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Experts have determined the optimal day to start a diet to lose weight. Selecting the right moment in the week to adopt new health habits might be crucial for lasting success.
Embarking on a fresh nutritional or fitness regimen can present challenges. Whether or not you have a particular goal in sight, it’s often tricky to stray from your usual habits.
Specialists suggest that choosing an exact day to begin is vital. Following their research, academics from the University of Pennsylvania in the US have pinpointed Monday as the prime day to instigate such adjustments.
Jason Riis, co-author of the study, shed light on the underlying mental processes. He commented: “On certain days, called temporal landmarks, you just have a different view of yourself. You become more forward-looking.”
As indicated by Today.com, his colleague Hengchen Dai said people often think, “I am going to be a new person and… I am no longer going to be a part of the path of failure.”
She said: “It’s changing the perception of the self.” To discern these “temporal milestones”, the investigation involved three stages.
They initially scrutinised Google Analytics to determine the timing and frequency of searches related to diets and workouts. Next, they recorded which days saw peak attendance at the University of Pennsylvania fitness centre.
Lastly, they examined a website where users set personal agreements to modify a behaviour – and they had to pay money if they failed. This principle isn’t confined to diet and exercise; Monday might just be the optimal day to implement a variety of life changes.
“Monday is going to be a fresh start,” Dai said. Psychologist at the Cincinnati Psychotherapy Institute, Ann Kearney-Cooke agreed.
She said: “I think it gives an energy surge to people.” Yet, this approach isn’t without its challenges, as there’s a potential risk of burning out by the end of the week.
Nonetheless, Ann advocated for persistence, even if you falter mid-week, suggesting starting again the next day rather than deferring until the following Monday. “The key to change is at the next meal or the next morning, starting over,” she advised.
While no specific “worst day” to initiate changes has been identified, Ann recommended against embarking on new ventures when feeling particularly drained of energy and willpower.
The other best dates for commencing new routines were highlighted in the report as:
- Birthdays and anniversaries
- First day of the month
- New season or new educational term
- New Year
The study didn’t take into consideration whether people achieved their goals. However, as reported by Today.com, psychologist John Norcross from the University of Scranton said that people who make New Year’s resolutions or quit smoking during events are more successful than expected.
If you are concerned about your weight you can speak to your GP or visit nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight for support.
