weight loss tips

Over the last three years,  I have lost over 70 pounds.  Today, I thought I would post some tips that God showed me as I began my journey into weight loss.

• I had to adjust my eating habits.  I have learned to eat smaller amounts.  I have compulsive eating tendencies, so this was hard for me because I absolutely love to eat.  I realized this from watching my mom who eats little amounts.  
• I have learned not to go back for seconds.  If I really like a dish, I make it again another day.
• For me,  I had to stop having a snack when I came home from work.  I often work late and eating a snack at 10 or 11 and going right to bed was a bad idea.  As I said before, I love to eat, and snacking was a huge problem.  I learned to snack healthier.  Trail mix, nuts, popcorn these are all healthy snacks.
• I also had to stop believing the lie that I was getting enough exercise.  I felt that because I worked and was on my feet for eight hours a day I was exercising.  While I was exercising, it wasn’t enough exercise.  Once I added 15 to 20 minutes of exercise a day a few times a week; I noticed a large change.
• One thing I did not do was cut out certain foods.  I wanted lifestyle changes not just a diet. If I wanted a piece of chocolate cake I had it; I just made it a small bit.
• I have also learned to eat more veggies and fewer foods like bread, pasta and potato.  Don’t get me wrong, I still have the others but just not as much.  Veggies fill you up, and they are healthier for you.
• Find few people who can encourage you.  For me,  it was my daughter and my husband and a few other friends.  They would keep telling me how good I was doing.  One day a friend said, “hi skinny” wow that made me smile.  My daughter would also give this type of affirmation.  The first time she did I ran to a full length mirror to see and sure enough she was right.
• I set smaller goals of a pound every couple of weeks.  When I reached that goal I set a new goal.  I rarely focused on the big picture.  If I had, I might have quit right away.  By working on smaller goals, I was able to see some success and then I could keep going.

These are some of the things I have learned. I hope you will benefit from them.