We've all heard of the Freshman 15, and as a Freshman in college I put on 10lbs. In my sophomore year however, I was able to lose the weight by avoiding caustic (yet fun) activities such as drinking, and by working out a few times a week.
Soon that fell to the way-side, and I found myself being more social, which led to social eating and drinking, and finally I regained the 10lbs I had lost. It wasn't too bad, but then in my senior year of college, I found myself pregnant. While it was a joyous occasion, I would celebrate with a daily brownie, and a nightly bowl of cereal. Without having properly educated myself on nutrition and good eating habits, I gained 23lbs following the birth of my son.
For half a year, I simply waited for the weight loss fairy to grace me with her presence. Maybe I'd wake up one morning having lost an astonishing amount of weight! However, I had no such luck. Becoming frustrated, I turned to a low carbohydrate diet which helped me curb my weight by 13lbs. Then vacation hit, and I left for a trip out west, only to bring back a 3lb souvenir.
While this wasn't a tremendous amount of weight, it left me in a tizzy, and I found myself unable to change my eating habits. Thus ensued a course of crash diets that led to instant results one day, and back to my original weight the next.
Well, here I am, looking at old photos and realizing that I am far to young to allow my weight to have "birthdays" along with my son. So, as his first birthday approaches, I say to myself no more. I will not allow myself to be unhappy with my body image. I will seize my own day. So, I am going to start committing myself to a better me.
Does anyone have any tips or advice?
To lose weight permanently you need to begin a healthy eating plan and not a "diet". Throw out all junk food that is in your cupboard and stock your fridge with fresh whole foods. Cut out all sources of refined carbohydrates: sugar, white bread, pasta and rice.
ReplyMake sure that you exercise at least 5 times a week. This can be as simple as going for a 30 min walk.
Best of luck!
I see you and I are in the same boat. I am going to work through my weightloss via my new blog, www.aweightlossjourney.com I invite you to visit to see what I come up with. Unfortunately, I think losing weight is an extremely difficult job, and having a friend along the way might help. I am here for you! and sending you my best wishes.
ReplyCindi
Hi Cindi,
ReplyThank you for your comment. If you wish to mention your site, you can do this by registering on Diet Blog and putting the URL in the space provided.
My suggestion would be to fins a food & exercise program that you can live with long term. Diets are saying that you are going on something & then when you lose the weight, off of it. Don't say diet.. say lifestyle change for life! Try to eat healthy 80% of the time. Being too restrictive for some sets them up for failure. Log your food at first so you know exactly what you are consuming. You need a calorie deficit to lose weight. Although food is a huge part of the weight loss equation, exercise is important as well.. both cardio AND weight resistance.
You can do this! You just need to find that program that will work long term for you.
ReplyI find when you focus on living a healthy lifestyle and not on the number that is your weight that you have a better time not yo-yoing up and down the scale. You still need to weigh yourself, but don't let that be the ruling factor. Going by how you feel, how much energy you have and enjoying an healthy activities and all foods in the right portions(mindful eating),and the key to a healthy life.
ReplyForgot to say record what you eat, what you weigh and what physical activity you are doing. You don't have to be anal about it but you need to have a rough idea of what is going on in your body.
ReplyWhen you go food shopping make a list and stick to it. Don't shop when your hungry or you'll be more tempted to buy foods you don't need.
If you don't have cake, biscuits, chips etc in the house then you can't eat it. Have an over flowing bowl of fruit on your kitchen bench instead. Make it easier to grab an apple than it is to grab chocolate.
ReplyDon't forbid yourself from eating food you love, but work on developing a taste for REAL food. Skip the 100-calorie packages of dust discs and sugar free "food" made with artificial sweetener.
ReplyHi!
Losing weight permanently requires that lifestyle changes be involved. Choose changes you can live with, not simply a quick fix way to lose the weight. Quick fix diets are a way to just about guarantee you'll eventually gain it back once you stop. For me it's been the Zone. I started it 15 years ago, lost 100 pounds (during the first 2 years), and I've kept it off ever since. It includes a sensible eating plan, that's easy to follow and is very satisfying. Teh hormonal control you gain with the Zone eliminatis cravings. There's no deprivation, everything in moderation, and you feel great. The Zone has been a lifestyle change for my whole family. It's great for kids too (we have 3 kids). Our youngest was 8 1/2 years old when we began eating "in the Zone", so he's grown up with a very healthy diet and lifestyle.
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