If you’re anything like me, sometimes your size is just right, and other times it’s just all wrong. So usually after the winter seasons when I’m less active I go on a little diet to get myself back in shape for the summer months ahead. I have found that I was able to lose between 15 to 20 lbs in 8 weeks just by doing a little bit more conscious things daily that paid of in big ways later!
Goal: First off I had to find my target. What am I looking to accomplish? Lose weight, and if so, how much? Tone my Body? Or just have an overall healthier glow and feel? Once I was able to determine what I was looking to accomplish, I was able to determine how to reach that goal.
Incentive: What will keep me striving to complete my goal and commitment? I have found that posting weight reminders around the house and setting daily goals were excellent reinforcement. Also having a personal trainer and/or an accountability partner is great when I need to get that extra push and strive to reach my goal. But the greatest one of all was keeping in the forefront of my mind the pay off of all my hard labor.
Recognize: In order to lose weight, you must lose the things that are making you gain it. With busy schedules sometimes it’s difficult if not just challenging, to find time to make meals for your self. For many, eating out at fast food restaurants, not making time for much physical activity and not watching the things we consume can be deadly to our mission. So it is up to you to examine what it is that’s keeping the lbs.
Cut it OUT: Taking a good look at what foods are okay and not okay to eat will help you in determining what foods you need to cut out of your diet. For me, I spend 8 weeks not eating any of the following foods:
·(just because wheat is far healthier)
· Hamburger
· Pork foods such as
o Bacon
o Hot Dogs
·(And Practically) ALL FAST FOOD!!! (Upon Discretion)
Substitute: Although cutting out the proceeding foods is far more difficult then it appears, I always made up for it with suitable substitutions such as:
· Non fat Articles
o Silk
o Yogurt
o Jell-O
o Sorbet
·(which are surprisingly delicious)
Salads
The thing about salads is they can be as festive and inventive as you like or as original as you please. (To name a few: )
o Fruit salads
o 3 leaf salads
o Veggie salad
· Baked
o Baked Fish
· Teas
Exercise: However, just as it is important to watch the foods you eat, it is equally as important to get active and exercise. Physical activity keeps a fast and active metabolism and helps tone and keep a fit body. Walking for an hour around the park or neighborhood, bike riding, sit ups and aerobics are all some easy exercises you can do in the comfort of your home or surrounding areas. However, getting a gym membership can give you professional help on what techniques are a good fit for you. Taking-up a martial arts, yoga, Pilates or extracurricular course such as basket ball, dance, and softball can be excellent alternatives as well.
Make Time: Most importantly, it is essential that you are committed enough to making time to achieving your goals. If you are too busy to make meals daily, then make meals and store them away in the freezer for later consumption. If you can not seem to find the time to go to the gym or commit to a physical ed. Class, then make a vow to walk around your neighborhood in the mornings before work or do some stretching and sit ups in the evening before bed.
All in all, your results are greatly influenced by your mindset, determination and commitment to your plan. And know that diets are only a temporary fix, in order to live a healthy life you must plan to be healthy for life.
