Hello there Junk Losers!
First off, your interest in the intro post FLOORED me. I'm thrilled that so many of you are wishing to take an active step in bettering your health!
It's for this reason I've started a Junk Loser Facebook page so we can support each other daily/hourly/whatever you need or desire. Come on in!
First of all, a big humongous CONGRATS on wanting some better changes in your life!
Secondly, now what?
Whenever I get a big brainstorm DIY wise, I go through a bunch of steps. I figure out what I want to make, gather up my supplies and implement it full blast.
So why in the dickens is it so hard to come up with a decent plan for improving our heath? And sticking to it?
I have a secret to share.
Planning for things
is actually MUCH worse than
just doing it.
But, planning IS necessary for this one. You need to arm yourself with the right supplies to make your project a success.
So where to begin?
1. Health first.
We ALL want to lose weight. But if that's our main motivation, you know what happens. We're all gung ho for the first bit, then the desire fizzles.
I'm going to ask you to take a slightly different approach. I want you to think of better health for the long run first. Train your body to do good things and eat good things and good things WILL come your way.
Look at it this way.
You diet, you get hungry, you cave.
or...
You get healthy, you feel better, you'll have more stamina to be and STAY successful.
Choose health over just weigh loss and plan to stay healthy for the rest of your life.
2. MOVE
Scenario #1 - you watch what you eat and lose weight. Lovely! Now you get to watch it forever because that's the only way you'll keep the weight off. A lifetime of starvation! When do we begin?
Scenario #2 - you adapt to a healthy 'real foods' diet, and you move to increase your metabolism and build muscle which will burn fat.
Walking is something nearly anyone can do and will trigger your sleepy metabolism. Plus you'll just FEEL a heckuva lot better.
Building muscle mass will speed up fat burn, because muscle continues to burn fat well after you stop moving.
So... get out those athletic shoes daily and start somewhere! Baby steps. Whatever you can do. And gradually build up where you'd like to be.
Me - Walking does an amazing number on me. I feel younger, much stronger and am just flat out motivated to move. I love to push weights to tone and build muscle mass as well but I'm not quite there yet. Baby steps here. :)
3. Choose an inspiration source
If everyone could do this alone, we'd all be thin already.
And that's why I have my handy dandy Curves book by my side. It's the little voice that will encourage me to stay on the right track when I get weak at the knees with it all.
If you're at a loss on what to get or try, I do encourage the Curves book. It's an easy read, full of inspiring stories, easy non fussy meal planning, grocery lists already written for you and simple new recipes to try out.
4. Pick a plan that JIVES with you
There are 101 plans to try. Ultimately, you need to pick one you believe in and that will ultimately cater to your goal of staying fit for life. I don't know all of them but the ones I do know of are:
Sure Slim is an excellent (although expensive) plan some of my own family members are on and they swear by it. You eat healthy real foods for your blood type and they've all dropped to their goal weight. It's fairly restrictive but is healthy and it works. I was debating it for a short time myself. The price stopped me, but the heath benefits still tempt me. It's a doctor regulated program.
Weight Watchers is wildly popular and is about meal planning by calculating given points to each food item. You monitor your success by not exceeding a certain range of points. High cal foods have more points therefore you must eat less if you cheat. I've never been on the plan myself.
Curves is an exercise program AND food planner. Building up muscle mass is dictated as important as eating right so you don't have to stay on a restricted diet long term. They divide the diet in 3 phases to help you lose, maintain and also help you through the plateau stage. I've been a member in the past and worked out as well as followed their diet plan from the book myself and was very successful.
5. Consult your doctor
When I hit the Curves plan, I paid a visit to my doctor. She liked what she heard and endorsed it. I also visited her when I had lost weight. She commented that I had a very 'young' body. :)
Only you and your doctor knows of your present health condition. Please PLEASE don't mess with this. If you change something up in diet or exercise, make the appointment and see what your doc has to say first.
7. Stock the right stuff
It's time to go shopping! Once you decide on your plan, it'll be easier to know what to pick up.
But if you really don't know how to proceed from the get go, it will not hurt you to stop eating processed foods. This means most anything canned, frozen, boxed or baked.
Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, lean fresh protein, organic raw nuts, top up your water jug and you'll be doing it before you know it.
Me - I'm personally not a fancy eater nor an amazing chef. I prefer to pull something out of the fridge raw and just eat it. No fuss no muss.
One of my very fav lunches is using a lettuce leaf instead of a wrap. Spread a veggie cream cheese on the lettuce leaf, load with chicken and your fav veggies, wrap it and enjoy. It's delicious!
Buy things you actually like, then get a little creative. You can top your salads with chicken, taco seasoned beef, chili, nuts, raisins, eggs, hamburger crumblings from the BBQ... the sky's the limit. A salad really can be a fun, healthy and filling meal.
8. It gets easier
Deciding was the hardest part. Doing it proved that it wasn't that big of a deal. Now that you're doing it, you will miss some things about your old diet. BUT... not for long. It does get easier. Especially when you start to feel better!
But do expect a few hiccups on the way to progress.
Me - I got headaches the 2nd day from carb withdrawal but for only 1 day. A friend that went off sugars had a week long withdrawal process. So go into this knowing you could be hit with a few rough spots.
But hang tough. It gets better! I had 2 chocolate chips last night and couldn't believe I actually loved them a week ago! They tasted like sugary wax yesterday. Yech. What am I missing out on again?
Aches and pains. Feeling sleepy. Weight gain. Illnesses.
No thanks.
This week's homework
Time to come up with a plan that works for you. Then go shopping! Just remember, you can't eat it if you don't buy it.
Not sure what to get? Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs, lean fresh protein, organic raw nuts, top up your water jug, slap on your walking shoes and...
Just do it. Today.
Coming soon: recipe swap area, testimonials, and a place to share your own successes. Watch JL Facebook for updates!
Let's hear your plans!
What are you going to try?
All Junk Loser posts to date are HERE.
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