When I finally told myself, enough was enough, and that I deserved all my goals and dreams, I realized that I needed to make some serious changes in my life. I eventually realized that the reason I wasn’t able to lose weight (and keep it off) was that I wasn’t willing to change some of my core habits. Or more honestly, I was scared to make some huge changes. It wasn’t until I paused and did some serious self-reflection that I was able to identify which of my core habits I needed to change in order to achieve my goals. When I dedicated myself to changing those habits, that was when I was able to lose 100 pounds and keep it off.
Keep in mind while reading this post that these are things that worked for me. They may not necessarily work for everyone. However, I do recommend giving everything a try, because what do you have to lose?
Drink at least a 1/2 gallon of water daily.
One of the best things you can do to help yourself lose weight and maintain the weight loss is to significantly increase your water intake. There are lots of different ways to drink more water. Remember that tea and coffee also count as water intake. The myth that tea and coffee lead to dehydration has long since been debunked. Another easy way to drink more water is to carry a water bottle with you throughout your day. Or to set phone alarms to remind yourself when to take a sip (or chug lol).
Don’t eat after 8 pm.
If you’re wondering which habit is the easiest to adopt, this habit is it. Challenge yourself to stop eating before 8 pm, and then don’t resume eating until the morning time. Most often, calories eaten after 8 pm are calories we do not need. So ditch the late-night snack!
Plant-based Foods.
I’ve been eating a plant-based diet for 6 years now. This means I avoid consuming meat, dairy, and eggs. I absolutely credit removing red meat and dairy to achieving my weight loss. Now, I’m not suggesting everyone crazy change-up their diets right away, but I would highly recommend limiting dairy and reducing animal fat intake. It’s an easy way to achieve a calorie-deficit and (if done properly) means an increase in nutrient-dense foods.
An easy way to dip your toes into this style of clean eating is to adopt Meatless Monday. Challenge yourself to try new recipes, vegetables, legumes, fruits, etc to fill yourself up.
Reduce or eliminate alcohol.
I talk about not drinking your calories in another post but I’m going to take it one step further and suggest reducing your alcohol intake. During 2018, I committed to drinking little to no alcohol and it is unbelievable the difference it played in my health. Considering even a light beer is still almost 100 calories, even a couple of drinks adds up real quick. And if you’re drinking mixed beverages, then you’re looking at some serious calories. Easily drop a couple of pounds by removing or reducing alcohol consumption.
Nowadays, I allow myself to have the occasional drink each month. But I still commit to keeping my alcohol intake low. Overall, I’ve noticed a huge difference in my skin complexion and less bloating. Those are two great reasons that help me stay away from overindulging in alcohol.
Embrace natural sugars.
Personally, eliminating sugar from my diet is just not realistic. I’ve tried many times and have failed miserably. But, when I started to substitute white, processed sugars for more natural sugars like honey, maple syrup, agave, etc, it completely changed my waistline. Even though I was still eating sugar, I wasn’t gaining weight like I was in the past. Now, I’m not saying go overboard on the sugar because it’s from a natural source, but you can consume it more confidently.
When I’m craving sugar, I try to eat fruit first. Fruit is a great natural sugar. Personally, oftentimes an apple with some peanut butter will satisfy an initial sugar craving. And like I said above, eating a healthy snack first makes you less likely to have an unhealthy snack after.
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