Lessons on weight loss

If there is anything that I have learned about losing weight it's that if you want to truly change your body, it's not going to happen over night.  It's taken years to put it on, it's going to take time to take it off.  There are no 'quick fixes' when it comes to permanent weight loss.  Good news is though that it is possible.  You can change and sculpt your body, and in fact become smaller then you even thought you could, because that's exactly what I've done.  I only wanted to get back down to pre-pregnancy weight and I have sunk below that with weight and far below that in clothing sizes.  It's possible and within your reach, you just have to make that reach.

Along this journey of weight loss I have learned that there are 3 keys to permanent weight loss.  These are certainly the things that have helped me the most.    


Water
Fiber
Sweat


These all help your body get rid of toxins and excess you don't need. Water cleanses, fiber keeps
you flowing, and sweat purifies you. Combine them all, and you've got the perfect recipe for healthy weight loss.


Water:  Drink more then 8 glasses of water a day. Just make sure you are drinking all the time. Take a drink or two when you first wake up, drink before meals, drink during meals, drink during and especially after a work out, just drink, drink, drink!  Then when you start having to go pee a lot, get a drink every time before or after you go.  You won't want to, but just drink!

Fiber: the ADA recommends that 25% of your daily diet should be fiber, I say you need way more then that. 25% will ensure you "go" at least once a day, but you want to keep a steady flow through there. Our bodies can hold a lot of waste that shouldn't be in there.  That's what makes us feel bloated and gassy. If you're eating loads of fiber not only do your bowel movements become much easier and more comfortable, but your moving all that stuff through so there is no room for bloating and gas. I find the more fiber I eat the less gas I have.

I love this!  Make a sign and keep it near your toilet.  Great reminder.  :)

Sweat: this is our bodies natural way of cooling itself.  I've heard it said that sweat is fat crying.  And I love that saying!  It's very common to sweat more quickly and profusely the fitter you get.  All your body systems become more efficient, and your body's cooling mechanism (sweat!) is no exception.  You'll sweat quicker, but you'll also stop sweating sooner after a workout ends, since you've been doing a better job of cooling all along.

Tomorrow we'll talk about how often you should be working out to lose weight or maintain weight.  There is a difference and we'll learn all about it.