Weight Loss is not for Sissies
Weight loss is not for sissies is a truth no one wants to admit. My experience has been there is no easy way to lose weight and keep it off, but gaining it is a piece of pie, literally.
That’s not to say it can’t be done. I’m here to tell you I have done it and kept it off.
I’ve always struggled with 10 to 15 pounds, but two years ago that figure jumped to 20 pounds. My fear is 10 pounds will lead to 20 pounds, then 20 pounds will lead to 40.
I had a favorite weight loss program that had always worked for me until 2013 when they changed it. I just couldn’t lose weight on it anymore. I actually gained on their program, even though I was also following a vigorous exercise program.
Then January first of 2014 The Checklist Diet was released. I devoured this book like I would a bowl of my favorite ice cream. Thirty-five pages of easy reading by an author I could relate to and I was hooked. She states right up front that she’s not an expert. She created the ten-step checklist to help manage her own cravings and weight issues.
Weight Loss
Using the checklist from the book, I proceeded to lose 16 pounds in two months and another six pounds over the next three months.
I tweaked the plan to work for me (I call it a plan because it’s not a diet IMO). My main take away from the book was: eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full.
Sound easy? Ha!
It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. I sat for hours and hours waiting for a sign of hunger. I wanted to eat, but I wasn’t hungry. My brain said I’m bored, eat. My brain said, it’s been two hours, you need to eat, but I wasn’t hungry. It was torture!
Hunger Signs
When I did get hunger signs—my stomach felt empty or it was growling—I ate, but only in small half-cup portions. If I was hungry after I finished my snack or meal, I had more, but only if I was hungry and only in small portions.
Now, over a year later, I’ve maintained my weight without all the cravings, and I eat healthy food 80 to 85 percent of the time. I still limit my portion sizes, especially when I eat out because the calories are so high, but if I’m still hungry, I eat. And if I want the occasional cheeseburger and fries, I have them!
Exercise
An integral part of my success includes exercise, but I actually exercise less now than when I was on my old program.
Maintaining my weight means sacrifices. I can’t eat large portions of foods I love all the time. That sucks, doesn’t it? But the tradeoff is that I don’t crave them like I used to, and I can maintain a healthy weight and feel better about myself.
I empathize with anyone trying to lose weight. It’s hard work, and for me, it amounted to going to war with my brain. Whenever my brain said, eat, I listened for hunger signals instead.
Who else struggles with this? I would love to hear your journey.