Fitness & Vanities

Becoming Smarter At Losing Weight

FNR

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I registered 68 kilos on the scale for 2 days in a row – so I’m claiming that as true. That’s 4 kilos down from when I started at 72 kilos last November.

Yay! 😀

I don’t really have a problem with my weight since I’m 5’8″ tall and with an athletic frame – but I’ve always wanted to be slimmer. I figured now was the perfect time, while being a SAHM, to really focus on it.

Here are 3 basics that are really working for me this time:

1. Not relying on exercise to lose weight.

Exercise is the fountain of youth. In terms of aesthetics, it’s what makes our bodies look bikini-hot as opposed to flabby-thin. But in order to lose weight, it’s still hands-down what and how much we eat that truly tips the scales. (I wish I realized this a year ago).

Getting clear on this saves me from being complacent about my eating habits and deluding myself into thinking I can always “burn it off with a workout later”.

2. Finding out my REAL “why”.

Okay so here’s a confession: I’m a bit vain 🙄 And it was only last November when I accidentally stumbled upon my REAL why. I was playing some sort of fashion game on my phone when it hit me: I wanted to be slimmer because for me that would make it more fun to dress up. Apparently, all the health benefits I could recite at the bat of an eyelash weren’t the real motivators. It was the pleasure of having fun dressing up. Eureka!

Totally superficial, I agree but hey, it continues to light my fire. I’ve been able to stick to my eating plan and having more fun exercising since I embraced this [superficial] truth 😀

3. Focusing on sustainable behavior changes – not on quick fixes.

In my experience diets only work while you’re “on”them. The radical changes that diets require are often not sustainable long term and only teaches dependency.

I’d rather expend my time and efforts on making lasting behavior changes. Small but consistent steps like, only drinking water (and my morning cuppa!) will add up over time.

A lot of my friends right now are taking this weight-loss tea … but I honestly don’t see any weight coming off. (And they’re waking up at 3AM and have no idea why). Worse, they continue to eat as before thinking the weight-loss tea will do all the work! I don’t think it’s smart to be dependent on a diet “crutch” to loose weight safely and for the long haul.

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this image found here

I was happy to observe that I did not gain weight over the holidays with this new approach. I also do not feel unhappy or constrained. My workouts have become more fun because the objective and expectation to lose weight through activity is no longer there. I’m making it my goal to land at an ideal weight and physique comfortably and safely – and for good.

25 thoughts on “Becoming Smarter At Losing Weight”

  1. I need to lose weight pretty bad at this point. I don’t even know how much I weigh, but it’s too much. I’m trying to focus on enjoying exercise and making healthier foods for myself. So far it’s sort of working. I AM enjoying exercise as I got an elliptical and have enjoyed using it while reading or talking to the boyfriend, etc. I also have scheduled some basic strength training workouts using one of those “ab challenges” as the base. So far (it’s been 5 days…LOL) I’ve actually noticed a difference. Embarrassingly enough, I was able to do a plank for 20 seconds yesterday without putting my knee down once or crying! Seems like nothing to a lot of people, I’m sure but my wrists are a constant problem and planks have always been super difficult for me. Making healthier foods is sort of working but not really. LOL. I made some bread pudding over the weekend and it was great 😀

    Then again, I don’t have a real “WHY” yet. Other than, I don’t want to have to go buy new pants 😉

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    1. I think you’re doing a great job with making better food choices. And make no mistake about it, planks are challenging, more so if you’ve never done it before. So 20 seconds is a great place to start 🙂

      I prod you now to go and get your starting weight 🙂 It will help you set your target – you can’t hit a target you don’t see. Or else take a pair of jeans and use that as some baseline. Whatever works for you, some sort of feedback mechanism is motivating.

      Best of luck to both of us then 🙂

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  2. Very sensible words. I have been Banting for 9 months and it is amazing. You only eat ‘real’ food – nothing processed, nothing with sugar and no foods high in carbohydrates. Research has shown that high carbohydrate diets cause many of our modern health problems and that the very old fashioned High Fat Low Carbohydrate way of eating is actually better for heart, diabetes, arthritis and many other ails. It is easy to follow and works for me. I also don’t need to lose weight but I am five kilos lighter than when I started, have lost all cravings for sweet stuff and can’t bear to look at French Fries or pasta. I have more energy and haven’t felt better in my life. I also exercise regularly.

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    1. That’s great news, Puppychat 🙂 Yeah, the closer the food gets to its natural state the better. My sweet cravings still get the best of me sometimes but I’d like to think the cake slices are getting thinner and far between as I progress 🙂

      Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts 🙂

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  3. I’ve recently hit a plateau in my weight loss, so reading this has made me consider what I might be doing different that has prevented me from losing more. I managed to not gain any weight (in fact I was still losing) over the holidays as well; it was so hard! I just wanted to fill myself with turkey and cranberry sauce the whole time. I’ve lost 30 lbs since the end of October so I’ve made a huge difference. The problem is I’m still quite a ways away from my goal. Hopefully I’ll figure out what it is that I’ve changed that’s preventing me from losing as I should. 🙂

    Good luck with your diet! 😀

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    1. Wow, 30 lbs – congratulations! And not gaining over the holidays IS a feat. You’re on a roll! 😀 Oh and don’t let a plateau fool you – your body’s still working the results just aren’t that big to register yet. Maybe review your food diary if you have one? Otherwise I’d say just continue what you’re doing and don’t give up 😀

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      1. Thanks! I’ve been using the app My Fitness Pal so it keeps up with what I eat, my exercise, and how many steps I’ve take through the day (assuming I’m carrying my phone) so it’s been really handy. 🙂

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  4. Great advice. I have always purposely not exercised while dieting as it tends to make me bulk up (probably muscle memory from Army life 😉 I so need to start dieting and eating more healthy and less proportions and cutting out sugar and it’s all so overwhelming so I do nothing as of yet 😦 I will get to that point.

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    1. Haha, yes, I know what you mean when you say it’s overwhelming. And I think it’s why a lot of us who want to lose weight start with exercise when really it would be more effective to first look at what we put in. Exercise also tends to make me eat more, especially strength training. So I have to be mindful of that. Cutting out sugar, oh geez – that’s my Achilles’ heel Ginny! LOL! XD

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  7. That’s a great mindset to be in. Speaking from experience, what you’ve said is true. You have to make lifestyle changes, not temporal habits. Good on you for not gaining weight! Don’t be worried about that superficial reason. Hey, we’ve all got at least one somewhere… XD Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Haha I love the superficial reason. Personally I’m not a fashionable type but I have to wear clothes and there is nothing worse than realizing you’ve gone up a size (or two) since this time last year but now you don’t even fit the largest size (darn European stores and their tiny sizes!). Yeah I’d like to lose weight so I can wear some of those cute outfits I pinned that won’t look right on a 5’2″, bottom heavy, chic like myself… :/

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    1. Ahaha! 😊 Well a little vanity never hurt anyone 😇 I weigh myself daily now just so my jeans never get to surprise me again. As far as weight is concerned, vigilance is the best defense.

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      1. I don’t even own a scale! That’d be a daily disappointment! 😮 my clothes are the best judge and I have lost weight in the past 6 months but only 10 pounds, I have 35 to go. I start being more diligent Monday 😉

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      2. That’s great! We want the weight to keep going down and not otherwise 🙂 I hope you gave yourself a nice non-food related reward. I went online to shop for yarn when I lost those first 2 kilos. Keep at it and good luck! 😀

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  9. After reading this post, it certainly put things in perspective for me. My target is to lose 5kg this year and my real dependency is on Swimming and of course cutting down food. It is pretty tough during this festive season.
    Great to know there are successful cases and shall persevere:)

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