Learn together, grow together

Have you ever felt embarrassed or self conscious because of unwanted body fat? Have you ever tried to conceal your body with dark, baggy clothes?

Well, first of all, know not to be ashamed of not having the skinny body that is deemed “perfect” by society. Second of all, remember that losing weight is different for everyone. A diet or program that did wonders for one of your friends might do nothing for you. The thing is, a single miraculous diet doesn’t exist. Everyone has a different body, and therefore, different weight loss methods work for them. That is why sometimes, extreme, intricate diets aren’t the best. There are so many complicated, difficult ways to lose weight. These demanding methods are hard to keep up with, and even harder to follow everyday. I find that this can make people want to give up on losing weight. Most people can’t find easily repeatable, simple ways to lose weight, which are usually better. Despite that, what matters most is finding what works best for you. However, this can take time. There are so many systems, diets, apps, and programs for weight loss. I know how it feels when it’s as if nothing is working. You get discouraged, and wonder if you should just give up. After all, blaming body fat on increasing age and slower metabolism is easy. It’s easy to make excuses to eat whatever you want. Unhealthy foods are delicious and tempting.

At times when you’re about to give up and binge eat, stop. Think about the reasons you want to lose weight. I have two kids, and one of my reasons to lose weight is so that I can live longer and take care of them. I’m also losing weight for myself. I want to be more confident and energetic. So remember, when you get discouraged, reflect on the reasons why you need to lose weight: Family, friends, health, confidence- whatever they may be, and use them to continue. The end result is worth it.

Slow, Small and Steady Wins the Race.

Weight loss can be a long race. A race that everyone reading this wants to win. However, in order to win the race, we need to take smart, small steps. Steps that are easy to do and repeat. 

Here are the steps I used in the race of weight loss:

Step 1: Eat a bit less for each meal (Make sure each meal contains lots of vegetables or other healthy ingredients)

Step 2: Cut down on the number of meals a day

Step 3: If you’re hungry, eat a small, healthy snack (Don’t starve yourself)

Step 4: Drink lots of fluids (Water is best)

Step 5: Exercise (This can be as small as taking the stairs instead of the escalator, or running on a treadmill for only 10-15 minutes)

Make sure not to see this as a boring, never-changing routine. Make it into a healthy and enjoyable habit. If the food gets boring, change it up! Don’t just keep eating the same things. Figure out what food you like, and try new things. Do your best to eat smaller portions of food, while still savoring the deliciousness. For example, when getting ice cream, get one scoop instead of two or three. Or, when eating a bowl of chips, share with a few friends or family members to force you to eat less. Allow yourself to eat any food you please, even if it’s not the healthiest, just a smaller amount (eat as much as you want if the food is healthy). Most people will tell you never to eat unhealthy food if you want to lose weight. I will tell you to avoid them, but not to forbid yourself from eating them. If you eat something unhealthy, try to “balance the equation” by eating something extra healthy later that day. Don’t turn weight loss into torture with insanely strict rules. 

I am sharing the steps I took to win the race with the hopes that you readers will benefit from it. If you have not found your perfect weight loss method, I hope this is it. I want to help others win the race.