Lifestyle Change Challenge - Almost 6 Months In

CharlieS96

Hi Guys,

This is not your 'lose weight quick' solution, this is a genuine lifestyle change that I have dedicated myself to and have stuck at for almost 6 months now. I haven't changed going out I have changed my habits and I have survived through Christmas, various events and birthdays and as of a week and a half ago I have lost 2 stone. I had tried the cold turkey lose weight diets and it never worked for me, I would give up within a week. The way I succeeded was changing one thing in my life at a time (I.E 1 point = 1 thing), and now I am losing weight at a quicker speed than when I started because I am becoming more and more focused...

My challenge is to anyone reading this, start by picking up one point every week, make a note of it and your starting weight and as you go along keep adding what points you are picking up and if you find any yourself you would like to share, please do! Anyone of these small changes over 6 months can make a huge difference to your health, and 13 put together make a life changing difference!

1. 2000 calories a day on exercise days that have half an hour cardio (1-hour light cardio if you can’t do intense just yet), 1700 when not exercising.

2. Eat more lean meat, protein and watch out for 'southern fried/breaded meat'.

3. 50g of porridge oats with 250ml skimmed/semi skimmed milk for breakfast every day.

4. Start if you are very overweight (like I was) with going for a 3 mile walk everyday as your exercise if you are simply not fit enough to exercise don't rush yourself.

5. NO.PROCESSED.FOOD, NO.DEEP-FRIED.FOOD

6. Eat more fruit/veg whatever you like and try to incorporate it into any meal.

7. Drink water all day and allow yourself a couple of tea/coffees in the morning either black or with a splash of milk ONLY no sugar/cream.

8. Try to do one ‘dry’ week and one week where you allow yourself a drink one day in the said week (WEIGH YOURSELF EVERY TWO WEEKS AFTER THE 'DRY' WEEK)

9. DO NOT cut carbs as this will only make you feel weak and tired, if you are exercising you need carbs to stop you from feeling fatigued. HOWEVER, aim for around 200g of carbs.

10. Try to base dinners around a portion of lean meat, carbs (pasta, rice etc) and some veg (carrots, peas whatever you fancy).

11. Try to live of a food ratio as such (these numbers are in calories) – Breakfast: 300 – Lunch: 1000 – Dinner: 700. You can change this however you like and reduce calories from some meals and add snacks, whatever works for YOU! (I find I don’t need to snack with a ratio like this but everyone is different)

12. If this works in your job/lifestyle, try and only eat for an 8 hour period in the day. For example I do 10am-6pm. Coffee/tea/water usually gets me through the morning period.

13. Make a notepad of your starting weight and current weight as time goes on separate to the overall tracker and every time you lose motivation have a note at the top that tells you – LOOK HOW FAR YOU’VE COME!