first weeks strategies and motivation tips for my new lifest

my simple rule, I never deny myself anything that doesn't have meat or corn syrup in it. So if I want chocolate I eat it, I just don't eat more than a serving. And I always eat a snack within an hour of bed time. It is an ABSOLUTE myth that you cannot eat past a certain time. It is all about moderation and eating within a calorie guideline to achieve your healthy weight loss net (mine is around 1500 Net). Every person is different so you have to experiment and find what works best for you without regard for what ANYONE tells you. You are not losing this weight for anyone but yourself so it doesn't matter what anyone else says. In starting, set your limits and guidelines, try to stick to them, but remember that you may need to make adjustments as you go along... in fact you probably will need to.

happy healthy life

The way I got through the first few weeks was making sure I didn't keep any trigger foods in the house. My kids want Oreos, but I won't allow them past the front door! I stocked up on flavored teas (and still do) for when I feel a craving for something sweet but I'm not really hungry. I journal every single thing I put in my mouth, even if it's something I'm ashamed of, like the McNuggets my daughter didn't finish last weekend. :embarassed: Once I got my diet down, I added exercise, both cardio and strength, because the cardio burns fat, and strength builds muscle that burns extra calories during the day, plus it makes my clothes fit better! I wear a heart rate monitor with a chest strap so I know how many calories I burn, and I keep a workout journal so I can see the improvement in heart rate doing certain exercises over the weeks. After I got into a good exercise routine, I started allowing myself one "cheat" meal a week, so I would need to figure out what was planned for the weekend, or if there were any parties coming up that would have to count as that cheat.

Being prepared is key. I know what I can eat at each restaurant I'm likely to eat at, and if it's a new restaurant, I'll look up the nutrition information before I leave my house so I know what's safe for me to order before I get there. If I look at the menu without being prepared, I risk being tempted by something that could totally blow my day.

If you're hungry before bed, have a lean protein or something low glycemic, like Jennieam was saying. Heavy carbs before dinner affect your body's ability to create Human Growth Hormone, and most of that hormone is released when you're sleeping. Also, get a good night's sleep! Lack of sleep affects the release of Leptin, which makes you feel full, and encourages the release of Ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry and crave carby crapola all day! And yes, that's a technical term. I never realized that was why I ate so much when I was exhausted, which was quite often. Another thing is limiting alcohol. Just two alcoholic drinks can affect your fat burning ability by 73%.

Well, that's my 2 cents! Or maybe 50.

Glad I could help!