I'm not going to lie ... I would LOVE a cheeseburger and french fries or maybe some deep dish pizza!! But when I put that in my body I feel like crap the next day. It brings happiness at the time, but regret the next day. You can't deprive yourself of these things either or I would probably go on a binge and eat everything in site!! Everything is in moderation and portion control.
So, I am down 8 pounds in 2 weeks! That's the easy part for me. The hard part - maintaining the weight loss. My weight is usually between 130-145. Obviously, when I see the scale creeping up to 145, I tell myself to get back on track! Which is why I decided to join DietBet Leap into a New Year 30 day weight loss challenge. I needed something to motivate me and hold me accountable. I needed a kick in the butt!
These are the things that work for me when I want to take off my extra weight. Hopefully, one or some of these work for you too. I am not a big exerciser. I am constantly on the go all day long, never really sitting, if I do sit - I may never get back up. So I burn calories by always staying busy and moving. I do enjoy walking, but not during Wisconsin winters. I would like to get motivated enough to exercise, but that's a whole another blog! So instead I am better at watching my calorie intake for weight loss.
4 simple things I do to lose weight:
1. I LOVE COFFEE AND WINE!! I mean love it! So, that is the hardest routine to change. I have started drinking hot herbal teas in the morning and evening. Heck, I drink it all day long! It curbs my appetite, satisfies my craving, AND keeps me warm. *** This did not magically happen. It takes a couple days or weeks to convince my brain that it doesn't need coffee or wine. It still needs constant reminding.
* Favorite Herbal Tea: At Starbucks (of course). I LOVE getting their TEAVANA Passion Tango herbal tea (unsweetened) and their Peach Tranquility herbal tea (unsweetened). SO AWESOME!! and the best part .... 0 CALORIES, People!! 0 CALORIES!! Not to mention a Venti size is under $3. Seriously?!?!
* At home I like to try different TEAVANA herbal and green teas. I have the whole tea making system from them. They have some really awesome teas too, but it takes a little longer to prepare. Something I don't always have time for. But when I do, super yummy! Here are a few of my faves: Ruby Spice Cider, Passion Tango (again), Maharaja Chai & Samurai Chai Mate Oolong tea, and Strawberry Blush Rose. My favorite teabag teas from the store are: Celestial fruit tea sampler, Traditional Medicinals organic weightless cranberry tea and Yogi soothing caramel bedtime. All naturally caffeine free herbal teas.
* I also drink one approved coffee that I love! I used to love my coffee with creamer (which you know, is a big no no). So I tried a coffee by Isagenix that is organic and contains green tea extract, trace minerals, and coconut oil. It is really good! When I "need" coffee I drink this one with no creamer necessary. Try it once!
2. I NEED FOOD! I can't not eat ... I love food! So, I wanted to find something I could eat at anytime and not feel guilty or bad about it. I looked on Pinterest and found a recipe for "Magic Weight Loss Soup" or "Weight Loss Magic Soup". Search for it on Pinterest. or click on link: http://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/weigh-loss-magic-soup.html. This soup is great for lunch or anytime you feel hungry. Each cup of soup has only 57 calories and 0 fat. AND it tastes super yummy! It is really good to have in refrigerator when family is enjoying pizza, tacos, cheeseburgers - you know all the food you shouldn't have during a diet. I just warm up a cup of soup and enjoy!
3. PROTEIN SHAKES. Yup! Protein Shakes! Love them! (I am not trying to sell this product or promote it, I'm just telling you what I use). Protein Isagenix IsaLean Shakes with Isagenix Ionix Supreme. YUMM-O!! My morning breakfast!! I look forward to this every morning! You can use Isagenix as a total weight loss system, which I have done. Now I use their IsaLean Shake as a meal replacement for breakfast. It has 240 calories and 24 grams of protein!! 24 grams!! It keeps me satisfied until lunch - I'm not kidding!! And I add a scoop of Isagenix Ionix Supreme to my morning shake to combat the effects of stress and fatigue. A must for me!
4. ONE WORD: HUMMUS. I could marry Hummus (Don't tell my husband). I love it that much. It is my new comfort food. When I need a snack I grab for my hummus and veggies. I can't believe I'm even speakiing this. I am the girl who used to love chips and dip! But, if I had hummus or chip dip in front of me - I would have to go with my new love, Hummus! It is the perfect healthy snack. My faves: Sabra Jalapeno and Sabra Roasted Garlic. 2 Tbsp = 70 calories. I tend to eat way more than 2 Tbsp, but hey! It's chickpeas, not sour cream and cream cheese! Right? Right?
So, that's about it. Those are my 4 simple things I do to lose weight. And of course, DRINK LOTS OF WATER (or tea). Some days are really easy and some days are so hard that I just go to bed early so I won't eat everything in my pantry! Now, if I could just add in some exercise. Maybe tomorrow.
Good Luck everyone! More important than weight loss is being healthy and happy. Be Happy!