My Weight Loss Game-changers

A few years ago, I lost 17 lbs. It was a gradual change and it look me 2 years to complete. It was also the first time that I had ever been successful at losing so much weight and transforming my body. And for the first time ever, it stayed off.

A lot of people have asked me to provide tips on how to lose weight since I have been so successful. So here goes.

Game-changer #1: I changed my perspective from skinny to healthy.

This was the MOST important thing I did to lose weight and keep it off. It was helpful that I was approaching the end of my 20’s and was hyper aware of my mortality. I started to pay attention to what I was putting into my body and slowly eliminated processed foods, dairy and meat (my choice, not for everyone), and white carbs such as bread and pasta from my regular diet. It was MUCH easier to stay on track when my motivation came from a greater place than just wanting to be thin.

Game-changer #2: I stopped looking for a means to an end.

  

For most of my adult life, I have been dieting. I tried everything: low carb, low fat, high protein, no carb, diet pills, diet shakes etc etc etc. In order to keep the weight off, I made a simple and extremely effective adjustment to my strategy.

There is no shortcut to long term weight loss. Before I embraced this truth, my plan was to stick to whatever rigid diet I was testing until I reached my goal and could go back to eating whatever. I was hungry, miserable, nutritionally deficient and surprise: not losing any weight.

So I stopped dieting and started exploring my relationship with food. I began to learn about what was healthy and where my cravings came from. I made fresh, whole food the staples of my diet and suddenly something I craved. And the weight fell off slowly...and it stayed off.

Game-changer #3: I found exercise I loved and do it often.

I suspect that for most of you exercise is a chore that forces you to wake up early or miss Happy Hour. I used to feel this way also. But movement is one of the best things you can do for your body...and your spirit. It helps with circulation, digestion and other bodily functions. It helps you feel confident, exhilarated and alive. It makes you look lean, sexy and strong.

I enjoy the intensity of a gym workout, but that isn’t for everyone. Take a moment to think about what options you have. What activities do you currently enjoy doing? Can you team up with friends for a team sport or workout session? Have you always wanted to try yoga/zumba/spin etc? Can you walk to/from work or park further away from your office?

Find a way to make movement a part of your weekly routine starting today. Get comfortable with this routine over the next month, make it second nature. Then build upon it for another month, and then another.

Game-changer #4: I expanded my horizons and created a new outlook.

If you’re out of shape, overweight, sick all the time, tired all the time, sad all the time, it’s time for a change. For me, that change meant exploring alternative options to what I had been already doing. It also meant challenging my current views on health, fitness, work, relationships etc. in order to get to where I am now.

If you don’t know where to start, look for a person in your life that has it together and explore their views, habits and sources of information. Is there something they do that is appealing but you’re nervous about making the leap? Perfect, do it. Try new things, challenge yourself, push your boundaries. You may find out things about yourself that you never knew before (and that are oh so 

Game-changer #5: I focused on healing of mind and spirit.

Emotional balance is key to good health. Stress triggers increased levels of cortisol in your body. Chronic stress and frequently high levels of cortisol can cause a whole slew of issues including high blood pressure, lowered immunity and most importantly for this topic, increased abdominal fat.

Stress can also weaken your resolve to take care of yourself. It can trigger cravings for foods that you feel will fill the void in your psyche that is distressed. You are crash dieting, overeating, over indulging etc. because your body is desperately trying to counterbalance your unhappiness.

In other words, you aren’t unhappy because you are overweight, you are overweight because you are unhappy. It may take a lot of courage to address this truth and access the underlying issues. But you’re worth it, right?!

Thanks for stopping by as always! If you have any questions leave it in the comments section :) Have a beautiful day.

Xo Saranna