“You have to be kidding me, Samantha. There is no way you did that.” Yes, yes I did.
I am not going to try to sugar coat anything. I lost 30 pounds. It was the HARDEST thing I have ever done, and I really hope I never have to do it again. If anyone says losing weight and a lifestyle change is fun, please teach me your ways because it was not fun. Now, I like working out and all, but not eating ice cream for 5 months almost was the death of me. Yes, I wanted to give up so many times, but I felt so accomplished after successfully losing more weight than I wanted to lose. It was the best thing I have ever done.
At the end of 2017, I felt terrible about myself. I needed a lifestyle change. I wanted 2018 to be the best me I could be. I wanted to look fit. I wanted to look stunning in my tighter prom dress (which I did). I wanted my last year of soccer to be my best season yet. So here is how I did it: I ate all my favorite foods but in moderation.
“Samantha, you did more than that.” Yes, I did a little more, but I wasn’t going to give up all the happiness in my life and eat salads from now on. Giving up your favorite unhealthy foods is unrealistic. Changing your eating habits is unrealistic if you are doing something you cannot stand doing. This was never a diet, this was a LIFESTYLE change, and boy did it pay off.
1. FOOD IS LIFE
Anyone who knows me knows I love food. I love it all, but most of all, I LOVE DAIRY. Ice cream is my best friend. It was an addiction for me, so I decided to cut it out of my life. A lifestyle change, not a diet. I kid you not, I had cheese withdraws for the first 3 weeks, but I realized how much better I felt without dairy. Now I would eat a little bit of dairy on a cheat day, but it would make me feel sick. I learned to eat it in moderation after I completed my goal. Eat what you want, girl, but be mindful about how much you are consuming and if it is really worth it when it comes to your goal. The drive to eat ice cream was the push I needed to get to my goal. I promise you that the slice of chocolate cake will be there waiting when you reach your goal, and it will taste sweeter than ever before.
2. Workout Doesn’t Always Mean Running
Running isn’t for anyone. I know, when I think about working out, I think of someone sweating like a pig on a treadmill – then I realize that is me when I work out. Working out is getting your heart rate up and being active. Yoga is a workout. You will not even guess how many times I have walked out of a yoga class sore and sweating in places I never thought I could sweat. You have to find what works for you. What worked for me was soccer practice and then running afterward. No, you don’t have to work out twice a day, listen to your body. I would also do light strength training for soccer season. Now in college, working out looks a lot different. I don’t have the time like I used to. Working out now is a fast walk to class up 50 hills. Your local workout facility would be happy to help you find some classes or workouts that are best for you that you’ll actually enjoy.
3. Find a Workout Buddy
I started this health journey with my mom. We motivated each other. It brought us so much closer. We went and workout together. We encouraged each other to keep going when one of us wanted to give up. I couldn’t have done it without her. Find someone who’ll push you to your limits and help you see your goal in the hardest moments. You keep each other accountable. Plus, working out with someone makes it so much more enjoyable.
4. Cheat Days are the Best Days (can I get an AMEN?)
Cheat days are needed, my friends. My cheat day was on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, depending on my mood. Now, I cheated in moderation. I didn’t order a whole pizza and eat it all myself. I ate one thing in moderation, or I ate small portions of multiple things. Remember you can eat anything you want, but I encourage you to stay away until cheat day or the end of your goal. You can do it. I promise.
5. Fuel Yourself with Positivity
You are beautiful. You can do this! Feeding yourself lies never helps anything. Also, it makes you gain unneeded stress-weight or stress-eat ice cream like I do. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t lose any weight this week. Cut yourself some slack. When you are feeling down, just go and do something you like to do. I know I love to do calligraphy and watch an episode of ‘Friends.’ I would also go on a light run or do yoga. Do not try to starve yourself or workout more. You aren’t perfect love. I promise everything will be okay and you WILL reach that goal.
6. Eating in Moderation
You will not believe this. I am about to blow your mind. In order to lose weight, you should be eating or snacking something healthy every two to three hours. When I first heard that, I laughed, but I soon discovered it was true. Your body is a machine, and it needs fuel. So, snack away my friend. Something that helped me was snack planning the night in advance. I also ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I stopped skipping meals. I have always struggled with overeating during meal time, so I got a smaller plate than everyone else. I can load up that one plate and I did not allow myself to get seconds. I also drank a half my body weight in ounces of water. That was a gallon of water a day. The first week of drinking that much water was hard, but I felt so much better being hydrated. It is the little lifestyle things that can make a huge difference.
7. Set Goals, and Stick to Them
What motivates you? Cheat days and clothes motivate me. What did I do? I bought 2 swimsuits in December. Could they fit at the time I brought them? No, they didn’t, but I promised myself that by summertime, I would fit. It would actually be too big. Having something physical to remind of your goals is an awesome reminder. That was clothing for me. Also, write down your goal and put it somewhere you can see it every day. I promise that it will remind you why you began and how far you have come. Also, it will keep you accountable.
If you are pondering or wishing that you would lose weight, just start. JUST. DO. IT.
Start small. Maybe cut out something you consume a lot of. Make a goal and chase it. Do not lose sight of it. Turn to your friends and family for encouragement. You can do this. I promise you will not regret it.
XOXO
Samantha