My Amazing Diet and Weight Loss Secrets

I am not a nutritionist, nor am I a personal trainer. I am someone who has struggled with their weight their entire life. I started out as a chubby baby, progressed to a finicky eater as a child who would choose junk over the nutritious good for you stuff. Sitting on the couch watching cartoons all weekend was so much fun!! Of course, this was all fine and dandy until society and its pressures kicked in. Great, so I grew terrified of being the fattest girl in gym class....heck, even in my class. I held my breath until someone who was bigger than me walked in. Then, I didn't feel so bad. I was 14 when I went on my first diet. Nutri-System. How horrible did I feel when I was bringing in these tiny little sandwiches with some mystery meat that was supposed to be ham? And I still don't know what kind of cheese that was...needless to say, that didn't last...how could it? My friends were eating all the good stuff and I was munching on cardboard. Awesome!! They would sometimes try what I was eating to be supportive and they would tell me how it was good. Such liars! I did kind of like their snacks...typical me.

So, I don't really remember how long I remained on that program. My mom was on it with me, and I just remember her being a bit upset with me about how much money she had wasted when I quit. That, was the first of many diets I quit.

My range has usually landed in the 30 - 60 lbs overweight range. Obese basically because I'm so short and big boned. Big Boned I say!! I am though, really. I am short, 5'2" but do not have a petite frame. So, weighing 100 lbs is not even an option for me...or 115....or 125. When I was in 8th grade I weighed 145lbs. I continued to climb on up to somewhere around the 200lb mark. Right around the age of 19 I made it back to 145lbs. What did I do to lose that weight? I starved myself and exercised A LOT!! Sometimes twice a day. I tried every pill and every fad. But, mostly I swore off food. I would fill myself up with as many liquids as possible. Soup, tea, coffee, hot chocolate (sugar free of course).  I would eat of course, I had to.  Usually on weekends I’d just eat whatever I wanted (but that was only after I had lost that initial weight to make me happy.  

I lost all that weight in about 8 months. I kept off for about a year. I went away to school at that time and packed on the freshman 30. That's right, the freshman THIRTY! Ugh. Nightmare!!! I packed it on quick! No surprise there...and then I started working out again. I ate whatever I wanted, I just made sure I did SOMETHING. That worked. I lost a good 30lbs doing this. The thing is and here's

Secret #1:

·         When you exercise, you feel better and you WILL eat better. You will. You'll like how you start to feel and you'll want to feel it more.  You’ll keep exercising and better eating habits will follow.  Why?  Because you’ll want to feel better and look better faster.  Not really a secret though, hmmm….interesting.

I lost some weight, could I keep it off?  I was single, back home again.  What was a girl to do, why date of course!

Secret #2:

·         Motivation is key!!   When you have the right motivating factor, we as humans can overcome anything!  Find your motivating factor and use it to your advantage.  New dress two sizes too small?  An upcoming vacation?  Looking good naked for a special someone?  Whatever it is, keep reminding yourself about it.

If we fast forward the clock on my life a bit.  We reach an important turning point for me.  8 years into my future, I’ve put all my weight back on and then some.  But, just before I turned 30 I made a decision.  I was ready.  I did not want to be obese in my thirties.  Plain and simple.  That was that.  There was no changing my mind. 

Secret #3:

·         You must be ready to diet.  There is no doubt about this.  It doesn’t matter if your health is at risk.  It doesn’t matter if you’re getting picked on or ridiculed.  It doesn’t matter if your clothes don’t fit.  Nothing matters until you’re ready to make the change.  And until you’re ready, you will cheat, you will backslide, you will fail and you will try again.  Yes, you will.

How do you get ready to make a lifestyle change????  Sounds pretty difficult doesn’t it?  Well, it is.  I’m not going to sugar coat this.  Losing weight is probably the most difficult thing you will have to do.  Food is all around you.  People are eating all the time and they’re probably eating as unhealthy as you are.  Maybe they don’t have the same weight problem as you (but that’s genetics and really can’t be helped). 

Everyone is different.  That’s what makes people human.  If you can use your negative feelings about your weight to propel you forward and make that initial step, you’re on the right path!!!

Secret #4:

·         A diet, YOUR diet can and should be tailored to YOU!  Do you want to be gung ho, or do you want to take it slow?  Can you quit fried foods whole turkey, or maybe it would be best to lower your fried food intake gradually?

We live in a world where it’s all or nothing.  From my experience, all or nothing will get you just that.  Nothing.  You’ll feel deprived and end up bingeing.  No one wants that.  Move at your own pace.  Record you progress.  Look back and feel proud that for a whole week you ate NO chocolate.  Yes, you had pizza, but you had NO CHOCOLATE!!!  Celebrate yourself for small accomplishments.  But, of course not with food!!  Which leads me to….

Secret #5:

·         Adults are similar to children in many ways.  We like to be rewarded and excel when we are.  Make it clear to the people around you that you welcome positive comments and compliments and would prefer no negativity.  Let’s not forget our own sense of accomplishment as well.  They should not go unnoticed.  You woke up feeling good about the past week’s accomplishments?  Go buy yourself something special!!!  Reward yourself for a job well done. 

This can take on many shapes and of course, should be tailored to you and your goals.  A jar with cash for your new wardrobe is a great idea (one I’ve done).  But, there is no immediate reward.  Go out and get yourself something you can enjoy now for sticking to your goals and making another step in the right direction.  I started giving myself mini goals.  Usually weekly or tied to a specific weight loss number.  When I reached that goal, I rewarded myself.  If you really want something (and can afford it of course) write that down along with your goal.  Reach goal, win gold.

Secret #6:

·         There is such a thing as too much freedom.

For some people this is the most important “secret”.  We live in a society of excess, we all know this.  Supersize this and King size that.  You may need to pull back on all your control, even if it’s just initially.  You may not know what a portion size is because you never had it!  You’ve always just eaten until you couldn’t eat anymore…I am guilty of this all too often…and I’ve forgiven myself for it plenty of times.  If you are this kind of person, you may want to try a program such as Nutri-System or Jenny Craig.  I’m not endorsing these products at all.  Especially since Nutri-System did not work for me, but that was a long time ago and I’m sure their food has improved.  Maybe.  But, they pre-package everything and could be a good start for someone with control issues.  You can even just go to a grocery store and stock up on frozen Weight Watchers, Lean Cuisine or even Healthy Choice.  Get some healthy, individually wrapped snacks.  Load up on lots of veggies and fruits.  Learn what a portion size is.  It’s that one piece of fruit and what comes in the frozen box of food.  Yes that’s it.  I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you.  THAT is a dinner portion.

Secret #7:

·         You CAN and will pick yourself up after you fail.

Maybe fail is too harsh?  Slip might be better.  You won’t change overnight.  Nor should you expect to unless you’ve been hypnotized.  Hey, does that work?  If you don’t allow for failure you are doomed to it.  If I just HAD to have a slice of pizza for dinner with my husband and daughter, though it wasn’t what I planned, I would not be in tears because I cheated!  OH NO!!  What did I do?  Can you pass me the Oreos?  They’ll make me feel better.  Nuh-uh.  You’re not going that route!  You will say, ok, I’m having pizza.  Two slices tops.  Four slices and five minutes into a remorseful self talk I’m ready to just quit my diet.  Well, not with this secret.  Keep it moving.  Literally.  Remember Secret #1??? 

You can and will do better with time.  You won’t feel as hungry.  It won’t feel as hard.  And you’ll look and feel amazing.  Not to mention the whole new wardrobe you had to buy because of your new body and how you no longer want to turn off the light to hide your body.

From my own experience I know this last secret I have to share works.  It works well.

Secret #8:

·         A positive attitude is key. 

Negativity will get you nowhere.  Certain phrases I’ve read and heard along the way are still with me and help me get through cravings.  I don’t think, oh what will one bag of Reese’s peanut butter cups hurt?  I think:  Is that one bag worth five hours on the treadmill?  Hm, may want to rethink that one.  I say little things to myself like: “I live to eat, I don’t eat to live”, “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”…there are so many more and you can find the ones that work for you.  When you are tempted, get the good thoughts in your head as fast as you can.  Do not set yourself up for failure by giving in.  But, if you do, don’t forget about Secret # 7.  It’s pretty important.

I am still on my weight loss journey.  I’m in my 5^th year of my 30’s and I’m not at my starting weight.  But, I am creeping back up.  I’m nipping it the bud though.  I promised myself that I wouldn’t go over a certain weight ever again.  I’m 4 pounds away from that number.  So, time for me to read my secret list over and over until my head is in the game.  In the meantime, I have healthy foods in my house and my sneakers are warmed up.  Time to make some changes for the better.  Good luck to you on your journey.