Hello there!
I am actually writing this blog as I'm munching on almonds and cooking dinner. "Master Multitasker" is what they call me :)
So this is my first actual blog post. I have been contemplating for months now if I should start a blog and I just decided thirty minutes ago that I was just going to do it! I was afraid that nobody would read it, like it or find it relevant but see that's the thing. You shouldn't limit yourself with the things that make you happy just because you're afraid of what others may think. So what if other people don't like it. Do it for you!
Now that my litte speech is over we can get into the good stuff. For today's blog post I wanted to give you all some tips on starting a weight loss journey. As some of you may know (those coming to my blog from my YouTube channel) I have decided to change my life and lead a healthier lifestyle. I really want to shed the more than extra pounds and be happy again. I've struggled with my weight my entire life but I've never actually done anything about it and honestly that was due to pure laziness. I just didn't want to. Now that I'm older, (I'll be twenty-four this year. Yikes!) I really want to start taking care of my body. You only get one and I want to get married and have kids one day and when I start that journey in my life I want to be the best that I can be. So I've decided to put down the hamburger and pick up the weights. haha that sounds so commercialized.
So here are my tips to starting a weight loss journey: (in no particular order)
1: Congratulate yourself!
Congratulations you've decided to make a lifestyle change. That's a huge accomplishment and you should commend yourself for that. It's not easy making the decision to really do something about your weight. I know that in the past I made false promises and never really acted on what I said I was going to do. This time around it's different and I am so proud of myself for having the will power to really go through with it this time and you should be too. Now don't go all out and go get a Happy Meal or anything. :)
2: Spread the word!
During this lifestyle change you're going to need as much support as you can get. You should let your friends and family know about your plans so that they can help you. It's going to get tough when everyone around you is eating all this delicious, decedent food and you have to contain yourself. You're going to need a team of people that respects your changes and will support you all the way. You never know, maybe they want to make the change too then you'll have a partner!
3: Set realistic goals!
It's probably not the best idea to go into this journey thinking you're going to lose 50lbs in one month. Come on, that's not realistic. (REMEMBER: slow and steady wins the race)
You need to have a clear concise vision for what you want. These goal are going to help you achieve a better you so remember to make them attainable.
4: RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!
Oh and did I mention-RESEARCH! I cannot stress enough how important it is to research how to safely and effectively lose weight. You need to find out what is going to work best for you. Consider things like; How much time can I commit to this journey? What workouts will work best for me? How many calories should I be eating a day? All of these question and many many more should be running through your brain when you're planning your weight loss journey. Most importantly you should consult with your doctor before you start any weight loss program. Please, please be safe!
5: Figure out a system!
As I mentioned above, you need to find the best regime that is going to work for you. Most of us are extremely busy in our day to day lives, the thought of adding extra work into that is almost sickening. Don't let that discourage you though, this can be done with hard work, determination and planning.
You should start with planning your meals. I found that it helps to make my lunches the night before. I also plan my dinner meals for the week. I find it easiest to cook for more than one so that I can have leftovers the next day. It saves time and money. If possible I set out my breakfast the night before also. Ex: If I'm having oatmeal I put the oatmeal in the bowl and set out a spoon so that all I have to do in the morning is add the milk and pop it in the microwave. Or if I'm having a smoothie I blend it the night before and put it in the fridge so I can grab it in the morning. These little extra steps really help me stay on track. When it comes to working out I find it's easier for me to workout at night during the week (because I can't stand the thought of losing out on extra sleep in the morning) and workout in the day on the weekends. Try out different regimes to find the best fit for you.
6: Find tools to help you!
There are so many tools out in there to help you with this journey. Don't think that you have to do it all alone. When I started I couldn't stand the thought of writing down my calorie intake, ugh! #aintnobodygottimefordat hahaha (Thanks Sweet Brown)
My cousin told me about this app called MyFitnessPal (best thing since sliced bread, honestly!) It tracks all of my calorie intake for the day. All I have to do it look up the food item, find the right serving and then it tells me the calories. It also gives me a calorie goal for the day and I can track my exercise. I could honestly take about that app all day but I will save that for another blog post. Aside from that, it may help to find things to keep you motivated. Try a diary or a vision borad with images of people you look up to and inspirational quotes. You could even buy a dress in the size you wish to be, hang it up in your closet and look at it every time you need a little push! I may even try that one.
7: Track, measure and take pics!
You should definitely track your food intake. It will help you in this journey, even if you don't want to count the calories as much, tracking your food will help you find the flaws in what your eating and be able to fix them. Are you eating enough meals a day? Are your potions too big? Are you eating too many carbs a day? Tracking your food will help you answer all of those questions.
When I first started this journey I took all of my measurements and wrote them down. I also took fully body pictures of myself so that I can track my process. How can you know how far you've come if you don't have anything to refer back to. Plus it will make you feel awesome when you can see the stages of your weight loss. I highly recommend doing these.
8: Believe in yourself!
This probably the most important tip of all. It's hard to accomplish something if you don't believe you are capable of doing it. So get that negative idea out of your head now because you CAN do it. You just have to believe in yourself. Granted there will be bad days, very bad days even. But you have to over come them. Keep your goals in the forefront and forget all the negativity. You're the best! Don't let anything or anyone discourage you and have fun! :)
Well those are my tips. I hope that you found them useful and helpful. If you're on a journey leave a comment letting us know what things you have done to start your weigh loss.
Thank you for reading,
Naz
