A new CSIRO study of over 22,000 successful Australian dieters has revealed that the first few weeks of a weight loss program are critical for success and that early weight loss leads to greater long-term weight loss.
In the study, members of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet who got off to a strong start in the first 3 weeks of their program went on to lose three and a half times more weight than those who had a slower start.
In fact, stronger starters lost over 5 kg more weight than slower starters overall!
Start strong to lose more weight
The study revealed that stronger starters used the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet system 50% more than slower starters in the first three weeks of the program, showing that early engagement leads to greater weight loss.
That's where our brand new Start Strong Interactive Guide comes in.
The Start Strong Interactive Guide is a tool that helps you hit all your weight loss milestones throughout your program. It is a simple step-by-step guide that tracks your efforts - like whether you've weighed in this week or logged your meals - to ensure that you're staying focused on what matters.
We call it the Start Strong Interactive Guide because our research shows that the members who put in the most effort at the beginning of the program lose the most weight.
This guide is designed to:
- Remind you of key tasks
- Get you off to a winning start
- Help you focus on what matters at every stage
- Maximise your weight loss both short and long term
- Celebrate your success once your tasks are all ticked off
Read the stories of some of our successful stronger starters
Become a stronger starter
To ensure you get the most out of your program and weight loss journey, follow these 5 steps.
1. Prepare before you start
Allow yourself a few days to get familiar with the menu plan, go shopping, stock the pantry and get in the right mindset. Successful members of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet allowed themselves an average of two days to get ready, including purchasing food and researching meal plans.
2. Put all your efforts into the first 3 weeks
Check-in with the program four times each day for the best possible weight loss. This includes viewing the menu plan, using the food tracker, looking up foods in the search and weighing in. Successful members use the online tools 50% more than other users.
3. Plan and track your meals
Review your menu plans and food shop a week in advance. Regular usage of the menu plan and food and exercise tracker was highest in members who lost 10% or more of their starting weight. This is because increased nutrition awareness leads to forming long-term healthy food habits.
4. Weigh in regularly
Recording your weight at least once a week keeps you accountable and is associated with greater weight loss. In fact, the study found that those who recorded their weight almost twice per week were in the highest bracket of overall weight loss, losing up to 15% of their original body weight.
5. Connect with the community
Those who regularly share their experiences via a forum or social media group are more likely to be motivated to keep going.
Do you have the right mindset for weight loss?
Find out with our quiz!