Enough is enough – quit dieting!

Quit the diets!

Weight watchers, low-carb, vegetarian, detox, Beverly hills diet, cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, subway diet, Atkins diet and the list goes on and on.

What is a person that wants to lose weight supposed to do?

Everyone wants the easiest, quickest way to lose the weight.  In our society today, we are accustomed to fast results on everything. We have fast food restaurants, fast access internet, up to the minute news and weather and smart phones with everything at your fingertips.  So why not the same for you getting rid of that extra bulge around your middle?

I am sorry to inform you, it just doesn’t work that way!

You and I both know that it took some time and overeating to gain the weight, so common sense will tell you that it will take time and perseverance to lose it.

I don’t know about you but over the course of many years, I’ve tried many different types of diets.  Some were vaguely successful and some were complete disasters.  A few lasted a day or two while others for weeks. The one thing they all had in common is, as soon as I stopped the diet, the weight would magically re-appear.

So how did I lose 40 pounds and keep it off?

I quit dieting.

That’s how!

Below, I’ve listed a few pointers that helped me personally. I  lost the weight that I had attempted to lose for years. Some of the following tips I’m sure you’ve heard before.  Remember, everyone is different and may be facing some different circumstances,  so make sure before beginning any type of lifestyle change – (notice I didn’t say diet) to consult with your physician first.

10 most helpful (healthy lifestyle) tips

1.  Get motivated –

Whatever it takes…find something that will motivate, challenge or get you excited about your new healthy lifestyle!  Your mindset has got to be in the right place before you can succeed. The motivation will carry you through those moments when you feel like caving in.

My personal tip – I was personally motivated by my “new look” that I had gotten from surgery that corrected a physical abnormality.  See my story here.  https://thistimeimeanit.com/goals/change-goals/overcoming-obstacles/point-view-overcoming-congential-coloboma/   This gave me the inspiration and fuel I needed to continue on.

2. Eliminate sugar, bread and caffeine. 

These foods will make your calorie intake skyrocket.  I don’t know about you but I love my snacks and bread.  It was very hard to take them out of my life but I wanted to be healthy and look good more than I loved the food.   From time to time…allow yourself to have a treat, just remember portion control.  You will be surprised that after taking them out of your life, you will crave them less and less.

3. Physical activity.

You MUST move your body…somehow, somewhere, depending on your fitness level. You will need to push yourself past your comfort level each time, little by little at least three times a week. Some ideas for you to think about  could be walking, swimming, tennis, dance class, hiking, sports. Just remember…your only limitation is your imagination!

My personal tip –  What works for me is bike riding, I love it and I built up my stamina over a period of time. I also joined a zumba class because I love to dance. I’ve never been one to jog or run but the idea of an obstacle course intrigued me, I found a friend to join me in training for the barbarian challenge and it ended up being one of the biggest challenges of my life and I successfully accomplished it!

4. Stay busy.

Begin new projects or discover a new hobby. Do something that excites you, immerse yourself in things that you love to do!

My personal tip – I always loved art but never felt I was good enough. I began taking art classes even though it intimidated me, that is a good thing!  Stretch your wings…and step outsideof  the box.  Do something that you don’t think you can do.  I dived into some home projects that I had been putting off and began to write more.

5. Visualize your end result.

We  humans have need to have a goal,  something that seems real.  Maybe an old photo of how you used to look, or a picture of how you want to look.  Find inspirational quotes to put on your desk, refrigerator and mirror.   Read inspiring stories of others weight loss journeys.  Gather information on great new healthy recipes.    You have a goal and it is attainable!

My personal tip –  The day I lost enough weight the I noticed my clothes were  getting to big was all I needed to inspire me to continue on!

6. Drink plenty of water

This is self explanatory.

My personal tip –  I like to add some flavor by adding lemon.

7. Download a weight loss website or app on your smart phone.

This will give you moral support from others who are on the same journey as you are and you can also find great recipes, tips and tricks that will help you along the way.

My personal tip – I downloaded “loseit” app on my iPhone. I entered my daily calories and the calories I burned during exercise.  I was able to see in chart form how I was doing on a day-to-day basis and it really helped!

8. Don’t starve yourself!

Eat healthy!  lots of greens, veggies and lean meat.  small portions and keep up with your daily caloric intake. Remember to burn those calories by moving that body!

9. Don’t eat after 7 p.m.

Plan to eat early in the evening. Don’t go to bed with food weighing down in your belly at night.

My personal tip –  This was the hardest thing for me to overcome.  I love to snack in the evenings while I am relaxing after a long day of work. To get past this, I stopped watching so much television and spent more time doing the projects that I wanted to do..  (See # 4 above).

10. Quit the diet but never quit the healthy lifestyle!

I mean it!  If you crash into a brick wall with your new healthy lifestyle or if you get so down and out because you are not seeing any results from all of your hard work…this is when you HAVE to keep going.  Tomorrow is a  new day, a new opportunity and a new beginning to a new, beautiful healthy YOU!

You have lost the weight, what now?

Maintaining your new body can prove to be just as difficult as losing it. This is why it is so important to look at it as a lifestyle  change.  You have entered into a new way of eating and taking care of yourself.  It is a maintenance plan but it is so worth it.

It took me a year to lose forty plus pounds and now I am in the maintenance phase.  I weigh myself regularly to know what I need to do. I give myself a five-pound average up or down before I buckle down seriously.  Don’t expect fast easy results but do expect long-lasting results.

I feel better than ever, my clothes fit better and it is actually FUN to go shopping and try on clothes now!

I hope my tips help you into finally accomplishing whatever your goal is in your new healthy lifestyle.

Are you on a weight loss journey now? What tips do you have? Please share!

About the Author: Sherry Cook currently works for Mobile Arc, a non-profit organization that supports individuals with developmental disabilities. She is wrapping up her memoirs and hopes to be in publishing soon. Her desire to tell her story has been nudging its way to the surface for many years. Having undergone personal challenges, living with monocular and low vision, while struggling to “fit in” with society’s version of what is normal. She understands all to well the difficulties life has to offer. Accepting yourself and learning how to overcome is her main platform for her energetic and touching motivational presentations. Her hobbies include painting with acrylics and working on home projects. Sherry can be reached at sherrycook8@gmail.com   or http://sherrylcook.com