Here are some things that helped me while working on getting healthy.
1. Use weight as a gauge, but NOT as an "end". It truly isn't about weight as much as it is how you feel. Muscle weighs more than weight. So if you're gaining muscle, but losing fat, you're doing great.
2. Drink more water than you think you can handle. It helps hunger, but also helps flush all the crap out of the body. And makes you pee a lot (only disadvantage).
3. Leave a water bottle out where you can see it. And drink everytime you pass it. Take water in the car with you. Have a bottle of water on your desk at work. Keep it in your sight throughout the day and drink, drink, drink
4. Eat smaller meals, more often. I ate 5 meals a day, about 300 calories each. To calculate how many calories you should be eating a day, click here.
5. Exercise smarter, not necessarily longer. I recommend some form of interval training. But you have to work hard.
6. Find a way to be accountable. I'm self-motivated when it comes to exercise. I wanted to lose weight and be healthy. That was enough accountability for me. But if you need more, tell a friend or family member what your goals are and have them ask you about it every so often. Or find a workout buddy. I like to exercise alone, but some people do better in groups. Just make sure you're all there to work hard and not socialize. :)
7. Try to exercise at the same time every day. I realize this can be tricky especially if you have kids. I have 4 kids under the age of 9. And my youngest was only 8 months old when I first started my exercise/eating program. There's a way to do it. You may have to be creative, but if you really want it, you can figure out a way to get it done.
8. Don't feel guilty for the time it takes to exercise. This may sound silly, but if you're a mom, you know what I'm talking about. The ever present mom guilt. I often felt guilty for exercising. Because it does take a big chunk of time. But. My kids get to see me do it. And know it's important to me. And it's sending a VERY important message to them that exercising and eating right are a priority to me.
9. Try not to get discouraged. If you don't see pounds melting off like they do on the Biggest Loser competitors, don't get down on yourself. I only lost about 1 pound a week. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. Just stick with it.
10. Don't weigh yourself obsessively. My rule of thumb was to only weigh myself once a week. Sometimes I even went two weeks. As long as I was consistently feeling healthier and stronger, that was good enough for me.
11. Plan ahead for your meals. I don't have a lot of spare time throughout my day. I rarely sit down and am usually running around from one thing to the next because someone allllllways needs me. Always. So if you don't have your meals figured out ahead of time, you'll eat crap, or even worse, you won't eat. You HAVE to eat consistently to keep your metabolism going.
If I can do it, you can do it. I promise. Make it a priority. Be consistent. Celebrate even the smallest of success's. Be positive. Work hard. And get healthy!!!! If you have a WHY, you can figure out any HOW. Good luck and STICK WITH IT!!!
Read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of Getting Healthy. And my history with weight here.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I'm happy to help wherever I can!
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