How to Lose weight (and actually see results)

Look, I know what it's like to be thickum and delicious. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with being in that body, as long as you are healthy. But for those of you who may be interested in having a different body (I'm not saying better, because that isn't true) I am giving you my secrets to losing the weight and keeping it off.

In 2001, I was 240 pounds. I was "happy" and sometimes oblivious to how heavy I was. I lost all of that weight in the course of 18 months. Today ( 8 years later) I weigh 140. Now, if you have ever struggled with your weight, with food..you will always struggle. Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can GET OVER IT and just be thin.

The habits you have when you are obeseor overweight (meaning body weight index over 28%), must be REPLACED with the habits of someone who will become and stay thin and healthy. It is how humans work and nothing changes over night.

So..let me share with all of you what I did:

1) I did the advanced Tae-bo tape every morning. The tape is 57 minutes long. I also wore 5 pound ankle weights on three of those days (which ever days I felt like pushing it)

2) I had a large apple with peanut butter, and tea for breakfast, or a frozen coffee Slimfast, (anyone who loves to eat for the joy of eating loves this because you have to work at it to consume it when it is frozen) I was and still am a snacker, so I would eat low sodium/de-salted pretzel sticks. One half filled baggie, that's it. I would avoid the school snackbar at nutrition and lunch because only trouble is in there.:)

3) For lunch, I would bring a HUGE container of lettuce (iceberg/romaine mix) with 3 small sliced tomatoes, 1 cut up chicken breast with the skin (I couldn't help it!), 4 green olives, handful of golden raisins, and low fat italian dressing, 3 drizzles. (maybe 4 if i had used my ankle weights that morning) and then I would snack again on 2 medium sized oranges.

I should reveal, if you cannot tell, I love to eat to eat. It wasn't not and still isn't about the portion of things for me, this is something I still struggle with. I am always frustrated with being the girl constantly obsessing over points, calories, diets....it makes me feel in-human.

4) Dinner would be whatever my Mom made, (only one serving! No seconds!) but she has always been conscious of her own weight, which I realized was why I was so miserable and feeling alone. She was always a size 4, and complained constantly about her weight. (And don't tell her I told you, but she is on Weight Watchers! So even a grown woman, almost 50, has the same insecurities as she did when she was 25, 30, 35, 40.....)

The last time I admitted how big I was, I wore a size 20. I stopped looking after that. So for someone like me, who loves her mom and trusted her, to see such an insecure woman in such a gorgeous body, it took it's toll on my confidence and I just ate and ate.

5) I kept a chart on my wall. It had a column for the day, the pounds I weigh at the beginning of the day, and again at the end. Weight yourself in the morning before you work out and after you use the bathroom, and then before you eat dinner at the end of the day.

Having this chart made me look at what I was doing honestly. When you are trying to lose weight it is easy to get discouraged, especially if you feel you have a long way to go. And you will realize, after a few weeks that isn't about HOW MUCH YOU WEIGH, it is about how GOOD YOU FEEL, and HOW GREAT YOUR CLOTHES FIT, or don't fit because they are falling off.

6) Every meal was an opportunity for me to take care of myself. So I had to train myself to think about what I was doing every time I put something in my mouth. I wouldn't stop myself from eating (this is important) I just made a better choice about what went into my mouth. Instead of a cookie, I would eat a bowl of cherries drenched in splenda. (I love sugar!)

Now that I am older, 8 years older, I still still still...seriously, STILL struggle to maintain my weight from long ago.

7) I go to the gym 5-6 days a week. I write it into my planner and there are no excuses. I tell myself that I cannot let myself down, one slip, leads to another, another, another, so i do not, will not, have not, put that time (40 minutes) in anyone else's hands but my own.

8) So, at the gym, I switch it up. I do 20 minutes on 5 machines. that means I pick 5 songs, about 4 minutes a piece with a good groove, nice tempo, and I go to five different machines. ( leg lift, booty breaker, ab cruncher) and do reps ALL THE WAY THROUUGH THE SONG. I pick the amount of weight that I know I can get through the song with. (One time I did 500 crunches!!!)

9) Then I do 20 minutes of cardio. I alternate between the stairmaster, bike, and elliptical. (on separate days) While on these machines I put them on the "interval" setting so that I push hard for 3 minutes, then take it easy for 3 minutes up to 20 minutes total.

10) then I go home. :) I drink ALOT of cold water. Almost 2 gallons a day. Your body gets usd to it and craves it when it is any less.

11) I am learning to be more conscious of my hunger vs. boredom, emotion, fidgety behaviors.

YOU WILL SEE RESULTSwhen you do #8 and #9 even 3-4 days a week! It works works works, and I am a normal girl. I eat normal food. I love icecream. I do not do portion control, and I still have to tell myself that I am worth it everyday.

Everyone can tell if you love yourself or not. It is read all over your face, body, behavior..so make the changes and love yourself.

Hope this helps!