Okay, so like me, most people start the year off with the
goal of losing some weight. And right about now is when people start giving up
on their goals. I think it is because they are tackling them the wrong way, so
I am going to give you guys a few tips that will hopefully help you reach your
goal.
First why should you listen to me? So many people say to me
“you are so lucky you have a high metabolism and don’t put weight on”. That is
so far from the truth that it isn’t even funny. I can easily put on 5lbs in a
week, and every fall/winter I gain anywhere from 10-20lbs. Also each and every
year I work to drop that weight to get into race shape. But before I even
started racing, I was able to drop 40lbs in 4 months just by changing my
lifestyle. So I have been there and done it. It is like trying to battle
addiction, you have to really want it yourself, or the pressure of delicious
food and Netflix binge watching will get the better of you real quick. All
right here we go:
1. Why do you want it? You have to want to lose weight for a
reason, and constantly reminding yourself of that reason might help you see
that end goal. For me currently, it is so I can keep up with others on the
hills. Back in high school when I first started to drop weight, I wanted to
feel like I was attractive to my then girlfriend. So whether you want to
impress someone or you are doing it for yourself, set a statement of why you
are going to do this.
2. Diet or exercise alone won’t get you there. You do need
both. I can eat 20 fresh cookies before I start to feel full. Where as for less
calories and more nutrition I can have a nice size chicken breast with sweet
potato fries and still have whatever sauce I want for dipping. Healthier food
will keep you feeling fuller for longer. Also exercise helps to work down any extra
calories you may have got because you got to fit your feel good food in there
somewhere! Also seeing some muscle definition gives you a huge confidence boost
that tells you what you are doing is working and worth it! Also it boosts so
metabolism so you can eat more of that delicious food over time.
3. Cut out those damn treats! At least for a while. Easiest
way to do so is just to get them out of your house. If you are sitting around
and you know there is a nice bag of chips waiting for you, you might go through
the full bag and you weren’t even hungry to start. Whereas if you only had an
apple then you might not even go for it, and if you did, at least you are
getting some nutrients. I consider weight loss simple calorie in-calorie out
and it has always worked for me. So you only have to cut the treats until you
get down to your goal weight, then you can enjoy them every so often again.
4. Make sure you eat. I usually tried to limit my calories
to around 2000/day. With exercise and resting metabolic rate, it should still
run you a deficit. If you aren’t eating enough, anything you do eat, your body
turns to fat to store because it thinks it might not have food for a while. Also
weight loss doesn’t happen overnight, so you need to have fuel to keep yourself
positive and to give yourself energy to keep working out!
5. My last tip is the big one. For your exercises, find
something you enjoy! Again weight loss is a lifestyle change, so you want to
find something you like to do, and will continue to do once you finish. You
don’t have to run on the treadmill, or only do weights. I would suggest
however, doing a combination of weights and cardio work. For me, I love biking
so I do a lot of that. For you maybe it is running, or cross country skiing.
Maybe you love skating, and it is the perfect time to take advantage of all the
school grounds that have ice rinks put up. Find something you enjoy and then go
and work your butt off!
I could keep giving tips but I think these are the most
important ones. A lot of people mention finding a workout buddy. I never needed
one as I found myself very self driven, but if you aren’t that type of person,
then finding someone to join the challenge with you would be beneficial to both
of you and make it more fun!
As always I would love to hear any questions or comments you
might have. Good luck on what ever fitness and health goals you might have!
