As I look back at my weight loss journey I notice such an amazing change in myself, and it made me think that many people who are just beginning their journey or maybe are in the middle of it but haven’t changed need to begin to recognize the triggers and emotions that have caused us to be obese and out of shape. This is one of the many reasons why I watch the Biggest Loser on TV, because they don’t just focus on the outside – exercise and diet, but on the emotions and the situations that put us in the position in the first place. It’s so important to begin to look inward at yourself and begin to reexamine your personality and lifestyle when embarking on major weight loss.
I have a difficult time recognizing what has changed in me and what needs to be changed, though I can easily look at others and see what they need to work on. Isn’t that so true for so many of us? But, this blog is not about me telling you what needs to change, it’s about telling you what I have changed. One thing that comes to my mind is that I’ve chosen not take the easy way out. I work hard every day and stay focused on weight loss 24/7. I have my slip ups and many temptations around me, and for that I pay in slowing my journey down. There are no short cuts in weight loss. I believe whole heartily that gimmicks do not pay off in the end. What I’ve experienced through myself, others, and through experts is that counting calories and having a steady exercise plan is what will give you the ultimate success for the long haul.
So what was the easy way out for me? I can make a huge list of tricks I have learned through my yo-yo diet career. Some of them may work for some people for a quick fix and maybe even for a lifestyle change, but they sure did not help me. My easy way out in life before this journey began was the drive-thru, take-out, and choosing not to prepare my own food. Ultimately not seeing what went into preparing my food gave me a free pass not to care about what I was ingesting. You can eat at Subway, Chipotle, or any other healthy food franchise, but take charge of what you are eating. Watch what they put on your food; know the portion of sauces and ingredients that go into your meal. Just by adding cheese and mayo to your 6 inch sub could equal the calorie count of a whole other sub! When I began my journey I did not choose to stop eating out because of my diet, it was purely because of finances. I love to eat out and it took me a long time to realize that home cooking is so much more rewarding and fulfilling then anything I can get at a restaurant. The easy way out for me also structured around asking others to do things for me that I could do for myself, and I still struggle with this selfish behavior. Ultimately, I believe that I will conquer these problems. I left cooking up to my husband (who already had a strenuous day at work) and most of the time didn’t care for our home. A lot of these issues arose for me during my stretch of depression, and coming out of the behaviors really was the starting point for coming out of the depression.
So many people lose weight and gain weight over and over again in their life, but never choose to examine their personality and the causes and triggers of their weight gain. Many of us have to completely makeover out personalities and our bodies before the transformation can be complete and maintained for the long haul. I had to come out of my depression and selfishness to find a place where I could succeed, and have to work on changing those deeply ingrained traits on a daily basis. Some people have to focus on guilty emotions or an arrogant disposition, and others may have to gain strength and courage in them to conquer their long journey of weight loss. You will not succeed at something as important and difficult as weight loss if you do not completely change yourself inside and out.
Welcome to defeating my weight blog. I have been writing the daily obstacles of my weight lose here for a year now to maintain my goals and to keep myself honest and focused on my journey.
Goals
Showing posts with label gimmicks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gimmicks. Show all posts
March 30, 2011
January 04, 2011
Best of #2
Today I want to share with you how powerful we all can be. I've learned a lot in the past year and especially in the lifetime of weight loss I have struggled with. Gimmicks don't work, hard work and effort is what it takes.
___________________
Posted on May 01, 2010
Knowledge is Power
What I have learned can help you too. I have started to believe this in myself. I have begun to acknowledge the fact that I do have know-how and can help others with their struggles. Not only in weight loss, but in all areas of life. For so long I had this doubt in myself that I was incapable in helping others. I have a degree in psychology, and worked in my field rather unsuccessfully for 4 ½ years. I am no where close to be able to go back into the working world of counseling, but I think once I am I will be fully directed in the right direction. God has given me knowledge and is allowing me to walk with Him to learn how to use that knowledge.
When it comes to weight loss I fully believe that gimmicks are false hope sent from Evil. I know this sounds rather harsh, but without knowing my bible verses well or much of the stories I do believe that God gives us the power to do such things on our own. Gimmicks are all about short term successes, and not about what we really want to gain from weight loss – a healthy self. I think many people loss sight at that when they want to fit into that bikini or fancy dress for the big night.
When people tell me that they are inspired by what I am doing it makes me happy, but then they proceed to tell me about some system they have to lose weight fast. If you need assistance in learning how to become a healthy eater or have an active lifestyle, then read a book, search the web, talk to a friends, but DO NOT spend money on gimmicks. I remember trying L.A Weight loss a few years ago, and they were all about supplements, certain amount of each type of food, and buy this drink or food. But, I never found any results with them because it wasn’t right for my body. I probably spent around $1,000 or more for that. What a waist. I’ve done Jenny Craig, again, another buy our food program. Weight Watchers is one I have never used, and I do love their recipes, but point counting seems a little out there too.
My program includes learning more and more about what I need to eat and not eat, what area of my body needs to be worked out, and how I am going to do that successfully. I count my calories, and I use a web site to help me with that. I didn’t use to; I use to count them myself using a calculator. I workout 3-5 times a week for an hour a more using cardio and weight training to build lean muscles to burn calories. I read other weight loss blogs that inspire me to keep me motivated. My blog is my ultimate accountability, but I have friends who also keep me accountable. These steps have finally given me the building blocks to know I am living the right kind of life.
I have goals, and they keep me motivated, but the ultimate goal is to live healthy, life long, and be a role model for others and my family.
___________________
Posted on May 01, 2010
Knowledge is Power
What I have learned can help you too. I have started to believe this in myself. I have begun to acknowledge the fact that I do have know-how and can help others with their struggles. Not only in weight loss, but in all areas of life. For so long I had this doubt in myself that I was incapable in helping others. I have a degree in psychology, and worked in my field rather unsuccessfully for 4 ½ years. I am no where close to be able to go back into the working world of counseling, but I think once I am I will be fully directed in the right direction. God has given me knowledge and is allowing me to walk with Him to learn how to use that knowledge.
When it comes to weight loss I fully believe that gimmicks are false hope sent from Evil. I know this sounds rather harsh, but without knowing my bible verses well or much of the stories I do believe that God gives us the power to do such things on our own. Gimmicks are all about short term successes, and not about what we really want to gain from weight loss – a healthy self. I think many people loss sight at that when they want to fit into that bikini or fancy dress for the big night.
When people tell me that they are inspired by what I am doing it makes me happy, but then they proceed to tell me about some system they have to lose weight fast. If you need assistance in learning how to become a healthy eater or have an active lifestyle, then read a book, search the web, talk to a friends, but DO NOT spend money on gimmicks. I remember trying L.A Weight loss a few years ago, and they were all about supplements, certain amount of each type of food, and buy this drink or food. But, I never found any results with them because it wasn’t right for my body. I probably spent around $1,000 or more for that. What a waist. I’ve done Jenny Craig, again, another buy our food program. Weight Watchers is one I have never used, and I do love their recipes, but point counting seems a little out there too.
My program includes learning more and more about what I need to eat and not eat, what area of my body needs to be worked out, and how I am going to do that successfully. I count my calories, and I use a web site to help me with that. I didn’t use to; I use to count them myself using a calculator. I workout 3-5 times a week for an hour a more using cardio and weight training to build lean muscles to burn calories. I read other weight loss blogs that inspire me to keep me motivated. My blog is my ultimate accountability, but I have friends who also keep me accountable. These steps have finally given me the building blocks to know I am living the right kind of life.
I have goals, and they keep me motivated, but the ultimate goal is to live healthy, life long, and be a role model for others and my family.
June 28, 2010
NO MORE GIMMICKS!
Recently I posted about the gimmicks of weight loss and how much they aren’t focused on making a long term affect on your body. Many people I know are using a gimmick to lose weight quick to achieve certain goals and run faster on the road of their journeys. I can’t stress more about how life needs to be slowed down, enjoyed, and analyzed on a regular basis. For those of you who are faithful Christians I want you to think about the walk you are on with God. God gives you the strength and the ability to be able to conquer all the challenges that arise during your stay on earth. But, we all know that short cuts are not part of this walk, and when we take these short cuts and do not spend the necessary time on the changes and growth we are to make in ourselves then we do not become mature in our faith, in ourselves, and in our weight loss success.
MetaFast is one of these gimmick weight loss plans that I see as one of the shortcuts of weight loss. This program is a portion-controlled diet plan. This is the quote from their website. “Medifast is a portion-controlled, nutritionally balanced, low-fat, and clinically proven program that helps people lose weight faster and more effectively than traditional diet plans. Medifast Meals come in individual packets that you mix with water and microwave or refrigerate, and are available in a wide variety of foods and flavors, including shakes, soups, stew, chili, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fruit drinks, iced teas, hot beverages, bars, puddings, pretzel sticks, and cheese puffs. Quick and easy to prepare, they offer a healthy fast food alternative to a busy lifestyle!”
Medifast meals are not “real” food, but a processed bag of food. But, their web site says this “Almost all Medifast products are "meals" since they contain protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients.” These meals that they say you have only give you 800-1000 calories A DAY! This is not a healthy plan, especially if you are doing any type of exercise. You will need more energy for your body to build muscle instead of store what little energy you are getting. Medifast also says to decrease your exercise level until your body becomes accustomed to the decrease in calories.
Now, don’t get me wrong I read all about how safe this is for your body and all the research that shows that it is a proven weight loss program. I can understand that our body will lose weight when we limit our calories and carbohydrates. And I understand that if you continue to follow this plan you will meet your goals faster, and then when you meet your goals you will enter a maintenance stage. Something I keep remembering from former Biggest Loser contestants who gain the weight back is that maintaining the weight lose isn’t something you are taught when you lose weight at a quick rate. Once you enter a maintenance state your body begins to remember the state you were in before the weight loss. You find it harder to eat less food because now your body is craving it, and when you up your exercise levels to continue to maintain your weight loss you find you need more energy, which equals more calories, which equals weight gain if you’re not careful.
So, what should you do? Get off that short cut path you are on, follow the correct road God has put you on, and count your calories with real, fresh foods, and exercise. I know this sounds hard, time consuming, and even at times expensive. But, it’s so worth it. You are showing your children how to eat and be active; you are proving to others around you that you are strong and determined in what you go after.
• Exercise at least 4-5 times a week, if not 6 times. Burn 500 calories each day!
• If you need to lose 50-100 (or more) pounds then eat 1,400 – 1,600 calories a day!
• If you need to lose less then 50 pounds, then eat 1,200 – 1,500 calories a day!
• Eat fresh fruits & vegetables instead of breads and pastas.
• When eating breads & pastas eat whole grain
• Eat lean meats, and only eat red meat 1-2 times a week.
MetaFast is one of these gimmick weight loss plans that I see as one of the shortcuts of weight loss. This program is a portion-controlled diet plan. This is the quote from their website. “Medifast is a portion-controlled, nutritionally balanced, low-fat, and clinically proven program that helps people lose weight faster and more effectively than traditional diet plans. Medifast Meals come in individual packets that you mix with water and microwave or refrigerate, and are available in a wide variety of foods and flavors, including shakes, soups, stew, chili, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fruit drinks, iced teas, hot beverages, bars, puddings, pretzel sticks, and cheese puffs. Quick and easy to prepare, they offer a healthy fast food alternative to a busy lifestyle!”
Medifast meals are not “real” food, but a processed bag of food. But, their web site says this “Almost all Medifast products are "meals" since they contain protein, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients.” These meals that they say you have only give you 800-1000 calories A DAY! This is not a healthy plan, especially if you are doing any type of exercise. You will need more energy for your body to build muscle instead of store what little energy you are getting. Medifast also says to decrease your exercise level until your body becomes accustomed to the decrease in calories.
Now, don’t get me wrong I read all about how safe this is for your body and all the research that shows that it is a proven weight loss program. I can understand that our body will lose weight when we limit our calories and carbohydrates. And I understand that if you continue to follow this plan you will meet your goals faster, and then when you meet your goals you will enter a maintenance stage. Something I keep remembering from former Biggest Loser contestants who gain the weight back is that maintaining the weight lose isn’t something you are taught when you lose weight at a quick rate. Once you enter a maintenance state your body begins to remember the state you were in before the weight loss. You find it harder to eat less food because now your body is craving it, and when you up your exercise levels to continue to maintain your weight loss you find you need more energy, which equals more calories, which equals weight gain if you’re not careful.
So, what should you do? Get off that short cut path you are on, follow the correct road God has put you on, and count your calories with real, fresh foods, and exercise. I know this sounds hard, time consuming, and even at times expensive. But, it’s so worth it. You are showing your children how to eat and be active; you are proving to others around you that you are strong and determined in what you go after.
• Exercise at least 4-5 times a week, if not 6 times. Burn 500 calories each day!
• If you need to lose 50-100 (or more) pounds then eat 1,400 – 1,600 calories a day!
• If you need to lose less then 50 pounds, then eat 1,200 – 1,500 calories a day!
• Eat fresh fruits & vegetables instead of breads and pastas.
• When eating breads & pastas eat whole grain
• Eat lean meats, and only eat red meat 1-2 times a week.
May 01, 2010
Knowledge is Power
What I have learned can help you too. I have started to believe this in myself. I have begun to acknowledge the fact that I do have know-how and can help others with their struggles. Not only in weight loss, but in all areas of life. For so long I had this doubt in myself that I was incapable in helping others. I have a degree in psychology, and worked in my field rather unsuccessfully for 4 ½ years. I am no where close to be able to go back into the working world of counseling, but I think once I am I will be fully directed in the right direction. God has given me knowledge and is allowing me to walk with Him to learn how to use that knowledge.
When it comes to weight loss I fully believe that gimmicks are false hope sent from Evil. I know this sounds rather harsh, but without knowing my bible verses well or much of the stories I do believe that God gives us the power to do such things on our own. Gimmicks are all about short term successes, and not about what we really want to gain from weight loss – a healthy self. I think many people loss sight at that when they want to fit into that bikini or fancy dress for the big night.
When people tell me that they are inspired by what I am doing it makes me happy, but then they proceed to tell me about some system they have to lose weight fast. If you need assistance in learning how to become a healthy eater or have an active lifestyle, then read a book, search the web, talk to a friends, but DO NOT spend money on gimmicks. I remember trying L.A Weight loss a few years ago, and they were all about supplements, certain amount of each type of food, and buy this drink or food. But, I never found any results with them because it wasn’t right for my body. I probably spent around $1,000 or more for that. What a waist. I’ve done Jenny Craig, again, another buy our food program. Weight Watchers is one I have never used, and I do love their recipes, but point counting seems a little out there too.
My program includes learning more and more about what I need to eat and not eat, what area of my body needs to be worked out, and how I am going to do that successfully. I count my calories, and I use a web site to help me with that. I didn’t use to; I use to count them myself using a calculator. I workout 3-5 times a week for an hour a more using cardio and weight training to build lean muscles to burn calories. I read other weight loss blogs that inspire me to keep me motivated. My blog is my ultimate accountability, but I have friends who also keep me accountable. These steps have finally given me the building blocks to know I am living the right kind of life.
I have goals, and they keep me motivated, but the ultimate goal is to live healthy, life long, and be a role model for others and my family.
When it comes to weight loss I fully believe that gimmicks are false hope sent from Evil. I know this sounds rather harsh, but without knowing my bible verses well or much of the stories I do believe that God gives us the power to do such things on our own. Gimmicks are all about short term successes, and not about what we really want to gain from weight loss – a healthy self. I think many people loss sight at that when they want to fit into that bikini or fancy dress for the big night.
When people tell me that they are inspired by what I am doing it makes me happy, but then they proceed to tell me about some system they have to lose weight fast. If you need assistance in learning how to become a healthy eater or have an active lifestyle, then read a book, search the web, talk to a friends, but DO NOT spend money on gimmicks. I remember trying L.A Weight loss a few years ago, and they were all about supplements, certain amount of each type of food, and buy this drink or food. But, I never found any results with them because it wasn’t right for my body. I probably spent around $1,000 or more for that. What a waist. I’ve done Jenny Craig, again, another buy our food program. Weight Watchers is one I have never used, and I do love their recipes, but point counting seems a little out there too.
My program includes learning more and more about what I need to eat and not eat, what area of my body needs to be worked out, and how I am going to do that successfully. I count my calories, and I use a web site to help me with that. I didn’t use to; I use to count them myself using a calculator. I workout 3-5 times a week for an hour a more using cardio and weight training to build lean muscles to burn calories. I read other weight loss blogs that inspire me to keep me motivated. My blog is my ultimate accountability, but I have friends who also keep me accountable. These steps have finally given me the building blocks to know I am living the right kind of life.
I have goals, and they keep me motivated, but the ultimate goal is to live healthy, life long, and be a role model for others and my family.
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