Tips, Motivators and what works for me…

  1. you need to eat breakfast
  2. you need to drink a lot of water
  3. you need to exercise

Yes, what works for me and what WORKS is just common sense.

What works is embracing a truth and that truth is: YES you can do it and YES it can be done without surgeries and drugs. You have to be willing to change your thinking and and stop living your life "on a diet". You need to embrace proper eating as your way of life. You will not be perfect every single day. Having a diet that is too restrictive will cause most people, including myself, to binge within a few weeks from being deprived of the foods we love. I don't restrict any foods from my diet but I do exercise portion control, moderation and lo-cal substitutes. A lot of times, I still overeat at social events and holidays. But do I get the gym the next day. I start my routine again. I drink more water to flush out the extra salt. I don't let 1 or 2 pounds of indulgence snowball into the “fat pants”. This is my life. It is not a diet. This is how I live. I watch what I eat and I go to the gym. Period.

I do not have anything inside me that any of you reading this don’t have. Maybe you just haven’t gotten your mind where it needs to be in order to get started. Just remember this: everyday that you don't take care of yourself is another day that you will never recapture. Every year we all marvel at how quickly Christmas arrived or how suddenly another child's birthday came and went. Imagine if in that same fleeting year, you can be down 50 lbs. How fast is a year? It goes by in a blink. And in that blink of time you can change your life into one that is happier, healthier and filled with hope.

Here are some tips on how to get started and how to maintain a healthier and happier way of life:

  1. Join a Gym.

    2. I know it is intimidating but you have to get over it and just do it. I was the fattest one there for a long time. Put your insecurities to the side and concentrate on why you are there. Make it a priority to get your body moving. Bad days happen. Eating poorly happens. It knocks you off course. Getting back in the gym is what will put you back on track, Do not use money as an excuse. Don't order take out Stop buying the $5 Latte at Starbucks. Find the money and then make the time. I do.

  2. Keep an eye on the big picture, but stay focused on mini goals

    3. The thought of losing 100 lbs. would be daunting to anyone. I set 5 goals in my journey I have reached 4 of those goals.

  3. Recruit your partner and make it a team effort
  4. Fill your pantry with snacks that won't trigger overeating

    5. Don't use your children as an excuse to keep junk in the house. I have goldfish and crackers and 100 cal pretzels and popcorn as crunchy snacks and 100 cal cookies and animal crackers for sweet snacks. Fruit and yogurt are also good options.

  5. Don't drink your calories

    6. I stick to water, crystal light and an occasional diet soda. Keep alcohol intake to a minimum and when you do indulge, do so with moderation. Carry water with you. I also drink decaf coffee in the afternoon as it prevents me from mindless snacking.

  6. Eating properly does require more thought but the benefits are worth it.

    7. Plan ahead. Pack your meals. Read menus online before you go out to eat so you know what your healthy options are. Make good choices.

  7. Keep a Food Journal

    8. 2 years into this I started keeping a food journal. I started writing down my food and how I was feeling for the day. It was also a way for me to write down my weight on the days I went to the gym. Writing things down will keep you honest and accountable. Use a calorie counter so that you can gauge your intake as the day progresses.

  8. Quell your Sweet Tooth with Sugar Free Gum or Candy

    9. I started chewing sugar free gum and also suck on splenda baskin robbins candies. I usually do this after a meal as I want a taste of sweetness.

  9. Prepare yourself mentally for social events

    10. You need to really think about how you are going to eat and what you are going to stick to. Stay away from things that will trigger overeating. My weaknesses are Buffets and Barbeques. I have more success with sit-down meals because they are more controlled. I can order a large salad, drink a lot of water and eat in moderation. I won't deprive myself at the end of the meal, but I will order a large coffee to enjoy slowly while I sample a bit of dessert.

  10. Accept that you are human and be patient and forgiving of your slip ups. Keep pushing ahead towards your goal.

    11. The changes will not happen overnight, but eventually, if you stick with it, they will come. Small changes lead to bigger changes. Water instead of Soda. Fruit instead of chips. Sometimes you'll eat poorly. Get back to the gym and get moving. You will feel better for it physically and mentally. One thing leads to another. Eat right and stay active and you WILL lose the weight. Lose the weight and you will remain motivated to eat right and stay active. Even if you aren't good all of the time, if you are good MOST of the time, you WILL succeed. Success will motivate you to make bigger changes. This is not a diet. This is your life.