It’s been two and a half months (10 weeks) since I started my healthier way of living and eating, and I’ve reached my first personal milestone in my diet program. I’ve lost 25 pounds and I’ve dropped nearly two dress sizes. Wow, I really, really did it! I still have 40-50 more pounds to lose, but I haven’t seen this current weight of mine in three years, and I’m enjoying the fact that I’m gradually seeing glimpses of a thinner me.
The 25 pound weight loss really hit me when I was lifting a big 25 lb. bag of dog kibble into a basket so I could buy it. I took a second look at the bag of food and thought: Holy moly, I lost that amount of weight. I was carrying around those extra 25 pounds with me every day! How in the world did I do it? And to think, I still have a good amount of weight still yet to lose!
Most people who haven’t seen me in a while and realize I’ve lost weight ask if it’s been easy to do. Yes . . . and no. I’m truly loving everything about my diet program, yet there are times when it’s challenging and I have to really think and decide if that piece of cheesecake is going to be worth the possibility of not losing any weight for the week (You so do NOT want to know how many calories are in a slice of my favorite cheesecake, which is White Chocolate Carmel Latte Cheesecake – YUM! Okay, it’s 1,010 calories and 62 grams of fat. YIKES!).
The other big question everyone asks is: How did you do it? Well, determination, persistence and willpower have definitely helped. But mostly, it all comes down to what I’m eating, portion sizes, and exercising on a regular basis. Sounds easy enough – but as most of us know, it’s not. That’s where my own personal determination has helped me tremendously. I’m determined to get this weight off, once and for all. And now that I’ve dropped 25 pounds, I’m even more focused and driven to get the rest of the weight off. And if I keep up this healthier way of living, I’ll be the newer, slimmer me by February. It’s a long term goal I intend to achieve.
That said, I’d like to share with you the things I’ve learned over the past 10 weeks that have helped me stay focused and on track.
1) Exercising, along with healthy eating habits, does make a big difference. I walk every day 
for 45 minutes with my dog, Sandie. Sometimes my husband joins me, and when he does, it makes for a nice evening of uninterrupted chit-chat. But overall I’ve noticed that because of the daily walking, the weight is coming off more quickly, and my calves, legs, and thighs are getting really toned!
2) Having a long term and short term weight loss goal keeps me focused. My long term goal is to lose 60-70 pounds by February. I’ve already lost 25 pounds in two and a half months, so it’s a realistic goal. However, it’s important to have short term goals, too. I take my weight loss in 5 pound increments. Losing five pounds is a 2-3 week process, and I know I can watch what I eat and exercise for that short period of time. And, those five pound weight losses do add up, and fairly quickly, too.
3) I definitely have splurge days – or days when I eat things I shouldn’t. Usually it’s just one meal, not a day long binge. But when that happens, I get right back on track the NEXT MEAL. Not the next day. Eating something I shouldn’t isn’t a license to binge for the rest of the day. Anything more than that one “splurge” is just more calories I have to work harder to lose.
4) I love, love, love eating fresh fruits and vegetables. I eat three servings of fresh fruit a day, and four servings of fresh vegetables a day. In the beginning, I truly thought it would be difficult to eat all that fruit and vegetables every day – but I really do like and enjoy it! I go to a local Farmer’s Market twice a week so everything is always fresh and ready to eat. And here in Southern California, where the weather is sunny and warm nearly all year long, fresh fruits and vegetables are abundant all twelve months of the year.
5) Get rid of the junk food in the house so it doesn’t tempt you. That pretty much goes without saying, LOL. I cleaned out my cupboards and stocked them with healthier alternatives, and of course the kids complained, loudly, but I figure if they are that hungry, they can eat a piece of fruit, or yogurt, or a granola bar.
6) My cravings for sweets has pretty much gone away. I never thought that would happen. 
Every so often something sweet will sound good (usually at that time of the month – UGH!), and if so, I’ll indulge in a few bites of that treat. However, I was recently at a party and was served a piece of tiramisu with french vanilla ice cream. I ate half of it and started to feel sick to my stomach. The feeling lasted for the rest of the night and I woke up the next morning feeling like I had a hangover – my stomach was still not settled, I had a headache, and I just felt BLAH. It was such an awful feeling, that now I think twice before I eat something really, really sweet.
7) On that note, I’ve cut out refined sugar from my diet, as well as the three doses of caffiene I was consuming every day. It was a two week process to detox myself of the sugar and caffiene, but I honestly feel so much better without it in my system.
I’m drinking tons of water – well over 100 ounces a day (that’s about 12 glasses a day). I was never a water drinker before, but it’s really all I drink now – except for the occasional glass of iced tea. I don’t drink diet drinks, either. But drinking all that water really does help to flush out the bad stuff, and my complexion has never looked so good! The drawback, though, is having to get up in the middle of the night to go the bathroom. That’s a real pain, LOL.
9) If I am craving something other than my tasty protein bars (they really are good!), I’ll have one of those 100 calorie pack snacks. They are so great – it’s just enough to satisfy my hankering without blowing my entire diet.
10) It’s all about making the right choices. A chocolate candy bar vs. a granola bar. Ice cream vs. fat-free frozen yogurt. You get the point. Those little choices can add up to big savings calorie-wise. And most of the time, you won’t miss the richer, high-fat alternative!
11) Eat a variety of healthy things. My counselor told me that most people quit a diet because they eat the same things over and over (i.e., chicken and tuna, or bananas and apples every day, etc). Their diet becomes bland and boring, and that’s when the splurging gets out of control. I have to say that I eat something different every day. I mix things up – eat different fruits and vegetables and proteins. I do have my favorites, but I try to keep things interesting.
12) Take it one day at a time. Eating healthy does get easier, and it becomes a normal routine after a few weeks.
13) I eat three solid meals a day, along with 2/3 healthy snacks. So, that means about every 
3 hours I’m eating something, which keeps me from getting so hungry that I eat more than I should. And I really love that I get to eat every three hours – though in the beginning of this diet I was certain that I was eating way too much food to lose weight. I learned it was WHAT you ate that mattered!
14) I know it’s a pain to do, but keeping a journal of everything I’ve eaten in a day does make a difference. Counting calories, too. If you don’t account for those “few bites” here and there, it can add up to a pound gained in a week. Writing down the calories you consume in a day keeps you on track – and makes you aware of what you should and shouldn’t have.
15) Dieting and adopting a healthy lifestyle is a personal thing. I think it’s very important to find a plan that works for each person and their lifestyle. What works for one person, doesn’t necessarily work for another person. That’s one thing I’ve learned over the years of dieting – and not sticking to it. I’ve finally found what works for ME, and that has made all the difference for me in terms of sticking with this for the long haul. Also, I’ve discovered that living a healthy lifestyle is 90% mental. Being mentally ready to tackle the challenge of losing so much weight was the hardest part. But once I made the commitment, I haven’t looked back or detoured from my goal.
16) And last, and most important, nothing tastes as good as watching myself slim down feels!
So, if you’re currently watching what you eat, what are your favorite tips and tricks that keep you focused and on track?
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 45 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Yeah, Janelle! I am so proud of you!
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That is so awesome Janelle! I’m proud of you too, and love your tips.
I noticed that when I drink water, I’m not as hungry. I still need to kick some of that caffeine habit, but I’ve definitely gotten better about not drinking so much coffee throughout the day. I’m lucky (?) that I work in a job where I can’t be snacking all day long at my desk, so that definitely helps. I try to park farther away from the building whenever I go somewhere so that I have farther to walk, and 9 times out of 10 I’ll take the stairs before I”ll take the elevator. Even those small things can make a difference.
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Way to Go Janelle!!
Another substitute for Soda is Crystal Light, its only 5 calories and is sugar free and it is just mixed with water. I finally decided to cut my soda way down, and found that water doesn’t taste like anything, so I have really enjoyed the Crystal Light Iced Tea.
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Congrats Janelle! I don’t really want to lose weight, but I’ve noticed as I’m getting older that things are starting to sag. I do the same amount of everything and eat the same foods, but I’m just not as toned. SO I recently kicked my 12 cans of Diet Coke a day. Yes, 12. I was a hard core caffeine addict. It took about three weeks and I felt like &*^%, but I did it. Now I drink at least eight glasses of water a day, usually more, and I feel the benefits of it. I don’t feel as tired and my skin actually looks more perky. Keep up the good work!
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Way to go!!!!! I’ll be looking for you to post a thinner you! Loved your comments. I just joined a gym (for ladies only – you do not want the hunk working out next to you to see you jiggle or sweat) and after years of inactivity my stiff muscles (or lack thereof) are starting to feel good. One day at a time with realistic goals.
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Way to go Janelle and thanks for all the tips. Drinking lots of water really helps me out, and if I drink a diet coke, I only allow myself 1 a day. I keep myself focused by knowing I’ve lost the weight before and can do it again(just gets a little harder as I get older). Keep up the great work and thanks for the inspiration!
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That’s awesome, Janelle!!! My tip is to just, like you said, take it one day at a time. Since the boys have been back in school, I have been walking, watching my food and I have dropped about five pounds (in a little over a week). I feel better, I have a little more spring in my step AND my clothes are a little looser….I’ll get there by June! Keep it up…you’re:cheer: an inspiration!
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Janelle- I am so happy for you!! it’s a tough road, but you seem to be well on your way to the finish line.:party:
I keep my goal simple- 5lbs at a time. I refuse to look at the final number I am aiming for. Depresses me. I also do not get on the scales. Anywhere. If my clothes are loser and I feel better, than I am happy. The Dr.s office hate me since I refuse to let them weigh me. They can’t make me get on the scales either. Besides their’s are always wrong. Living on steroids at times makes it very difficult to even lose 2 lbs, so I just try to watch what I eat. I have good days and bad days and an everchanging schedule that just makes it hard to follow a routine.
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Congratulations Janelle. 25 lbs lost is an awesome achievement.
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Yeah, Janelle!
You’re an inspiration.
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That’s awesome! You are way ahead of me! I was down 11 and hit a little bump (up 3) but I’m getting back on track again! Loved your tips. Keep it up!
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Way to go Janelle!!! I wish I could say that I’m doing as great as you, but I’m not. I started my new “lifestyle” the same week as you and did great for the first 4 weeks. Then I started to slip off and then continued to slip and…you get the picture:cry:
The thing that makes the biggest difference for me is tracking everything I eat. When I write it ALL down, and keep track of the points, it makes a HUGE difference. It’s so easy to grab a handful of Hershey’s Kisses and eat them. But if I write it down and realize that I’ve eaten 5 points – Jeez, that’s like a whole meal in just 5 little pieces of candy!:doh:
Exercise always makes a big difference too and I see huge changes in my body when I walk. So, why don’t I walk?!?:wallbash:
Keep up the great work and thanks for the inspiration! I’m getting back on track because I want to feel great about reaching my goals too. Thanks!!:thumbsup:
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I forgot to mention earlier several things…one, I just found these apple slices at Costco (they come in a package of eight, I think). YUMMY. When I want to ‘grab’ something, I grab those (my kids, do too!). Also, I keep junk food that I don’t like, but my kids do, so I won’t eat it. If I am going to eat something naughty, I make it worth my cheat (not big, but tasty). Also, I make my water drinking fun (this sounds crazy), but I put it in a fun tumbler (currently, I am using one from my Honeymoon at Graceland), icy cold. Delish. Plus, it reminds me of hubby…:):) I wholeheartedly believe in eating healthier, smaller portions, not looking at the scale (but these loose pants aren’t half bad).
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Way to go Janelle!
I too started around the same time. Then, I completely stopped for personal reasons. I started again about 4 weeks ago. I find that writing everything down not only helps me to know what I’ve eaten but it’s a bit of a deterrent. I don’t want to write down that bag of potato chips!
I love water, always have, but I have to force myself to drink th 80+ oz I consume every day. One thing that helps is Fruit20, sugar-free flavored water. Grape, peach, strawberry…let’s me satisfy my taste needs while still getting the water in at 0 calories per bottle. Woo-hoo!
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wtg janellle:party:
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Congrats on all the progress! That’s amazing.
I’m currently obsessed with tracking my food on fitday.com. It helps calculate the nutritional content of everything you eat, to make sure you’re getting enough vitamins. It’s really helped me “control” my intake!
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Way to go , Janelle!
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Congrats Janelle! That is so wonderful. I’ve been doing the Sonoma Diet (taking vacation weeks off during the summer) and have lost 15 pounds and a dress size. I have ten more to go and now that the kids are back in school I hope to get more diligent about it. I’ve found my morning walks for 30 minutes and then one of the 10 minute quick fix workouts on Comcast’s OnDemand has really helped me. Keep at it, Janelle. I think making the changes in diet and lifestyle are the hardest and you’ve got those down!
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Thats quite an accomplishment and you deserve to treat yourself. No, not with food but with something you wouldn’t normally do, say a massage, pedicure, etc. You get the picture.
One thing is not to beat yourself up if you do slip once and a while!
Congrats!
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Thanks for posting the calories for a piece of cheesecake!
To anyone else trying to loose weight, hang in there & don’t give up, the end results are well worth it for your health. :love2:
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Congratulations, Janelle on losing the weight………..that is terrific……..and you are an inspiration t the rest of who would love to lose weight……….:thumbsup2:
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Way to go Janelle!!!! I am soooo proud of you. Let’s celebrate.
Keep up the good work.
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What an inspiring post. WTG, Janelle!!!!!
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Janelle:
I know it’s not easy, but once the inches come off, it’s totally worth it!!
Way to go!!
I, too, am working on getting back on track to a healthier me…I hired a personal trainer, and am on a twice-a-week schedule with him. I do cardio on my “days off”, and he KNOWS if I haven’t been working out on my own, so it keeps me on the straight and narrow.
Also, he gave me a little tip about water drinking…yes, I still :love2: my Diet Cokes, but I have a gallon jug which I fill with water every day. I keep drinking water until the gallon’s empty, and then I know I’m at my daily limit!!
I’ve also been shopping at the local farmer’s market and have been introducing more fresh fruits and vegetables into my family’s diet.
I’ve noticed it’s the “little things”, like riding bikes or walking to school with my 7-year old a couple of times a week instead of driving, playing one-on-one basketball in the driveway for 1/2 an hour w/my 15-year old, walking the golf course instead of taking a cart…
I’ve lost a few pounds and inches (I don’t have a scale – don’t want to get too hung up on numbers!). I have noticed a difference – my stomach and rear end can actually be seen in the same mirror!! and there’s actually arm muscles under all that “padding”! I’m even hitting the golf ball about 20 yards farther than I ever have!!
I have *the cutest* Christmas cocktail dress I bought and wore a few years ago (OK – it was 1 kid, 20 pounds, 50 boxes of Girl Scout cookies, and 8 years ago!) hanging in the closet that needs to get “dusted off” – that’s MY goal…December, here I come!! :)
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Arrrrgg! Need dieting help!
OK, so about 5 weeks ago I began to change my diet. The first week and 1/2 were great, went from 225 to 215. However these last three weeks or so I've seen NO difference.
I've changed my eating habits a bit – used to eat fast food about 3 times a week, now maybe once every other week. Used to drink LOTS of soda, eat late late into the night, etc – basically bad eating habits.
I work out every other day – I ride my exercise bike for 20 minutes (yes not much, I'm building it up every time I ride) and run some during the week.
However I seemed to have hit a brick wall. Can anyone make some suggestions? I can list my diet if needed, however I don't think there is anything wrong with that and my goals. Anyways…
Thanks!