People often ask me what my secret to my extreme weight loss. No, it's not surgery. Really, the secret to losing weight (so far, 172 lbs.) is pretty simple. There are many little things I've done, but a few big, base things are the "rules" I stick to. (I've shared 7 easy tips to losing weight and 7 more easy tips for weight loss previously, if you're interested.) I've hit a plateau since early January and have been feeling really down and discouraged about losing the weight. I'm SO CLOSE to my (new) final goal and working SO HARD at it, yet the scale isn't budging. Despite that, I'm sticking to the rules and I'm determined to kick this fat far away, and to keep it off (the next hurdle after reaching my goal, which brings plenty of anxiety, believe me).
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1. No excuses
Start now, stick to it and if you fall off the wagon, get right back on, immediately. Not tomorrow, not next week, not after that upcoming event...Now. No excuses about not having time, there being a party/birthday/holiday either. If it's what you really want, you'll make the time. Yes, it is hard. Very hard. Very, very hard. Do it anyway!
2. Don't do anything you can't do for life
If you're not going to be able to never eat carbs or sugar again, don't cut them. If you're not going to drink a special shake every day for the rest of your life, don't rely on that. If you're not going to count every single carb/protein/etc. for life, don't start. If you do, once you hit your goal and go back to normal, you'll gain the weight right back.
3. It has to be a total lifestyle change
See #2. You're changing your life, for life. You're resetting how you think about and eat food, from how much to what. You're trading in old, bad habit for new, healthy ones. Since it's a lifestyle change, it won't be fast, either. Slow and steady has the best chance of working long term.
4. No gimmicks, fads, quick fixes, etc.
Maybe it's not popular to say, but I am totally against any of the shakes, wraps, meal systems, etc., you see all over the place. They go against the whole lifestyle change and doing it for life belief that really is the core to losing weight. They're also crutches. If you are really serious about losing the weight and keeping it off for life, walk away from all that stuff. If it sounds too good to be true, it is.
5. Count calories
Either in a notebook or an app. I use both. Calorie counting is super important. This is one thing that you're going to have to do for life and stick to or the weight is liable to creep back in.
6. Weigh and measure all food
That helps you get the correct calorie count and resets your brain to what a true portion is. This is the second thing you're going to have to do for life, and keep up, to keep the weight off.
7. Find good support
The person who will listen to you when you're defeated and need help to stay on track, when you need to vent, when you are reaching your goals -- find the person who will help you and be there through it all and don't let them go. They're vital to your success.
8. Lose for you
You can have tons of reasons to lose, but the heart of it has to be that it is for you. It's a big commitment. It's hard. It is not fun. You have to WANT it, deep down, and be willing to fight for it.
9. Set attainable goals
I have my big, wonderful, final goal of course, but set smaller ones along the way. Five pounds, ten pounds, etc. For big ones, I gave myself a reward, too. Such as getting new clothes (I didn't get new ones at every single size). Pick whatever works for you and will keep you going.
10. Set a calorie range and stick to it
This has helped me so much. I know I have to stay in that range, so if my options are each one cookie that is going to leave me feeling hungry or something healthy that won't have me wanting to reach for food when I'm already at my limit, I'm more likely to go for something healthy. It's helped me to learn to balance healthy vs unhealthy food, so that while there isn't anything I won't EVER eat, I eat certain food less often and in smaller amounts.