Let me tell you something, whoever I marry has to understand that there will always be another man in my life: the gym. I'm there 24/7 and have often rescheduled plans around my gym schedule. Some call it obsessive, I call it dedicated. It's been nearly 3 years since I began my weight loss journey and have managed to keep the 50 pounds (of fat) off and gained 5-10 pounds of muscle. I recently saw a post circulating around Pinterest about how people who have lost 20-30 pounds have kept it off and I felt like, having gone through the process myself, I could shed some light or offer a few new tips and tricks from my experience. Nothing earth-shattering here, but useful nonetheless:
1. Don't be so hard on yourself. You've lost all the weight and now it comes down to maintenance. You are bound to fluctuate weight every now and then. Who doesn't want to dig in during holidays and parties? I certainly do! So give yourself some wiggle room during these times. My advice? Don't step on the scale at ALL during busy seasons. It'll only ignite panic and frustration. Wait until a week after you're back on your eating and dieting regimen to weigh yourself and go from there.
2. Find ways to make eating and exercising fun! You're going to get bored at the gym. There's only so much excitement that comes from a 30-minute run on the treadmill or an elliptical workout. If your gym offers classes, check out something you've never done before. If not, make a playlist on YouTube of Zumba videos and create your own dance class. Put together a circuit of exercises you pulled from a magazine or from Pinterest. A change of scenery goes a long way, and you'll be so busy keeping up that the time will pass in a flash. This same idea can be applied toward eating. Never stop experimenting with new recipes and continue to try foods you've never tried before. I snagged a recipe for black bean brownies off Pinterest and to my surprise, they were absolutely delicious! And I don't even like beans!
3. Reward yourself in little ways. I don't necessarily like using food as a reward system, so I use this mentality on the weekends only. I tell myself that if I work out both Saturday and Sunday, I get to reward myself with a Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino with skim milk, which in Weight Watchers world equates to 4 points. Avoid constantly rewarding yourself with decadent foods. There are plenty of treats out there that can be tweaked toward the healthier side.
4. If you have an urge for pizza, eat the pizza. If I've learned anything, its that you'll get undeniable urges for junk food. My advice? Dig in. A few slices of pizza will not kill your diet for the week and, from my experience, sort of evens out a week of eating so strictly. I give myself a pep talk that if I eat the pizza, I HAVE to work out the next day or I won't have dessert that night. It's all about give and take.
5. Drink water. And lots of it. This is repeated so often in the fitness and nutrition worlds, but it really does work. Drinking water throughout the day cuts down on hunger and keeps your system clean. The beauty of water is that there are so many ways you can dress it up. I keep Crystal Light packets in my bag at all times, and if I have enough time in the morning before work then I'll slice up strawberries, apples, lemons, limes, or oranges really thin and toss them into my water bottle. Some of these fruits detoxify your body and, in my opinion, act as a snack because it gives you something you can actually taste.
6. Always have a goal. Recently, I've been able to breeze through a 5K running route, so I've been big on signing up for all those fun road races. Whatever it is, Color Run, Electric Run, Tough Mudder, I make sure there's always something in the future that keeps me motivated. In between 5Ks, I think about bikini-centered vacations or weddings I'll be attending that fuel me to keep training. The most difficult time is when the cold weather hits and those chunky sweaters come out. You'll have to push yourself extra hard during these times, and I'll admit that there'll be days you just won't want to do it. But think about this: by the time summer hits, you'll have already put in all the work and be swimsuit-ready! It takes a little imagination and a lot of determination.
7. Keep yourself accountable. I like having Weight Watchers on my phone because, in a weird way, it guilts me into keeping my diet on track. I find that if you use a tool, whether it's a journal or an app, that keeps you accountable of what you're eating and how much you're moving that you'll feel more obligated to stay in shape. I went off WW for a little while and quickly found myself thinking, "Oh, this sandwich could be 7 points but I'll just say it's 5, and a serving size of crackers is 4 points but I'll just say I ate half...". Yeah, that won't work. You'll find yourself going down a slippery slope of denial and it may get you into trouble on the scale. Be honest with yourself and make smart choices.
8. Fiber is your friend. Sugar is not. I always knew fiber was good for you, but I never realized just how filling it was. I love Fiber One anything and I try to eat at least one of their products a day. They offer a wide variety of cereals, snack bars, granola bars, and chips that truly fill you without having to eat a lot of it. Fruits such as apples, pears, and blackberries will do the trick as well. That being said, stay away from excessive sugar. I find that if I eat a sugary cereal for breakfast or something too sweet at lunch, my hunger knows no bounds for the rest of day. Like anything else, it's all in moderation.
It's amazing how transformable your body can be if you just believe you're capable of changing it! My stomach was all out of whack during the winter so I've been focusing on abs (ugh) for the past few months. So far, I'm pleased with the progress!
xo Jessica
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