Can you believe that it has been one full year since we started this journey together? Who would have thought that when I decided to make a life-changing commitment it would evolve into meeting new people and encouraging others to join my bandwagon? I look back and remember some of the “fake” weight-loss tactics I’ve tried. Now I think about the time I spend trying to adapt my current wardrobe. I never thought that I would take an oversized shirt and add a belt to emphasize my “new” waistline. I also never thought I would wear stretch leggings with a top and not think twice about how my thighs look.
Aug 242011
Cutting out a beloved food completely in any weight-loss journey could result in failure. I know that I have mentioned this before, but I always encourage people to indulge on occasion. Keep in mind that I don’t mean all of the time—sometimes you need to let the moment pass and revisit it later. For me this works well. If I crave chocolate I tend to drink water and wait at least an hour. If I really want the chocolate an hour later, then I will have it. Most of the time I forget about the craving and remind myself that I’m probably confusing being thirsty with being hungry. Continue reading »
Jul 282011
Staying motivated is a challenge in any life-changing decision. You can be extremely motivated to achieve something and after several weeks of constant vigil you may start to relax (even as you make progress) on your initial goal. I know many of my readers think that I have amazing self-discipline and have wondered how I have stayed motivated throughout the past 10 months. It has not been easy and let me be honest in saying that I have had my share of pitfalls. Though my weak points did not result in a major weight gain, they did result in me not following through with portion control for a couple of days at a time, which always reminds me that this is why I don’t deprive myself of anything and that we are only human. If I ever need a pick-me-up for motivation I turn to Military OneSource and read a motivational article, talk to a friend, talk with my health coach, or even recommit to my goal by reminding myself of how far I have come.
Jul 182011
Do you ever wonder why men lose weight faster than women? The truth is, men have two major weight-loss advantages over women. The first is their body composition enables them to burn calories at a faster rate than women. The second revolves around the fact that men tend to be more active than females. These two major factors—more calories burned at rest and more calories burned in activity—translates into faster weight loss for men.
Jun 272011
Have you ever gone grocery shopping, and as you are putting the groceries away wondered what you just spent all that money on because there’s still no food in the house? I am constantly looking for something new to enjoy and find that nothing in the entire grocery store appeals to me. I always buy the same items. My household staples are cheese, yogurt, light bread, and turkey pepperoni. I like to have fruits and vegetables on hand, but which ones I buy depend on what’s on sale that week. I am all about how much money I can save on my shopping trip. Continue reading »
Jun 082011
Here I am still plugging away at conquering the various levels of my plateau. Do you know that we are heading into Week Six and I have been fluctuating with a pound and half? First I spent three weeks at the same weight, then the following week my weight increased half a pound, and two weeks later I’m down a pound and a half. This is nerve-wracking and I have decided that enough is enough. There is always a positive in every element. The positive of having a plateau is that you are not gaining weight. Maintaining weight is a positive accomplishment! We have to keep in mind that this journey is not about the number on the scale, it’s about feeling good about yourself and your successes. I know that I am not doing anything that I shouldn’t and that I am working hard to achieve a healthier view on life and that is what’s important. Continue reading »
May 262011
I’m beginning to think that the word “plateau” is my least favorite word these days. I have spent the last three weeks at the same point in my journey: no weight loss and no gain. Several of my friends have mentioned how frustrated they were when they hit their plateau, too. And most of the time there is not just one plateau, there are multiple pleateaus during your weight loss journey. Continue reading »
My health coach is an exceptional woman who I would never have met had I not taken the time to learn more about the iCanChange program. She is very proud of my accomplishments. She also gently reminds me of the various reasons why people want to lose weight and why some of these need to be converted from short-term goals to permanent lifestyle changes. Continue reading »
Apr 252011
As I sit here and think of all of the different ways I’ve been motivated to continue my weight-loss journey, the one that stands out most has to do with making my own choices and realizing that I’m in charge of my own body. Continue reading »
Let’s just say that it takes a true friend to make you realize that you are a wonderful person. This friend is the one that tells you to shout as loud as you can to let EVERYONE know what you’ve accomplished. What good is it to keep quiet about something you’ve worked so hard to achieve? If you’ve noticed a change in yourself than I bet others have as well and no one wants to say anything for fear of hurting your feelings or embarrassing you. A dear friend who I haven’t talked to in a while sent me an e-mail asking about my blog. She enjoys reading it like all of you and wanted to encourage me to keep on trucking with my progress. Continue reading »
