Time for a change. I've had 3.5 months of yo-yo-ing of 5 lbs and I'm sick of it. I'm gonna throw out a 3 month challenge to anyone interested. Why 3 months? As most of you know, my stupid foot (plantar faciaitis) makes me unable to run anymore and this means I can no longer have a 5k, 10k or any other k to motivate me. I needed something as a goal, like a 10k would be, so my motivation is my beach trip is in 3 months. This gives me a good goal to strive for. 3 months is not a long time, but hopefully it will be long enough to achieve my goal to lose 10 lbs.
Therefore, I'm inviting all of you to join me. Find a goal to strive for in 3 months. Maybe you are going to the beach too or maybe you are doing the Peachtree. Or maybe you need to set a goal, like a massage. Whatever motivates you! Another motivation for me is that John and I are letting God take over in the baby department. If we have another baby, I need to lose MORE weight and get healthier. In the next three months, I hope to do more pilates, yoga and cardio in the next three months too.
I had a friend's grandmother (who hasn't seen me since I lost these last 30 lbs) ask me what my secret was for losing weight. I really didn't know what to tell her, because I don't think what I'm doing is a secret so I really had to think about it. One thing I've learned is that even though it's coming off at a snail's pace, it's allowing my body to adjust to the loss. I think that when you lose weight fast, your body (and mind) can't adjust to the change and you are more likely to go back to where you started. I firmly believe that you must lose weight in YOUR OWN TIME. YOU have to be ready to own up to YOUR eating habits and be ready to change FOREVER the way you look at food. If you join a weight loss program, you have to tell yourself "These people are helping me but it's MY responsibility to lose the weight and change myself." I know that, in the past, when I've joined them I thought "They are gonna change me." That's the wrong mentality. Now I know that I wasn't ready to accept that I will never eat what I want, when I want and as much as I want. I wasn't ready to accept that exercising 3 or more times a week had to be a RITUAL in my life. No weight loss program will work until you are ready to accept these realities for yourself. So here are some tips if you need help starting:
- STOP, STOP, STOP buying anything that will make you stumble. That means chips, candy, cakes, whatever. Your family will be better off for it anyways!
- Switch to Truvia, Splenda for sweetener in drinks. Limit anything that is sweetened (even artificially). I've read a lot of magazines that say that if you struggle with sugar, it's not a good idea to have a lot of things with sweeteners. It tricks your body into thinking you are eating sugar and you will crave it even more. Of course, this is my opinion but I have such a bad addiction to sugar that I'm trying to limit it as much as I can.
- DRINK WATER!!!
- Try to find ways to take calories and fats out of recipes. Switch to low-fat versions of mayo, sour cream, etc. I NEVER use fat free stuff...I'm sorry but a little fat helps the taste.
- EXERCISE! Start by walking 10 min. a day. Or join a gym and GO. I love the weight classes and spinning classes at my gym. I also love the elliptical. I've started doing the stair machine and rowing machine as well. Weight loss will happen without exercise but it will be more beneficial for you if you exercise too.
- Don't stress about what you are losing. The way I keep positive is knowing that I'm doing all I can to lose weight.
- Take it to God DAILY! Ask Him to help you make the right decisions and give you energy when you exercise (it works!).
Hope this helps all of you who are joining this 3 month challenge with me!
Just think "Better today than yesterday, Better tomorrow than today"...(quote from Vonnie Baucham).
