5 Habits For Weight Loss
Five years ago, I began my weight loss and overall health & wellness journey that resulted in my 75-pound weight loss!! I have kept the weight off since and my body has been completely transformed!!! I’m sharing the 5 Habits that will lead you to the same success here!
By 2018 I had gained a whopping 85 pounds since my post-pregnancy weight from my third pregnancy. I weighed 220 pounds and was wearing a size 18. I was at the heaviest weight I had ever been, even during any of my 3 pregnancies. I was struggling with anxiety & depression and had no motivation or confidence. Multiple times I had to awkwardly correct people who asked when I was due, because they assumed I was pregnant…I hated to be in public because I was so ashamed with how I looked!!! I knew I wanted something different for myself, and as a mom of two, for my kids. However, the thought of making a change was so overwhelming.
I finally found my motivation in 2018 after running into an old friend at the grocery store and being completely embarrassed by how I looked. At that moment I decided I was going to make a change! I have lost 75 pounds and have successfully kept it off for more than 2 years!!! I have so much energy, I feel great, I love how all of my clothes fit and my confidence is the highest it’s been in years!!!
In this blog post I will share the 5 habits that helped me lose 75 pounds and keep it off!!!
The 5 habits that completely transformed my body:
-Drink Lots of Water
-Eat Whole Foods
-Move Your Body Every Day
-Create Small Goals
-Track Your Weight
So if you are ready to lose weight and regain your energy, confidence and your life, then you are in the right place! I am going to share how I lost 75 pounds and the steps to follow so you can do it too!!! Your body transformation story is waiting…so let’s get started!!!
Drink Lots of Water:
Drinking lots of water is essential to weight loss and it’s one of the easiest habits to start! All you have to do is drink more water!! Water is what keeps everything moving, it increases energy, flushes out toxins, and boosts the immune system! Drinking lots of water also helps you feel full.
Start drinking water as early in the day as possible. I recommend drinking a bottle of water (at least 8-12 ounces) before you eat or drink anything else at the start of the day. Drink water with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Bring a water bottle with you everywhere you go, it’s an easy way to help reach your daily goal. If you always have water available and in front of you will drink more. Now you’re probably thinking, “but if I drink all this water than I will have to pee all the time!”. Yes, you will, lol! But drinking this much water keeps your body hydrated and promotes weight loss!!
Eat Whole Foods:
When I say eat whole foods, I mean anything that has been made in or by nature, nothing man made. However, eliminating anything processed is not possible, so you eliminate as many processed foods from your diet as you can. Focus on eating a variety of fruits, veggies, proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains. At the beginning of this journey, it might seem overwhelming. A helpful tip…buy most of what you eat from the perimeter of the grocery store. That is where you find most of the whole foods that your body needs for health and weight loss.
The most important thing to get straight when you are trying to lose weight is eating properly. Eating properly does not require starvation or deprivation. You just need to find the right balance of all food groups, at the appropriate portion size, and practice moderation. When I started my weight loss journey, I incorporated a cheat day once a week, a day that I could indulge a bit more, it helped keep me on track and motivated throughout the week.
Determining appropriate portion sizes can also be very overwhelming at first, but I take the guess work out for you in my nutrition course Nutrition For Weight Loss and Overall Health & Wellness (4-week live course held for an hour 1 time per week) . In this course you will learn what foods and how much of each to eat to achieve your weight loss goal!!!
I also go into more depth around whole foods in my blog post Eating For Weight Loss.
Move Your Body:
You need to move your body daily…this is a non-negotiable!!! At the beginning of my weight loss journey, I made the mind set change to view moving my body as a non-negotiable just like showering and brushing my teeth. I made it something I did every day, no excuses!! There were days that I was less motivated and I had to remind myself that I always feel better after I move my body. Like with all of this, small, manageable steps are so important. You need to meet your body where it is at and set small goals as you progress towards your ultimate goal.
For me I started with a 30-minute low impact workout program that only required my body weight. If you have an idea of what fitness activities you like then start small and build up with that activity. The most important thing is to find something you love to do and then moving your body becomes a treat and not a chore. I have realized over the past 5 years that I absolutely hate HIIT cardio training, so I stay away from programs that incorporate a lot of it. Lifting weights, Pilates, yoga, hiking, and walking are what I gravitate towards. If you have no idea where to start, I have added a link with some suggestions.
I go into more depth around fitness options in my blog post Fitness Options For Weight Loss.
Small Goals/Track Weight:
As mentioned above, setting small, manageable goals for yourself is the key to sustained weight loss. When I started my weight loss journey, I set a goal of losing 2-3 pounds at a time. Focusing on and achieving small goals, builds confidence and motivation!! Set a small goal, crush it, and repeat!! Be consistent and you will reach your ultimate goal!!! Some of the first goals you make might not even be around losing weight. The goals might include starting and being consistent with your new habits. It may also seem too overwhelming to start all five habits at the same time, and that’s ok. I started by choosing 1 new habit and added another new habit each week after that.
Scheduling weigh-in days and tracking the data is another necessary habit in any weight loss journey. Weigh-ins and tracking serve two main purposes, motivation and accountability. On the days/weeks where you feel defeated (they will happen) you will be able to look at the data you’ve collected, see the progress that you have made, and it will keep you motivated. The data you’ve collected also provides accountability because it confirms what has been effective and/or not effective and allows you to make changes accordingly. Choose a paper or an electronic tracking system, it doesn’t matter, jut set your goals and don’t stop until you reach them!
Give yourself grace, creating new habits is a challenging process, but is attainable as long as you keep trying!! These habits completely transformed my body, my health, and my mind!! Find your why, your motivation and create the body and the life that you deserve!!!
So if you are ready to begin your transformation story and feel better then ever click here to get started!!
Weight Loss: Essentials For Success (Online Course)
In both courses I cover the specific steps I used to lose 75 pounds. I want you to achieve the transformation you are dreaming of feel as great as I do now!!!
Nutrition For Weight Loss and Overall Health & Wellness (Online Course)
