We have all been through our share of losses. The pain of losing someone very close is not something one can describe in words. People talk about moving on, letting go, about making peace within, not holding on to any pain, so on and so forth. (more…)
Before forcing myself to get back to the gym this week, I wasn’t exactly what one would call “in shape.” Having just returned from a a hiatus over Christmas that extended until the end of winter, I’d acquired four months of bread/snacks/ couch potato weight and was feeling generally lethargic. (more…)
I thought this would be a good time to share a beautiful story of my friend, Adrian Owen, from New Zealand. He is an amazing person — a family man, an entrepreneur. He has shared his weight loss journey with us, so we can all gain some motivation from this, to continue on this journey. It’s never too late to start. Please remember that…
Step one:
Track What you put into your body
Managing your intake (food, beverages)
log on to www.myfitnesspal.com.
It is a website to track calories. (Don’t worry about what others say about counting calories……for the time being simply do it). It’s free. It polices your intake, without anyone else knowing about it. It’s yours, it’s private. EVERY morsel that you intake, you add in there, so you know how many calories you eat every day. For average women over 25 yrs, they can about 1200-1500 calls should be enough (including the beverages we consume).
I would constantly say ‘I don’t each much” until I started tracking the calorie intake. I was in for a rude shock. I was eating food equivalent to 3 women every day. You will be shocked how much we actually eat – little morsels, little extras here and there all add up.
Step two
Start walking – Start moving your body: Not just from the bedroom to the refrigerator, please.
Start walking….with 20 mins, then build it to 30 mins a day at a steady pace. Slowly keep increasing the time. Increase in intensity.
Join the gym and start doing some strength training, all the better….
Step three:
Sleep well. Try and get at least 8 hours of sleep…every night please (not every week!)
Sleep is so under valued but is the most necessary for all of us. A well-rested body can do much more — requires less food, has more energy to do things …..
Step four:
Think positive. Surround yourself with positive people. Not those who suck the energy out of you.
Most of us, rush to the refrigerator when we feel low. Try and be happy, (life is full of ups and downs and it is not easy) so surround yourself with positive people. This is very critical.
Not those positive types who need to eat and drink to feel positive – if you know what I mean.
Step five:
Educate yourself about food and nutrition
If you are reading this, chances are you have access to the internet and the information world. The best thing one can do as we go on this journey of lifestyle change is to educate ourselves about food and nutrition. Learn to read labels at supermarkets or when you buy groceries. Make sensible decisions. Just because it is commercialised, it doesn’t mean it is good for you.
For example: (a detailed blog on this to follow)
stay away from sugar substitutes.
stay away from ‘diet’ drinks
stop buying processed food (and convenient foods)
eat simple food but home-cooked.
low fat is not necessarily fat-free or good
Step six:
Keep loving yourself
Keep loving yourself…..I have to remind myself every day that I am the most important person in my life. My happy self brings in happy energy around me…and to me spreading happy energy is what keeps me going.
Keep a log…you will start noticing small changes initially. Until in about 3 months, you will start receiving compliments as others will notice it as well…!!! Take plenty of pictures…I swear I have loved seeing my “before and after” .. it’s an amazing feeling to see the progress one has made and how we can change things if and when we take control.
With love and best wishes to all….Keep walking…keep logging…keep loving….keep happy…stay beautiful (inside and out) xxxx