The necessary first step for your weight-loss journey is to set goals that will effectively move you through the process. Essentially, there are two kinds of goals to consider: outcome goals and process goals. Outcome goals look to the end, or outcome, of your journey. What do you hope to achieve with your weight-loss? Is there a target weight you have in mind? A special dress or pants size you want to fit into? Process goals work differently. They walk you through the journey, step-by-step toward your outcome goal. A process goal might be the choice to workout three times a week or to drink 64oz. of water every day. The key here is to set goals that offer challenge but are not too unrealistic. When you focus on moving through your process goals one day at a time, before you know it, you will have achieved your outcome goal as well! Those small daily victories amount to a huge and gratifying overall success!

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There are many ways to reduce stress in your life. Here are some suggestions if you find your tendency to worry if affecting the quality of your life mentally, emotionally and physically.

If you have a problem that needs to be taken care of, stop procrastinating and just do what needs to be done. It may be hard to face, but once it’s dealt with the stress in your life will go way down.

If you have toxic people in your life, that is, people who make you feel uncomfortable, bad about yourself, lacking in some way, jumpy, sad, essentially too much negative emotion, limit the amount of time you spend with those people, or cut them out of your life. It’s impossible to cut out certain people like beloved family members and co-workers, but you can in these cases, organize your life in such a way that you spend less time with them than you ordinarily would. And when you do have to spend time with a toxic person, schedule some time with a person whom you find uplifting afterward. It will be a positive antitode.

Try positive visualization and affirmations. There are loads of books on the market with instructions on how to use these powerful tools. Many of us run negative stress-producing thoughts without even realizing we’re doing it 24/7. It is possible to replace these with positive thoughts and mental pictures. In fact, it is imperative to do so to reduce stress and living a more rewarding life.

Stay away from caffeine. The temporary boost it gives you isn’t worth its cost in added jumpiness and roller coaster energy swings.

Start writing down your thoughts in a journal, both everything that worries you and everything you love about your life (that you can think of in one sitting). Then be done with it for the day, and go about living.

Get plenty of exercise. Exercise releases endorphins which make you feel good. It’s also very good for your overall health and can often pop you out of a worried state of mind. It’s also very beneficial for people who have depressive tendencies.

Try seeing a counselor or hypnotherapist. There’s nothing quite like having the attention of a trained professional, someone who listens well and has some insights and ideas for you to try. Each of us is unique, and good therapists realize this, knowing that what works to reduce stress for one person isn’t going to work for another person. It’s always good to get a helping hand.

Allow yourself a few minutes each day, a very limited time, to worry to the hilt. Exaggerate your fears and negative mental images. Then when your time’s up. Let is go until your next scheduled worry session.

Take a break from the media for a while-TV, radio, newspaper, magazines. Read a good, uplifting book instead, and go for long walks. It’s amazing what even just a few days of this can do to improve your frame of mind. You might want to make it permanent.

Do you feel stressed out about how you look? Want to improve your appearance, confidence, and how you feel? Download our free audio recording to learn more about how you can lose weight from home. (Sign up at the top right of this page)