Losing weight is never as easy as putting the weight on. Some of us can eat all the foods in the world and not gain one pound. But for most of us, consuming over 1,600 calories a day can be a huge problem. The next thing you know our jeans don’t fit. We don’t look that sexy in the little black dress anymore. And the worse part is we have to shop for more clothes. Like I said in one of my posts before, I have clothes in 3 different sizes in my closet. That’s what yo-yo dieting have done to me, or as my husband calls it, “The Oprah” diet. It seems like Miss O, just like myself, is always on a diet. The number one reason why diets don’t work is because we think all we have to do is lose 30,40, or 100 pounds. No. Losing weight goes deeper than that. It takes will power to lose weight and keep it off.
Five things that stopped me from losing weight and keeping it off in the past
- Eating for the wrong reasons: I would eat something and say to myself a few minutes later that I did not have to eat it. I was not even hungry! It happens when I am stressed out, sleepy and not being able to sleep, or when I have a vitamin deficiency. I realized that I was eating less since I started taking calcium/vitamin D supplements. When I did a little research, I discovered that not consuming enough calcium daily can be a problem if I want to achieve a healthy lifestyle. I know I cannot control the stressors in my life, but with a powerful mind, I can press the delete button.
- Lack of motivation or determination: It is hard to stay motivated when most people around you are at least two sizes bigger than you are. Every time I see Gabrille Union on TV I say I want that body. But when I turn the TV off it is a different story. I wish I had a cardboard Gabrielle Union standing in my room. That would be creepy, right? What I have are two dresses from when I was 135 pounds. I hang them on my dresser. I think this trick has been working so far.
- Peer pressure: I think I was skinny when I was in college because I cared about how the other students saw me. Most of them were in good shape. I tried so hard to lose the weight that I gained in High School only to gain it all back after I graduated from college and got married. I was not trying to lose the weight for me.
- Visualizing my 179-pound self: You’ve probably heard of the term “Think yourself skinny” before. There was a time when the mirror in my bathroom became my scale. I would go in there constantly to look at how big I was. The more I looked, the more frustrated and discouraged I got. Now, instead of looking in the mirror, I try to visualize my 135-pound self. I close my eyes and see myself wearing some skinny yoga pants. I see the body that I want to have, not the contrary.
- Laziness: I used to make myself believe that I could not exercise. I was always looking for a shortcut to losing weight. There are no shortcuts. I had to eliminate the word can’t from my vocabulary, because the more I said I couldn’t the more I realized that I was not making any progress.
The success to losing weight is to find out why you gained the weight in the first place, then take steps toward living a different lifestyle. If it’s something that happened in your past that’s making you eat, try to figure out what it is and get help if you have to. See a doctor if you think something is not working properly. Some medical problems like a vitamin deficiency or thyroid can make you eat a lot. Trying to lose weight because somebody else does not like the way you look will not work either. You have to find out what you want for yourself and work toward achieving that goal.
I think everyone trying to lose weight seems to have all the reason above preventing them. I have been gaining weight rapidly lately and i really need to tone my body and get fit again but for all the same reasons above, it hasn't happened. Anyway i hope that changes soon. Meanwhile, i really like your discipline and determination. Great job! Regardless, you look great. You are beautiful inside out and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
http://www.thefashonstirfry.com
Preach my Sista. . . .all true! I am such a lazy fart that needs to stay away from bread with all kind of excuses. Hopefully soon the light switch will flip.
Thanks so much, hun. This means so much to me.
You know you bring up an excellent point, it IS hard to stay motivated when everyone is telling you how good you already look! And 135 is my goal too. 🙂 Great post, thanks for sharing!
Oh yes, its a mental One 🙂 I try to lose, but at the moment I`m not strong 🙁 Hope I will do it, too …next 🙂
xoxo Aziza
http://berlin-capital-life.blogspot.de/
Great post dear. It really is a mental challenge.
Great post honey! You are a beautiful woman. If you want to loose weight I know you will succeed because it's for you and you are the most important person to yourself. You go girl!
kisses honey
Lenya
Even though I've always been fairly thin, I gained college weight, mom weight, age weight…hehe. Well, the point is that I work on it daily, green juice, working out tipically 2 to 3 times a week. I also have recruited workout buddies, and facebook friends to take hikes with. It takes a lot of courage and hard work. Thanks for being so honest about your struggles with weight loss, I feel you. Having a support team/group has made a big difference for me. Now, I focus on being Fit!
Much Love,
Tania
http://inspiremyfancy.blogspot.com/
We have the same goal, Yey!
The light will switch up, Neti!
Oh emotional eating is the worse… I know what you're talking about.
http://bellapummarola.blogspot.it/
great post, good job!
tell me how about follow each other?? Let me know if you start, I always follow back! 🙂
happy easter sweety!!
xoxo from Spain
http://www.thegrisgirl.blogspot.com.es
Losing weight can be an emotional journey but like you said you have to find what is makes you gain weight. I know you will do just fine in losing the weight and keep up the good work.
effortlesslady.blogspot.ca
I can definitely relate to 1,2 and 5. I do try to eat as healthy as possible and workout when I can. Great post!
Fabulousperks.blogspot.com
1,2 and 5 I can really relate to, I eat when I'm bored (most times nothing good) and it is really hard for me to stay motivated when it comes to fitness so I'm always "starting over"
great post.
ezechimereuchenna.blogspot.com
I'm guilty of all the above, but thank God am right on track now. Grt post!
Great post! I had some of those same reasons that kept me from losing weight before!
I know what you mean about starting over.
You are not the only one who can relate, hun!