A friend of mine recently asked me for any advice I may have about weight loss. After some thought, I gave him these six things and thought it might be worth sharing. I hope it helps you, if you need it.
Remember all the lectures about peer pressure, temptation, and addiction? Well, unfortunately, they apply to weight loss as well. The culture we live in has gotten to the point where everyone thinks it's okay to be overweight because it is so prevalent.
Your body gets addicted to having certain kinds of foods and the more you eat of them, the more you crave them. Sugar is just one example. Well meaning people will unknowingly becomes drug pushers and try to get you to eat a slice of pie or piece of cake or another slice of pizza. They just think they are being hospitable, but what they are really doing is feeding your body's addiction.
When I look back at my weight loss journey (and I do consider myself a recovering food addict, by the way) there are about five or six things that made this time successful.
1. Find your motivation. I've tried to diet many times with no real success. I found my motivation in my children. I had come to a place where if something hadn't changed, a heart attack or stroke was in my future and I didn't want my children to go through that or my wife to have to change my diapers and feed me like a baby.
2. Find your support. Laura and I decided to take this journey together. Your spouse's support is critical. Not only will the meals that are cooked have to change, but the food that is brought into the house will have to change. Simply, if it isn't there, you can't eat it. At times, your wife will be the only person in your corner cheering you on. There's a reason Rocky always looked for Adrian, know what I mean? Women understand some things better than men do.
3. Find your plan. Find a diet plan that works for you. For me it was Weight Watchers, for others it's counting calories. Have an organized diet plan and stick to it. Whatever plan you use, keep a food journal. Just write down everything that goes into your mouth. That will help make it real. Be prepared to defend your diet plan; people will look at you and say "Is that all you're eating?" At one point, I had people asking me if I was anorexic.
4. Find your exercise. Unfortunately, dieting alone is not enough. You need to exercise religiously. I have learned that I love running and weight lifting. Whether it is a daily walk, a gym membership, or some other form of exercise, move your body.
5. Find your goal. Set small goals. My first goal was 10 pounds. Once I lost the first ten, I set another goal for 20 pounds. I weigh myself every Wednesday morning and record my weight on a spreadsheet. Now, my goal is to stay between 173-176 lbs. I see 177 I get nervous and begin reviewing how I have been eating and what needs to change. At some point, someone will tell you that you've lost too much weight and that you look sick. Don't listen to them. I've discovered the only people who say things like that are those who could stand to loose a few pounds themselves.
6. Find a way to forgive yourself. You will backslide, you will see the scales move backwards from time to time. I tell people I lost 110 pounds, but in all honestly, I lost 120 because I gained 10 back and had to take them off again during the process.
Weight loss is a journey that at times may be slow, may be difficult, and may seem impossible. Trust me when I say it is a journey worth taking.
