Thursday, February 28, 2008

Weightloss "Secrets"



As we begin to lose weight, questions begin to crop up:
How did you do it?
What (fad) diet
are you using
?

Effective weight management is no secret. After all, it's pretty much simple physics: what you put in versus what you put out (medical conditions excepted).

If you read yesterday's post, you know that why, what and how we eat is largely a function of what's going on inside our heads. Oprah says it like this:

"You've got to ask yourself: What kind of life do I want and how close am I to living it? You cannot ever live the life of your dreams without coming face to face with the truth. Every unwanted pound creates another layer of lies. It's only when you peel back those layers that you will be set free: free to work out, free to eat responsibly, free to live the life you want and deserve to live.
Tell the truth, and you'll learn to eat to satisfy your physical hunger as opposed to your emotional hunger and to stop burying
your hopes and dreams beneath layers of fat."

Here's what's working for me:
* Planning and eating an average of 1200-1400 calories a day from BestLife menu guides,

* Prioritizing daily exercise, including aerobics and strengh training each week,

* Building margin into my overall schedule to manage stress levels,

* Maintaining accountability by logging all food eaten and all exercise performed, plus weighing, measuring and calculating BMI once a week.

* Not eating after 7 p.m.

* Giving and receiving support through chatrooms and HYC blogs.

What's your "secret?"

(Oprah's quote from the preface to The Best Life Diet (Paperback) By Bob Greene

10 comments:

Hanlie said...

I feed my body living, whole, natural foods, exercise daily, get enough sleep and spend time in natural light. Furthermore I avoid things that are toxic to my body, like medication, caffeine, alcohol, sugar, heated fats, refined anything and all things artificial.

I love Oprah! There are so many people who criticize her, but let me tell you, that woman is wise and inspirational, but above all, she's very human.

Ready Maid said...

Hanlie, your list is remarkable. I haven't bit the bullet to completely detox from caffeine, but I am moving closer. And I should have included your element of adequate sleep, which is non-negotiable for me. Natural light does help chase away the blahs, too.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your comment on my blog! I am so ready for Spring not just for the warm weather, but because it represents a new awakening, something I feel like I am having now. I'm done playing games with myself. I'm ready to do what it takes to live healthier and better! I look forward to reading more of your blog! =)

Pattie said...

I believe the "secret" is to never give up. We're all going to hit days when we want to throw in the towel (like my day yesterday - and THANK YOU for your kind words!) But if we make the decision that quitting is NOT an option, then it's only a matter of time until we reach our goals.

{{hugs}}}

HappyBlogChick said...

I agree with Pattie - the secret is to never ever never give up. I think the secrets to never giving up are self-forgiveness mixed with a healthy dose of reality.

Nicole said...

This is a brilliant question. I read your list, but I'm not going to look at it as I type, so I'll probably say the same thing you have.

1. I exercise. For some reason this seems to keep me on track more than anything else.
2. I write down what I eat, and when I'm faced with a challenging situation, I PLAN what I'm going to eat.
3. I'm developing new ways to deal with stress instead of stuffing my face.
4. I blog. I feel accountable to my readers, which helps keep me focused.

Unknown said...

Thanks for dropping by my bloggy-blog. Wow, you've made some great progress. My personal fitness regime is make-it-up-as-I-go-ish, but the BestLife regime certainly is intriguing.

Forgetfulone said...

I did cut down on my caffeine in the last ten days. I guess that's a start. There are no secrets, are there? Dedication, personal accountability, and a desire to live a better life. I'm working on finding all those things. I have about 25 pounds to lose, maybe 30 if I am completely honest.

Anonymous said...

Simply eat less, exercise more lol. Although I do try and stick to a diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits and non-processed foods. Lots of water too! Now if I could just do what I know!! ; )

Roni said...

Ditto the never giving up! Weight loss is a journy. If you stop then you will never make it to your destination!