At the beginning of the year (like every other American), I made a resolution to get healthy. Not lose weight, but actually get healthy and do it the right way – good old fashion diet and exercise.
By diet, I mean healthy choices, portion control and balance … not 500 calorie-a-day liquid diets that end up making me gain all the weight back and then some. In others, a lifestyle overhaul.
Since January, I have lost about 20 pounds and 21 inches overall. I’ve gone down a pant size (probably more, considering my old pants were probably too small to begin with) and am down 2 bra sizes (winning!!). I started actually tracking progress and kicking things into gear in March.
It hasn’t been easy. I’ve lost traction several times and completely derailed a few others. Some days I look in the mirror and don’t see an ounce of change and then others I don’t even recognize myself.
I still have a long way to go, but I am taking it day-by-day and focusing on progress and goals rather than set backs and disappointments.
A few things I’ve learned along the way:
- – No matter how many times I say, “it’s not a diet!” not everyone will get it. Diet is a bad word when it’s misused. We are all on some sort of diet, some just choose a healthy diet and other’s choose an unhealthy one.
- – Hitting pause, taking a day off, eating a Snickers Blizzard, etc. is NOT failing. It’s life. Mistakes happen. If we were perfect, we wouldn’t have to worry about things like diet and exercise.
- – Not everyone is the same. What works for others, may not work for me.
- – Sometimes eating MORE is needed to succeed. By more, I mean more protein, veggies, etc. This has been the hardest lesson for me. I’ve had to retrain my brain to fully understand that losing weight by starvation is NOT effective … but eating more of the right stuff and exercising is.
- – Support. Support. Support. There is not way I would be as far along as I am without the people who have been the most supportive. I have a fantastic boyfriend that motivates me (except when he says, “Taco Bell?”) and is always quick to remind me how far I’ve come when I start to get discouraged. I’ve also found a great support system through my Beachbody Coach, Kenna Shell, and her Facebook group. I never would have imagined that a group of “strangers” could be so much more encouraging than some people I have known for years.
- – MyFitnessPal is a girl’s best friend (follow me: GirlInNashville). Nothing motivates me more than seeing the “If everyday where like today, you would weigh …” Keeping track of everything I consume isn’t easy … it’s necessary.
I’m closer to where I want to be, but still not finished. But I have come a long way and I am working on getting better each and every day.