Most of my posts lately have been about training. This is because every time I start to write something about weightloss, whether it's about food, eating or attitude I can't seem to articulate what it is I'm trying to say. I absolutely believe, and know, that my experiences and results can be duplicated in much the same way I myself succeeded in changing this part of my life, and in turn changing every part of my life. So, here are a few of my thoughts based on what works for me, and how I dieted for weightloss.
#1 Eat better, eat less, eat more nutritiously.
#2 "Feed yourself", by cooking and preparing your own foods. Foods you custom choose to match flavors and portions you need to feel happy and satisfied, but fit within what you know follows #1. "Feed yourself" is a phrase I use to describe growing up! Quit being a baby. It's you life, it's your body, feed it.
#3 Take responsibility for your current situation and then make the changes you know you need to make. All the "bad" or unfortunate things that has happened to you have also helped make you the awesome person you are today, so celebrate instead of blame. It's not your parents, your ex, your kids, your boss....you only hurt yourself by blaming others...at the end day whoever you've been blaming is busy living their life....live yours.
#4 Have an interest (maybe obsession) in becoming an expert on your own weightloss. Make it a game or an experiment of one. Use your "uncommon" common sense about what you already know about food and nutrition. Use what you know in your heart....you know that your are capable, you are smart, you are deserving and you are secretly a badass! (I know you are, but I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to)
#5 Dream. Dream big! Dreaming isn't the same thing as "wishing". When you dream, you see, you can visually see what you want, and then you start to feel it....so dream, see, feel. If you can lose 1 pound you can lose 10, 20, 100lbs. I don't care if you never in your life weighed your dream number. I don't think I ever weighed as little as I have, as an adult, for as long as I have these past 6 years, and I know no number is unattainable (I hope no one is silly enough to comment using examples of blatant anorexia)
#6 Who are you? Drop those old labels and belief's like, "I'm a binge eater", or "I have a problem with sugar" "fat", "carbs", "I have an weight issue, I always have", "I struggle with my weight". Don't own having a problem, issue or struggle. Personally you will never ever hear me say any of those things. I don't say them because I don't believe them. And if you ever say them in front of me I will quickly correct you! Remember, you're a badass and badasses don't have problems, issues or struggles!
#7 Know that you do not have to go the rest of your life without ever again eating an entire pizza! You may, or you may not. Remember that dieting is not a vacation from overeating, overeating is a vacation from dieting! Dieting through the week is like paying your bills on time and putting a little cash (calories) away in the the bank for that pizza on the weekend!
Bottom line....you can do it. If one person, any person, can do it, then it can be done. Hello, my name is Tracy Reifkind. I'm not the only one, but I'm one....
Great one! I'm printing this one out, and hanging it up at work and home.
ReplyDelete#1 is #1!
ReplyDeleteUntil I talked to you, I was always trying to follow a "diet". "low carb", "low fat", "grapefruit diet", "cabbage soup diet". Once you simplified it, it just clicked and made total sense...it was a "duh" moment and at the same time an epiphany.
As for articulating, I don't know...I guess I just "get" what you say most of the time. I think at times people focus on words very literally and pick that apart. I find it's usually just to have something to pick apart.
great post
fantastic list, thank you!
ReplyDeleteFG,
ReplyDeleteThank you, I'm glad you like it, I do too! It's a start at least...a good start!
Excellent list, Tracy! It really can be simple...no saying it's easy, but it's simple to lose weight. :)
ReplyDeleteMaribel,
ReplyDeleteYep, you don't get to be overweight by eating too little.
I have so much to say most times that I go off into so many different directions before I can finish one point. The fact that I got this post completed makes me start to feel normal again!
Workout mom,
ReplyDeleteyou're welcome!
Thanks for this great reminder, Tracy! Love the idea of printing and putting it up to read again and again.
ReplyDeleteTracy,
ReplyDeleteI just recently found your blog and it has made a impression on me as few others have. I am facing losing 100 pounds ( well ok, 99 lbs, to make me feel slightly better), and reading this by you has been an eye opener.. As I am sure you know, you can really get beat down by the weight. Thanks for the list... I too, am printing it out to keep and hang up to read. I am also a kettlebell lover and going to get focused on them now, thanks to this by you. Happy New Year.
Beth,
ReplyDeleteto be honest I'm surprised by all of the great responses! Thank you for all of your support!
Mollyqr,
ReplyDeleteThe night before I started my diet I knew, without a doubt, I was going to lose 100 lbs. but I never told anyone, not even Mark.
When I wrote #5, about dreaming, what I was trying to express was that my dream was not to specifically to lose 100lbs, that was a done deal. My dream was to finally be, feel, and look like the person I always saw myself as I followed through with my actions and left the other details up to God, the Universe (whoever or whatever it is that you believe in)
As I often say...getting or being fat is not a crime. Being fat is not a life sentence. No reason to apologize or feel badly. Being fat is just an experience that some of us have, that's all. And when we feel like changing it we do.
Keep me posted!