, consider these 8 weight loss strategies. Also, understand that there are healthy ways to get there. While some people can get there by living “La Dolce Vita” like Bollaci, others can get to the good life through fitness, the right eating strategies for you, and even wine.
