Quote:
Originally Posted by Angelia
Did anyone have this problem? If you did could you give me some advice as to how to get started. I feel like I am such a disapointment to myself and that my life is just passing me by. I don't want to fill like this anymore.
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None of my grandparents lived to be 70 - I have a family history of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and alzheimer's. I was approaching 40 and 200 lbs, I knew I was setting myself up for long term health issues.
I started with the idea of eating for long term health. Whole foods, not processed. Blueberries for the brain, spinach for the eyes, tomato for anti-cancer, nuts for the heart, yogurt for digestion.
My trigger was a book called
Super Foods RX: 14 Foods That Will Change Your Life. This book made the science of nutrition very accessible to me, it made sense. I decided to try to eat 10 different super foods every day and to try to do an aerobics tape every morning.
I found I was so busy trying to fit in all 10 super foods, I didn't have time for junk. I had to do a lot of menu planning and grocery shopping (buying tons of fresh produce). I only drank water/tea, I started feeling like I had so much more energy. The weight started coming off right away which was the motivation I needed to keep going. I didn't realize I was a bingey sugar junkie until I drastically cut down sugar (completely by accident). My tastes changed - I don't crave junk at all anymore.
I looked at the foods I currently ate (a lot of pasta, quesadillas, stir fries, curries) and made healthy substitutions I could live with for the rest of my life. I stick to: whole grains (brown rice, sweet potatoes, quinoa, oatmeal, whole wheat pasta/tortillas), no butter, less oil, lots of vegetables, protein at every meal. I eat almost exactly what I used to eat for dinner, just healthier versions. I made some serious changes for my health - no soda, no fast food, no packaged baked goods (ever). I severely limit alcohol, home made baked goods, full fat dairy products, candy. I don't miss any of these foods at all!!
The change in me was amazing, magical, miraculous - I'm still amazed to this day I did this. I have tried and failed so many times. I've done low fat, I've done all kinds of crazy diets, I could stick to them for 6 months or so, but I always ended up just gaining more weight. I don't know why this time was so successful - I think it's because I started planning for long term success from the beginning. I didn't think "I want to be this weight and then I'll just stop and go back to eating all the foods I like." I thought "what can I eat that I like that I can keep eating forever."
I've been maintaining my weight since March, maintenance is JUST LIKE losing weight, except I allow myself more calories a day. All the shopping, planning, food journaling, counting calories, exercise - exactly the same. I decided when I started to do this LONG TERM. All the times I've lost weight and gained it back - what I learned was losing weight is easy, keeping weight off is the real work.
So, if you're looking for motivation - look to your health. It is the best thing I've ever done for myself. The old depressed, no energy, drowsing off in the afternoons at work person is gone. I am this new, energetic person.
Pictures!
http://gloriana.myphotoalbum.com/vie...umName=album02