Best Tips To Lose Weight And Keep It Off

Hello and welcome back to our series; Weight Loss Wednesday.  You can read Jennifer’s post from last week, “Lifesize Is A Diet Plan That Works“.   This week I wanted to talk about losing weight slowly instead of trying fads that claim a quick drop in pounds.  I bet most of us have had a struggle with our weight at least once in our lives.  I am also going to guess we have all at least thought about taking a short cut here and there.  I have tried about every trick known to man and I have not found any product or trick that actually speeds up your weight loss.  Oprah said it best on one of her shows when she stated, “If there was a pill or a plan that would help me lose weight quickly and safely, I would have told ya’ll about it by now”.  So, as much as we wish we could speed it up, losing weight slow and steady is the way you will lose it and keep it off.  Here are some theBest Tips To Lose Weight And Keep It Off you should be doing while on your weight loss journey.

Best Tips To Lose Weight And Keep It Off

• Set A Realistic Goal: This is a tricky one for a lot of us.  I have been overweight for so long, that I don’t even know what a healthy weight would be for me. I don’t like to go by the tables you can find for the ideal weight because I don’t agree with them.  For my height and weight, the table says I should weigh between 112-138 pounds.  Because of my shape, I have always been able to carry more weight while staying in a smaller size.  When I weighed 160, I was in a size 10.  So, if I were to go by the table that would be 22 pounds over the max the table shows.  So..you set a goal YOU can be comfortable with, not what a table tells you what you should be comfortable with.

• Eat Breakfast: You have heard it a million times before, but if you don’t eat a good breakfast, you are cutting your effectiveness your body can burn calories.  If you don’t have something in your tummy, it is difficult to stay focused and on track.  For me, I would stare myself until dinner, at which time I had 2 helpings at dinner and then the grazing would begin.  I could scarf down about 1,000+ calories a night, which translated to my gaining 1-3 pounds per week. Think about that for a minute…yeah, I know…scary.  Follow the food pyramid and start your day right!
• Water: What can I say?  The powers that be tell us we should drink approximately 2 ounces of water per pound we weigh.  This will change depending on certain factors like living in a very dry or hot climate, if you are pregnant or if you are exercising each day.  You can find water calculators online and I recommend you find the correct amount of water you need.  Guessing may cause you to cheat yourself again which is not what we want to do.
• Exercise: Yes, there it is…the “E” word.  I am not 25 and I cannot stop the cheeseburgers for a few days and drop 5 pounds.  I could starve myself for 2 days and still not lose any weight!  I tell people I don’t have a slow metabolism, but rather my metabolism is in a coma!!  Take it easy on yourself because if you get too down about your activity level, it may keep you from getting up and giving it a try.  Do some research and find a program you can fit into your life.  If you have a nice and safe neighborhood nearby, try and walk 3 times a week.  If you have a gym membership, check out the treadmills or elliptical machines.  These are low impact with a high return rate, so start slow and work up to a higher level each week.  I prefer to pop in an exercise DVD and work out in my living room.  One of my new favorite DVD’s to use is those from Debra Mazda, the creator of ShapelyGirl Fitness.  Debra knows all too well the struggles, hurdles, depression and negative thoughts that come with being overweight.  Instead of staying mired in her weight, Debra gathered the courage and motivation to get her to walk into a gym and the rest, as they say, is history.

Finding The Motivation To Exercise

I know exactly what Debra felt when she was finding the motivation to exercise.  I can only speak for myself, but when you get to this point where you are sick and tired, not just from being fat but just in general.  I know how badly you want to just stay in bed and not face anyone for fears of being judged.  It is heartbreaking and mystifying all at the same time.  How can I loathe the way I look so much that I cry every night and fall deeper into my depression and yet do nothing to change it?  Well, Debra Mazda found that motivation and has been changing lives with her ShapelyGirl Fitness program which includes exercise DVD’s, motivational CD’s as well as an online support community.  With a BS in Human Movement and an M.Ed in Sports Psychology at Temple University, Debra began the path of being a teacher, trainer and encourager of those who needed her.  In the late 1980’s, Debra worked with Richard Simmons.  She quickly gained respect and recognition among her peers and students alike.  When Richard moved his base to the West Coast, Debra opened her own fitness club in Philadelphia.  With a philosophy of “move first, diet second”, Debra began changing lives and guiding her followers to a healthy lifestyle.

I was sent the Let’s Get Moving! + Let’s Get Moving! 2, Cardio Toning with Weights DVD ($23.95) and Walking Fit and Fabulous! DVD ($14.95), as well as a hot pink ShapelyGirl Fitness t-shirt ($12.95).  I honestly don’t know where to start with the materials from Debra.  I was not surprised to hear how closely she worked with Richard Simmons because she too is a huge encourager in her work outs.  She isn’t asking pretty please, that is for sure, but she does motivate me to get off my rump, even if it is for a few minutes.  I also love the fact that the people who appear in the DVD’s are everyday folks, like you and me.  I hate working out with a DVD when all you see are ton of tiny girls in tiny outfits who are not even breaking a sweat.  Oh, speaking of sweat…you are going to sweat with Debra’s routines.  I know it sounds weird but I love to sweat when I am working out.  It means I am burning calories and am on the right track.  I really love the walking DVD because although it works me out, I feel more comfortable doing this routine.  With my back injury I think I am still afraid to put 100% into a routine, so for now I am going to use the Walking Fit and Fabulous! DVD and will work my way up to the Let’s Get Moving set.

One reader will win one DVD of their choice ($14.95-$25.95)

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