After my posts about the foods that made me gained weight and the ones that helped me to lose it I close this series of posts with this one. We’ve established that food alone doesn’t make you gain or lose weight. It is a series of small changes in your life that do the trick. So here I present to you 13 things you can do to help you to lose weight:
- Admittance. They say that admitting you have a problem is the most difficult part. I think I did well there. Just a thought. Don’t blame your body or genes. (I know there are conditions that make some people gain weight uncontrollably) Think about this. How many fat immigrants came down from boats in the past couple of centuries? Please don’t use this excuse. It is VERY lame.
- Set a realistic goal. I weigh x lbs and want to weigh y lbs by z date. When I did it I knew I wasn’t going to have a supermodel body in 3 months. I’ve read expecting that is a big mistake.
- Made a plan accordingly. This is where things start to get a little complicated and a real commitment is required.
- Talked to friends and family about your goals and plans. Don’t be embarrassed. I am pretty sure they will understand and cheer you up. If they don’t, they you need new friends and family.
- Keep a record of what and how much you are eating, how many hours you sleep and how much you exercise. If you stick to your plan then you will be able to see results after a little while.
- Sleep 7-8 hours a day. Believe it or not, this is a very important part in the battle against your love handles.
- Eat smartly. Traditional diets don’t work is because they starve you. Adam’s Fun Fitness Fridays have a lot of information about eating right. But basically your stomach has to always have something in it. Eat a big breakfast, have a snack at mid-morning, a good lunch, veggies and fruit in the middle of the afternoon and a small dinner. Eat a bowl of cereal or an apple before going to bed. I could write a whole post about this.
- Exercise regularly. Remember this post?
- Read labels. This was one of the hardest parts for me. I was afraid of reading labels, but knowing what you are eating makes a big difference.
- Move, move, move. If you are like me and work in front of a computer most of the day, take several breaks to stretch, jump the rope, dance or just walk around the office/house. This will keep you energized and in a good humor during the day.
- Stay positive. Maybe this week you didn’t see a significant improvement, that’s no reason to quit. That means you have to keep doing it. Smile at the scale because you know you are going to win this battle.
- Reward yourself. When you reach a milestone give yourself a pat in the back, buy something nice (maybe a pair of smaller new jeans?) and think this is just the beginning of a beautiful life.
- Keep doing it. When you reach your goal you will realize that you don’t wanna go back. For that you have to keep doing the things that brought you to that point. That’s another reason traditional diets don’t work. Make being healthy a habit.
There you have it. Small changes in your habits and routines that can make a BIG difference in your life. It is so rewarding that you will feel better than ever before. Trust me on this one.
¡Buen provecho!
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27 Replies
It’s not easy to struggle with the whole weight issue but you did the right things to bring you on track. For me the best thing to do is move, move, move. We I stop for a while I can feel the jeans getting tighter.
Posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I also found that drinking quite a lot of water keeps your ‘belly and mind’ “full”….so in turn I didn’t eat much when the meal was served.
You did good. Not only losing the weight, but sharing it with others.
My T-13 is posted. Last one over to visit me is a rotten egg!
)
Posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
This is a great post! Well done. I like how it’s habits and food related. food is my biggest issue – I just love it!
Posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Great post. Email the details on your visit. I have to work, so what time were you thinking and where?
Posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Great list…Happy TT.
Posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 8:13 pm
Will my I lose my love handles faster is I sleep more than 8 hours?
Congratulations on your successful weight loss. Happy TT!
Posted on September 4th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Good info as always Ben!
In Scotland when I was young we would always have a carby snack before bed – a banana, slice of toast or small bowl of cereal. It helps you fall asleep and normalises blood sugar levels through the night – ensuring a better night’s sleep over all!
Posted on September 4th, 2008 at 4:43 am
Great info Ben (and thanks for the plug). I always enjoy reading success stories and hearing people taking control of their lives and bodies. I’ve always thought our bodies aren’t like cars, we can’t trade it in (unless you are super rich), so you have to take care of it. Awesome tips for taking it slow, bud
Posted on September 4th, 2008 at 6:39 am
Great informative TT! Thanks for sharing. Especially the sleep advice. I think I’ll go take a nap right now.
Seriously, great tips!
Posted on September 4th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I’m enjoying this series so thanks for ‘putting it out there’. I know the “sleep-8-hours” has been touted a lot lately but I wonder if it is the restorative powers of the actual sleep – or the fact that you’re not awake and eating – that makes it beneficial. Anyone know? I’m serious.
Posted on September 4th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Well done, Ben!!!!
I gained 5 kilos during the summer!!!!!! Too much beer, too much peace, too much resting and too much eating… but now I have a purpose and some of the things you mention are in my list too! Maybe I’ll change the jumping rope for walking quickly with the doggie ;D
Posted on September 4th, 2008 at 9:55 am
That is a great TT. I am right on that cliff ready to dive into weight loss. I’m just afraid to start.
Posted on September 4th, 2008 at 10:02 am
What a great list, Ben. The sleep part I know for sure, but I can’t sleep. Haha. Also, I was actually told by my naturopath that I need to eat midnight snacks of fruits and nuts because I always wake up hungry in the middle of the night.
Recently I lost a lot of weight (unintentionally) because of wedding-related stress. I realized that that’s the bullet train to sudden weight loss. LOL.
Posted on September 4th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Good job Ben. So are you going to start becoming a body builder like Adam now? We’ll have to compare muscles in a month.
Posted on September 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I think you hit all the golden rules there!
Posted on September 5th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I agree. Making a plan is important when you first start a goal like this so you have direction. Once it becomes habitual, you won’t need to do it as much, though it’s handy to have around.
Posted on September 6th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I totally agree with getting lots of sleep. It makes a HUGE difference.
Posted on September 6th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Ugh. I made the mistake of looking in the mirror longer than I needed to today and had to say hello to middle age differently than I normally do. Guess I have to start with the stickies again. heh.
Posted on September 29th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I absolutely love this blog. I’m doing my morning weight loss blog reading and found your blog.
I don’t think I’ve been here before, but I’ll be back. Cool blog and thanks for the info.
Kenney
Posted on October 17th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Loved your post. Thank you, thank you for telling people diets don’t work. You are right on. I started my own challenge 30 days before my 43rd birthday. Luckily I have a friend who is a nutritionist and personal trainer, so she got me on a healthy “eating plan” no diet, and exercise routine. I lost 7 pounds and 2% body fat in 30 days. I’m now in my second month, and I have to say, looking better than I have in probably 12 years. I try to tell women especially, that weight lifting will not make them “bulky” and you will see faster results than with just cardio. Some get it, some don’t. I eat 4 good sized meals a day, all “clean” food. I work out 6 days a week and have so much more energy than I did just 2 months ago. You can read more about my fitness journey on JerseyBites.com. Just search, Fitness Challenge.
We are now having a competition on my social network for nannies called NannyIsland.com. The nannies are forming groups and starting a “biggest loser” competition. I’ll be sure to tell them to visit your site for tips. Thanks again.
Posted on November 3rd, 2008 at 11:59 am
What you said is very true, Ben. I’ve been dieting on an off since March and have seen very good results with Weight Watchers. They teach you all over how to eat sensibly and to MOVE!
Long live the thin ones!
Posted on November 19th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I do not normally comment on someone’s blog however I am interested in your post therefore I felt forced to do so. Straying off the subject slightly, what are your views regarding walking? Which is these days being showcased as the best exercise to burn fat.
Posted on February 14th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
do you guys have a recommendation section, i’d like to suggest some stuff
Posted on March 1st, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Thank you for this great read. I love reading about weight loss tips, stories, and general info. It has always been a hobby of mine. Also, if anyone is interested, I recommend trying TriSlim to lose weight. It’s working great for me.
Posted on March 10th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Great post again mate. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. Losing weight doesn’t have to be hard ywet mose people fail to realize the basics
Posted on March 11th, 2009 at 5:41 am
Great Post ! I am a female and I struggle with losing weight. Every program I have every tried or diet pill just doesn't work for me at all. The best I have every done to losing weight just quit drinking pop, and drinking water only but that was only like 10 pounds and no more. Losing weight to me is very difficult.
Posted on September 21st, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Enjoyed the writings, found the advice useful and the recipes were good. I believe you need to find what works for you-maybe combining the right foods as suggested here will work. I have a family so found this difficult. If it was just me, I would be more succesful.
Posted on December 8th, 2009 at 12:47 am
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