Healthy Living Tip: How NOT to revert to the PAST

Healthy living requires you to sometimes reflect on your past. The past of diets and failed attempts of wanting to lose weight or even be healthy. Should you look to your past? YES! The past will help you to identify the trigger points of your failed attempts. The picture below is a great reminder as to why you need to take the time to reflect on why you are where you are today.

 

See in the past we went on diets, and once the diet was over, we tried to keep focused and maintain this newfound life. However, once you come off the diet, what happens? You revert back to where you were before or more. Once, I was on this protein shake doctor under the guidance of a phyisican (facility will remain nameless). They gave me two shakes a day and one "sensible" meal a day. So, the weight came flying off. I think I started that diet at about 301 pounds, and within my first 2 weeks I had lost literally 16 pounds. Boy, was I excited. I felt motivated, and driven. Since I was under doctor's orders, I thought this was healthy. I went on and on about how happy I was. But, once I started realizing how much money I was spending a month on these visits to the doctor's office, I had to stop - my budget was not feeling this after 2 months.

Fast forward not 6 months, but 2 months later guess what happened? I had gained all the weight back plus an additional 10 pounds, so I ended up at a 311 pounds - depressing. So, now as I reflect on the past and realize these diets are crazy. They are designed to make you quickly revert back to the old lifestyle . Living healthy means that "After-After" is going to look AMAZING, not depressing.

Keep this in mind as you go through the process. Make wise decisions based upon what you want in life... Forget the people who say do not look or think about the past... No, you need to in order to identify ways in being successful going forward.

TW aka Plus Size Health Nut

 

Say NO to DIETS

DIET: such a selection or a limitation on the amount a person eats for reducing weight: (Dictionary.com)

This word bothers me because it imposes that you are going to LIMIT certain foods forever, but in actuality you are going to limit it for just a temporary situation. A few weeks ago, I went to the ER for my asthma (damn, seasonal changes), and the nurse asked me what type of diet I was on. I replied, "It is not a diet; it is a lifestyle change."She gave me the only strange look and selected anything "low-fat"diet.

But, why is this not a diet? People cheat on diets. With a lifestyle, you have found ways to adjust your mind to incorporate these foods without feeling the massive level of guilt. People who go on diets tend to limit things like bread for a certain time period, but with a lifestyle you learn how to have it, but not as often as you usually consumed it before.

Diets tend to have start dates (usually Mondays), and run until Fridays. This is the biggest issue for most "dieters". With a healthy living lifestyle change, there are no start dates, you have no days off, and there are no end dates. You have realized this is something that is going to be forever - if that is what you choose.

People go on diets for reasons:

1. Weddings

2. Summertime

3. To fit a specific outfit

4. To find love

5. Class reunions

6. Family reunions

The list could go on forever; however, with a lifestyle change, the only thing that matters is - getting healthier. When I decided 7 months ago to make this change, my only objective was to be a better me. I was tired of looking at myself in the mirror and seeing this obese person who was living unhealthy. It literally was the best decision I've made in my life to date, and I have had Chinese food, McDonalds, hamburgers, and bread, but it is how I incorporate these foods into my lifestyle that has allowed me to be successful to date. Yes, I have lost over 60 pounds, and I am proud to say that I DID NOT DO IT ON A DIET!!!!

TW aka Plus Size Health Nut