Weight-Loss Tips!

Since I posted my 50lb progress picture this week, I have gotten a lot of questions about what my secret is.

So here you go, here’s my big secret….

 

 

I ate less food.

I’ll share with you some of my tips on HOW I ate less food without going crazy, though. These might seem silly or obvious, but they’re all things I wasn’t doing before that have made a big difference for me.

1. Count calories.

Yeah, I know it’s a bummer and everyone wants something effortless. But I didn’t get to be 55 lbs overweight by being good at eating the right amount of food. Your body uses a certain number of calories every day, and eating more than that is going to make you gain weight. So count calories and be honest about it. You’re only cheating yourself if you’re not counting everything or guessing on amounts. I use the MyFitnessPal app to track calories, and I think it does a pretty good job. I also use a food scale so I know I’m measuring accurately. The app is just a tool to help you, and it’s not judging you. Having accurate logs to compare with your weight loss numbers is helpful.

2. Use smaller plates.

This one is a little silly, but serving myself normal servings on my giant plates just looks sad. Using a smaller plate means I’m less likely to take more than I need.

3. Always measure out your serving before you eat.

I always put my food on a plate or in a bowl now. No more eating pretzels or chips out of the bag. Figure out how much you should eat and put the rest away! If you want more, you can always have it, but you’ll have to make that decision to go get more instead of just mindlessly eating it.

4. Don’t buy food that is too tempting for you.

For me, this means no ice cream or desserts in the house! I still eat ice cream sometimes, but we go out for it. If I make a dessert for a party or something, I try to get everyone to take the leftovers or send them to work with Mark. I know I’m bad at controlling how many brownies I eat, so I choose to control the situation and not have them around instead.

5. Don’t drink your calories.

Sugar sodas, sweet tea, coffee drinks, etc. just use up your calorie allowance without filling you up.

6. Have a plan, and track throughout the day.

If you’re short like me, you don’t need very many calories. Not planning ahead or checking where I’m at during the day can result in eating all my calories before dinner!

7. Only eat when you’re hungry.

I’m not a big breakfast eater, but always was told that “breakfast is the most important meal”, or “you have to eat breakfast to lose weight”. Now if I’m not hungry, I just skip breakfast and eat when I’m hungry. On the flip side, I have to make sure I’m not snacking just because I’m bored.

8. Eat slowly.

I’ve found that I eat a lot less if I slow down and give my stomach a chance to tell my brain when I’m full.

Those are my main tips for now, I think! Let me know if you have any questions.