Diet vs. Lifestyle Change

Many of us with a lot of weight to lose (and even those only wanting to lose a few pounds) likely have been on more than one diet in our lives. In fact, most of us have failed at several of them! At least I know I have. I've tried low-carb, medium-carb, low-fat, 6 Week Body Makeover, just to name a few....I even tried one of those extremely terrible juice fasts. Word of advice- they're expensive and not worth it.

This time around, rather than placing ALL of my focus on losing the weight, I'm paying extra attention to changing my lifestyle. I want to create healthy habits which will sustain me and allow me to live the life I know I deserve. At the same time, of course I'm paying attention to what I eat, tracking everything, and cutting out the "junk" my body has been consuming over the years, but I'm really working on changing my mindset AWAY from being "on a diet."

The main problem with diets is that they end. They promise huge weight losses in short amounts of time, and when we don't achieve those losses we give up. I realize now that in order to lose the weight and keep it off, I need to make healthy eating and exercise a part of my life FOREVER. And I'm okay with it. Like anything else, practice makes perfect. In order to become healthy and stay healthy, I must do healthy things! It seems so simple, but I'd never considered losing weight the right way, especially when so many pills and plans promise to make things easier.

I've only been on this journey for 2 weeks and I'm already noticing I FEEL better. My clothes aren't loose yet and I still still have a long way to go until I reach a healthy weight, but I can tell my body is about how I'm choosing to live now. I don't feel bloated, tired, angry, or anxious, which is how I felt when eating junk.

I feel like I have a lot to prove to myself. I've started and quit so many diets in the past and broken so many promises to myself about getting healthy, that I owe it to ME to be successful and true to my word.

A heartfelt thanks to all of you for the motivation so far! Not only do I appreciate all of the kind words and advice, but I also love being able to help others in any way that I can and cheer for your successes as well.

We can do this everyone, we can create a lifestyle of healthy, active choices and enjoy life to the fullest!!

-Kristi