"One of my New Year's wishes was to shed some of the weight I had gained during my pregnancy with Little Monster, and so in my attempt to do so, I felt it was harder to hide late night snacking and lack of motivation if I put myself on the line and in the spotlight. Every Friday, I will be sharing my weight loss journey (including my successes and failures), as well as delicious recipes, meal ideas, and exercise suggestions. Join me if you accept the challenge to lose weight and gain a healthier life! (Don't forget to grab my button in the sidebar)"
before getting pregnant with my first child, i weighed a tiny 90 lbs. yes, i was small, but being 5 ft. tall, 90 lbs. was a perfect size for my body.
i haven't seen that number since 1998.
here is me as a teenager. (just promise you won't make fun of me!)
 |
| Joni, 1997 |
 |
| Joni - June 1997 |
although i have not gotten down to that weight since then, i have worked hard and gotten down to 120 lbs. several times (in between each pregnancy). i have yet to do that this time. i don't know why. i will get there eventually though. i promise you that!
here is one of me just two years ago before i had baby E.
 |
| Joni - 120 lbs. - September 2008 |
each time i lost the weight, i didn't go on any special diet, or measure foods, or count points.
so, what did i do?
this is what i did (and it works if i stick to it)...
i drank water. i bought some of those crystal light packs that you put into your water and i drank those too. but it was still water.
i also drank tea...UNsweet tea. yeah, that is a crime when you live in the south, but i promise you will get used to it. add raw honey for a little sweetness if you MUST.
and coffee, but once again, NO SUGAR, no creamer. black. with a little raw honey if you can't handle it. or better yet, just don't drink coffee then. caffeine isn't great for you either.
I ate lots of fruits and veggies. MORE veggies than fruit. raw is great. the best! eat an orange instead of orange juice. in fact, don't drink any kind of juice. just what i listed above.
don't smother your cooked veggies in butter, and don't dip your raw veggies in dip. don't dip your fruit either. in fruit dip (or veggie dip if that is something you like). and don't think that eating slaw is eating a veggie. it has mayo.
i stopped buying ketchup and mayo. if you are eating a burger, or sandwich, or hot dog, use mustard.
mustard dogs are yuck? don't eat them! burgers with lots of lettuce and tomato and PICKLES are yum! eat those. but not from mcdonald's. or any other restaurant. check out these meals. they might make you want to slap your mama they taste so good, but you will be 500 lbs. too heavy and tired to even lift your arm to do so if you eat one of them.
hot sauce adds a kick without calories.
pickles have almost no calories. lots of sodium, but few calories. eat those, but not a lot.
got a sweet tooth? eat sugar free popsicles and sugar free jello.
really enjoy snacking? popcorn is great. without butter, of course. add some spices, they really do add flavor. or you can just buy some rice cakes. the caramel ones are good. as good as cardboard can get.
haha! just kidding! i actually really enjoy the caramel ones.
potatoes and rice...i limited those to once a week. not both, just one!
pasta too. just once a week.
for breakfast: cereal. if you drink cow's milk, then use 1%.
eggs. i prefer hard boiled, but that's just me. scrambled usually has milk or cream added, so try to keep in mind those added ingredients that you may not see. try cooking them without the milk, and add some veggies like an omelet.
for dinner: cook and bake! don't deep fry. DON'T! just get rid of your deep fryer.
always try to eat fresh. things in a box are scary! i can't even pronounce some of those ingredients.
so there! see how it goes?
now, some of this might work, but it is still always...ALWAYS...important to exercise.
of course this is just a quick rundown of some of the changes i have had to make to lose weight. i can't promise they will work for you. but losing weight is NOT about going on a diet, it is about making some changes. the important thing to remember is that there is almost always a better way to prepare food without having to use lots high calorie ingredients. and if there isn't, your best bet is to stay away from those items.
once you have developed a better way of eating, it is okay to indulge in some of those other items that you just can't live without. just don't go overboard.
**please read**
if you have any questions, feel free to ask and i will be happy to answer from my own personal experience. please remember, i do not claim to be an expert. i am simply telling you what has worked for me. it is always best to speak to a doctor if you seek a professional answer.
read this for some more great tips.
...
