After my last post, many of you have asked me how I lost 30 lbs. Truthfully, my secret is that I'm eating a whole lot less. It's not really a secret at all. Portion control has been key for me. This 30 lbs I lost is the same 30 lbs I gained over the last few years after I lost my Ava baby weight. I'm a gainer and a loser. I've tried many diets over the years and had some success, but I knew from experience that I couldn't live forever on a diet. At the end of last summer I made up my mind to lose weight my way, by eating what I wanted, but a whole lot less of it. Yes, I do try to make healthy choices, try to avoid fast food, most sweets and processed food, but I don't go without. I cook regular meals with regular food, have a glass of red wine most nights and an occasional splurge. Sometimes I even go overboard for a few days, but I pick myself up, forgive myself, and move on. If I want something, I have it, then pay the price by eating less at my next meal (or few meals thereafter).
In the beginning I counted calories, mostly to get a sense of how much I should be eating. If I feel like I've been eating too much, I'll count for a day or so to get back on track. I could not do this everyday all the time. All the counting and tracking drives me insane. I've had lots of success from Weight Watchers in the past, but there comes a point where I get very resentful of those stupid points, and then I rebel and fall off that wagon. Constant counting makes me obsessed with what I put in my mouth. I didn't want to go there.
Yes, sometimes I am hungry. But you know what? Hunger isn't a disease. My stomach growling from time to time won't kill me. When I do eat, I make a smart choice and don't pig out until I'm stuffed. It was very eye opening when I paid attention to what I was eating and how little I actually needed to be satisfied. I try to avoid that stuffed feeling all together. It's okay to leave food on your plate and throw it away, really.
I've learned what my trigger foods are. I know that if I eat something sugary, it will more than likely trigger a binge. With this knowledge, I ask myself if it is really worth it. Usually it isn't. I've put that notion out of my head that if I have something "bad" my whole day is ruined. This isn't true. If I have something "bad", instead of blowing the whole day, I make a better choice at the next meal. I've also learned that when I eat crap, I feel like crap. Feeling good has been a great motivator.
I must tell you, this has not been easy nor quick. It has taken me more than 6 months to lose these 30 lbs. I've been very frustrated at times when the scale only moved 1 lb over 2 weeks especially when I feel like I've been really trying, but what's the alternative? This is not a race. I'll get to my goal when I get there, which is still another 20 lbs (right at the middle of the weight range for my height).
This is the longest I've ever stuck with something, and I plan to do so forever. It isn't a diet, it's a way of life (yes, it's true what they say!). I have yet to incorporate regular exercise in my routine, which would probably speed up this process, but realistically, that's not going to happen. I simply don't like exercise. I do try to do little things throughout the day, 10 minutes here or there, taking stairs when I can, going for a short walk if I feel like it, but I don't see myself devoting a set amount of time each day to workout. I still have hope that one day I'll find that activity that does it for me, but right now, I'd rather spend my time on other things.
So there you have it. No secrets, just a big shift in how I think about food. There is no magic pill, food combination, or exercise machine that will make you lose weight. It's all about making the right choices about what you put into your mouth.
**I didn't intend to devote a whole post this, as I'm no expert, but once I got started, I couldn't stop! There will be a colorful crafty post tomorrow - I started a new bag last night - can't wait to finish it and show you!!
