I have tried so many different ways to lose weight. Based on the book Thin for Life, I realized that there is no one right way to lose weight - there's just the way that works for me. So here is what I'm doing to lose weight:
- Don't eat or drink anything that has high fructose corn syrup. I am ABSOLUTELY convinced that this is the one step that I have added that has helped me lose the weight I've lost so far. I used to always be hungry and overeat, and had major sweets cravings. They have stopped! I still have times when I want to eat everything, but it's rare. Check out the products you eat, and see what has HFCS - soft drinks, Special K and Yoplait yogurt to name a few. Try it for a few weeks and see what happens. It's so easy to do! You'll truly be shocked at how many foods (especially brand name label processed foods) contain HFCS. For more information, read my May 9, 2005 journal entry. Added 08/26/05
- Figure out something that works for you and stick to it. For me, it's been Weight Watchers. That, in combination with the other parts of my plan, are the keys to my success. Added 08/26/05
- Don't have any off-limit foods. If I really want french fries (which are one of my favorites), then I'm going to have them. But if waiting until I get home to bake some frozen fries in my oven will do the trick, then I'll wait. Bottom line, I'm not going to deprive myself, because that's when I fail. Added 05/14/05
- Eat breakfast, including protein. I used to always skip breakfast. I'd be running late for work, so I'd just do without. And inevitably, I'd overeat at each meal for the rest of the day. When I eat a breakfast with protein, it's easier for me to eat in moderation and eat healthy for the rest of the day. Some easy protein choices are yogurt or a hard boiled egg white. Added 05/14/05
- Stop eating 3 hours before bedtime. A lot of my plan "rules" tie into others. This one is important because if I eat late at night, I'm not hungry for breakfast the next day, and it's harder for me to sleep well. Keeping a fairly regular routine of meals, sleeping and bedtime is part of this. Added 05/14/05
- Get 8 hours of sleep every night. This has had the most surprising impact on my weight loss. When I go to bed at the same time every night and get 8 quality hours of sleep, I wake up feeling great! Plus, the weight seems to drop off much easier. I will say that I don't have kids, so I understand this might be harder for parents to manage. But if you can, do it! I used to get cravings about an hour before bedtime. I think the feeling I was interpreting as "hungry" was really "sleepy." Now, I go to bed when I start losing energy, and it's made all the difference for me. In fact, as I'm writing this late at night, I feel my sleepiness coming on! Added 05/14/05
- Eliminate unnecessary stress. Again, depending on your job and lifestyle, this can be hard. I can just share what works for me. I don't read the news at night, just at work, as it often brings me down. After 9 pm (same as my food cut off), I stop watching scary and/or stressful television. I have TiVo (which is the most wonderful invention ever - if you love TV, I highly recommend it!) and watch things like Seinfeld or The Price is Right before I go to sleep. CSI and Without A Trace are saved until the weekend. Added 05/14/05
- Eat smaller meals more often. I think of my stomach as the size of my fist. I only put on my plate what will fill that size. That way, I get hungry about every 3 hours like clockwork, and I feel like I'm eating all the time! It's really helped. Added 05/14/05
- No off-limits fruits or vegetables. People may disagree with me here, but I don't think anyone gets fat from eating too many bananas. Sometimes, when I'm running late for work, grabbing a banana and hard boiled egg make for a healthy breakfast. Fruits keep me from wanting other sweets. And every once in a while, I want an ear of sweet corn. If my body's craving something, I give in, as long as it's healthy! Added 05/14/05
- Eat what you're really craving. I've really been wanting a piece of Marie Callendar's apple pie for a while. It sounded so good. Today, when I was out running errands, I was thinking about having a piece of pie. I haven't had any dessert all week, and I used to have something once a day! So I wasn't really close to Marie Callendar's. It was an out of the way drive. I almost just went and got a doughnut from Krispy Kreme, which was right there by me. But I really wanted pie. So I was going to go to Denny's, which was also close. But I wanted the Marie Callendar's pie. So I went ahead and drove all the way over there, and it was the best, most satisfying piece of pie ever! And now, I have no desire for pie at all. And I'm sure if I had the pie at Denny's or a doughnut, I would still be thinking about pie! If you decide to fulfill your wish for something, fulfill it as specifically as you can and enjoy it! Added 05/14/05
- Drink a lot of water, and only water. For so many reasons, which I'm sure everyone knows, drink it up! I have a 32 oz bottle with me at all times, and I refill it at least three or four times a day. I don't drink anything else, except iced tea with no added sugar. No sodas (including diet because I hate them), no juice, nothing. If I'm going to have 250 calories, I'd rather eat something than drink something. I will occasionally have a glass of wine or champagne. Added 05/14/05
- Shop on the outside of the supermarket. I stick to the outside aisles - produce, dairy, meats. I hardly ever shop within the aisles, unless it's for some frozen vegetables, spices, or a loaf of bread. If I don't bring home processed stuff, I don't eat it. Added 05/16/05
- Get your vitamins. Based on the recommendation of almost every nutrition book out there, I now take a multivitamin with breakfast. Nothing crazy, no loopy $100 a month supplements, just a basic vitamin. There's a lot of research out there on how important all of the doses of vitamins are. I always wished there was a pill I could take to help me lose weight; well, if a vitamin will help my health and weight even a smidgen, I'll take it!! Added 05/31/05
