So I have a goal to lose 50 pounds by July 1st, 2014; that's about 10 pounds per month. My eating habits have improved greatly since the holidays and now I am getting back to incorporating exercise.
First off I am searching for food options I don't have to cook or prep. Right now I prep about 75% of my meals and I would like to bring the number down to at least 50%. I currently prep about 3 times per week because unfortunately I share a fridge with 2 other people so as you can imagine, it gets pretty crowded in there. Food prep takes time for me, and it's time away from working out. I'm looking into some healthy, low-calorie frozen options which I can just nuke in the microwave, and of course keep some live food options (raw fruits/veggies) for snacks and weekends.
I'm not a fan of working out. I would prefer to lose weight by taking naps if I could (hehehe) but that's not gonna work, at least not for my goals. So I'm taking it back to when I first moved out here. Back in December 2012 when I first moved to San Diego I walked A LOT. I wanted to learn the lay of the land so walking helped me discover some "go-to" places. I walked up and down the city of San Diego and lost 10 pounds in about 3 months, just from walking and cutting soda, and juice out (without changing my eating habits). I figured if I could lose 10 pounds just from that, imagine how much more I could lose if I ate better and exercised more. So I joined Beachbody and lost another 12 pounds in about 2 months (22 pounds lost as of July 2013). My weight fluctuated since the holidays but I'm aiming to get back on track. I have been walking 2 nights per week for 20-30 minutes, and 2 other times per week doing Focus T25. In a previous post I mentioned which were my favorite workouts from T25 (you get a bunch of different DVD's with the program), so I alternate those. In addition, I recently purchased a sauna suit to help me sweat more when I'm "working out". I wear it when I walk and when I'm doing T25. I've been doing this for about a week and already noticed my belly feels a lot less bloated. Here is the suit I purchased:
Just an FYI, I read in the reviews the suits run a little small, so get a bigger size. I am between a 2x and 3x, and bought a 4x. It fits me big but not uncomfortably so.
So if you're looking to lose weight but don't know where to start, start one step at a time:
1 - Before you even start thinking about how much weight you want to lose and how you're gonna do it, start by incorporating more nutrient dense foods in your diet. Please note I use the word "diet" to refer to what you eat, not referring to a specific diet plan (such as South Beach, etc...). Eat what you would normally, but add a salad or vegetables to your lunch and dinner. There are so many types of vegetables that anything fresh is what you need to help you get started. There are so many options but don't get overwhelmed! Even buying one of those mixed salad bags or boxes helps, to add to your normal lunch and dinner. I mentioned this before but another great way to add nutrients is with a shot of good stuff every day. You can make your own "green juice" or natural vegetable/fruit juice, but I'm lazy. I buy "Green Envy Daily Detox" (below) and have a little shot of that every morning. You will notice after time, if you're consistently eating healthier things, that the "junk" will be less and less in your daily routine.
2 - Be consistent! Taking 1 simple step everyday can bring about drastic change over time. By taking action every day, it will turn into a habit and will be a normal part of your routine. I understand it's easy to slip-up and lose track, but that's OK! I lose track all the time but you know what, I always get back on track. And it's easier to get back on track once you have something down as a habit. If you're going to start eating a salad or vegetables with your lunch and dinner, do this every day. Try doing 1 healthy habit every day for 21 days, and see how you feel. Listen to your body and how it reacts to your new habits.
3 - Sugar is crack people! Even good sugar can get you spiraling out of control. I notice that when I'm eating a lot of sugary foods, I just want more sugar, which is why I try to avoid as much added sugar as possible. Start out simple; I used to drink at least 3 cans of soda per week, and 1 cup of juice per day. Soda and juice (even natural juice) is just liquid calories. Start by lowering your "sugar water" intake, and then eventually eliminate it. I'm not saying I never have soda, I'll have it once in a while when I'm out, but I don't have it at home. I know it's cliche to say drink water, but it is important. Try replacing 1 "sugar" drink with 1 cup of water, and eventually add more cups of water. I don't like to drink plain water so I'll add some lemon/lime juice to it (no sugar), or I'll drink seltzer water with a spritz of lime if I want something bubbly. Sometimes if I want to drink something sweet I'll have a juice diluted with water.
Start incorporating these 3 steps today. Write down what you eat every day, be consistent with the routine, and you will notice some amazing changes. After following the 3 steps for 21 days, think about an "upgrade" to your routine, like adding some walking time. If you find yourself in a really unhealthy state, visit a doctor first for any changes to your current routine. Your doctor can give you some starting points to better health, fit for your current situation.
Everyone's needs are different; you will find what your needs are over time and by trying different things. I now know what works and what doesn't work for me, but that's because I've been down this road for many, many years. Before weight loss was about other people. I wanted to lose weight when I was younger to please people; family, friends, society. So guess what? I never lost weight because it wasn't what I truly desired. Now I can say whatever goes in with my body is my choice. I am looking to live a healthier lifestyle for me and no one else.
I'll keep you posted on what "frozen food" options I find. I am focusing on creating an 1800 calorie meal plan for myself, I will share with you very soon.
By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps. Check it out!
By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps. Check it out!
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