Today’s Featured Comment
There really no good trick to losing weight. I lost 190 lbs. It took me about 5 years. There are a few rules you need to live by but it is very doable.
1. Look at weight loss goals as 5 lbs at a time.
2. Just because you have a bad day or 2 doesn’t mean you failed.
3. You are the only one who can make your own choices. If your husband brings sugary treats into the house, it is up to you to resist. I always would think of the treats as poison. It was literally killing me to eat those things.
4. You are a gas tank. Calories in and calories out. Think of your goal weight and multiply it times 10. That is the amount of calories you need to take in every day to reach and maintain that goal. If you are really active you could multiply by 15.
6. PLAN – PLAN – PLAN know what you are going to eat at least one day in advance. If you already know what you can have that day, anything else you have is a no no. I wrote down everything I ate. The motto was: If you bite it write it! I know this is the part many people don’t like. But it is easier than being overweight.
7. Try not to do it alone. It is easier if you have someone who can hold you accountable. (not the husband – as it does not seem as though he is encouraging). I am a praying woman so every time I went out to eat or sat down to eat, or made out a menu… I would consistently pray. “Dear Lord, help me make healthy choices”
8. Exercise! Walking is wonderful. You do not need any equipment, no trainer and no gym fees.
9. Use any program you can get your hands on that you are comfortable with. I used fitday.com. Although I hear now there are many more choices out there. Weight watchers has a good online program as well.
10. Understand that this will be a lifestyle change. This is not a diet. Basically you tell yourself and others, “this is how I am going to eat for the rest of my life” After a while everything I said above is 2nd nature. I have been doing this for so long that I can pretty well calculate everything in my head. My goal weight has always been 150. Sometimes I do eat over 1500 calories but that is not normal for me to go over. However along this journey there were 100′s of times I went over. I would brush off the cookie crumbs and move on to the next day. At all times possible try to keep your calorie goal in mind. You will make it. Not over night of course.. but it is achievable. As you progress your friends and family will compliment you which will help motivate you. Bottom line.. you are in charge of you. It is not any one elses responsibility to make you healthy or happy. When I started out I told my family that things were going to change. I wanted to live, I wanted to be healthy I wanted to be happy.. I didn’t do it alone… I always had God, he always pulled me through. I am praying that you are a success..
[These tips were originally posted in this conversation. ~ Eds.]
