I've tried out for The Biggest Loser twice.
At times over the years, I've tried to eat a little better but gave up quickly each time and just kinda thought, "Oh well, guess I'm stuck like this."
A year ago, I tried to get out and start being more active by walking for at least 15 to 20 minutes every other day (which is a good, slow start for me and a lot of other people) but I soon developed an issue with my sciatic nerve shooting intense pain down my left leg.
SO, needless to say, the walking was short-lived and I had a new problem.
After a few months, I found a wonderful "Maximized Living" chiropractor that helped me start to turn things around. Dr. Ben Follas is a great guy who honestly cares about people and helping them in all aspects of their lives. His focus is to get your neck and spine as close to perfect as possible, the way God designed it to be, to alleviate pain and to also un-pinch nerves that cause other serious problems/illnesses/diseases.
Dr. Ben is located in Hendersonville, TN and this is his website: http://www.livingwellchiro.net
After a few months, my pain was gone, and I started to eat healthier as well. This is a big focal point for Dr. Ben. To sort of re-learn how to eat but eat wisely and stop putting horrible sugars and other toxins into our bodies.
I've come a long way from where I started, but I still have a long way to go... As my adjustments with Dr. Ben continued.. I developed a new kind of pain also caused by my sciatic nerve but the pain is now located in my left foot. I have faith that this pain will also eventually be gone as well, I just need to keep pressing on down this life-changing road.
I'm going to list out the key things I have changed here on this blog, as they have helped me to lose a total of 33 pounds so far -- which would be more if I was able to get out and walk every day or every other day, but I'm still not quite there due to this current pain I'm experiencing in my left foot. (I will get there eventually, though! Mark my words!!!)
First off, and this is THE most important change to make:
DRINK WATER. Nothing else.
No seriously, did you really get that?
NOTHING ELSE. Ever. Never ever ever ever.
If you can't or won't do this, then you don't really care about making a real change in your life and you will be stuck.
I personally HATE water. Always have. There's just no taste to it. It's plain. It has always begged for additives to make it tasty and more enjoyable.
But if you really want to lose weight and be healthier and have a better life, you'll do it.
You'll make this change. If I can do it, anybody can!
I now drink 8 water bottles a day at 16.9 ounces each that I filter in a PUR water pitcher at home that i keep in my fridge. (Amazon sells them for less than $15: http://www.amazon.com/PUR-CR-6000-2-Stage-Oval-Shaped-Water-Filtration/dp/B000QRDMY8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301755748&sr=8-1-spell)
I started out having to drink 9 water bottles a day.
Do the math: Divide how much you weigh by 2. Your answer is the number of ounces of water your body needs per day.
So, now that we've gotten THE most important step covered, let me list all the key points:
1. Drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day.
2. Do NOT eat sugar. Do NOT use substitutes. STOP eating sugar, period! Substitutes are bad for your body and sugar is what breeds cancer. (See: http://www.mnwelldir.org/docs/nutrition/sugar.htm)
3. Stay away from grains. Not just bread, but cereals and protein bars and anything with grains. Whole grains = good for you? Nope, it's a myth. (See: http://www.marksdailyapple.com/why-grains-are-unhealthy/)
4. Eat good fats. Coconut milk (from a can, only!), avocados, etc. Also choose fish or chicken whenever possible. Avoid beef unless it's beef you get from a local farmer's market. Go with turkey whenever possible. And just stop fast-food altogether. If that seems impossible, do some research online and look at the nutrition information on items from fast-food restaurants. There are some decent alternatives out there such as Taco Bell's Fresco items, Wendy's salads and grilled chicken sandwiches, Subway's sandwiches (although you should definitely limit these! All that bread is NOT good for you! Jared lies! lol)
5. Don't go crazy, but allow yourself one meal a week to eat as you please. Simply minimize your portions and don't over-eat. Myself and my kids as well -- we love pizza. We usually get that every other week or so. I used to stuff my face with pizza constantly, even when I was already full. Listen to your body... if it tells you to stop -- then STOP!
Along with drinking water, another key for me has been having breakfast smoothies I make at home every morning. These will give you TONS of good stuff your body needs and they will also keep you full for 4 to 5 hours.
Breakfast Smoothie
1 cup of frozen berries
1/3 can of coconut milk
1/2 to 3/4 cup of almond milk (unsweetened)
1 scoop of whey protein
10 to 12 almonds
5 to 7 fresh spinach leaves
I have personally used chocolate flavored whey protein powder along with a cup of frozen blueberries and have finished it off at 6:45am and not been hungry until after 12 Noon.
(Chocolate + blueberries may sound strange, but it really is THE best combination in my opinion. Another good option is strawberry protein powder + blueberries... Mmmmmm......)
I use this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017XHSAE
It's a great personal little blender that lets you take it and go! It even fits in my cup-holder in my car! It's awesome and only costs about $16.
Having one of these smoothies *every day* -- with different variations on the flavors of the protein powder and berries used -- has been a vital part of my new life and new eating habits.
(I even put in half an avocado now because I don't care for them and this is the best way for me to eat them. I love love LOVE these breakfast smoothies!)
Now, most importantly, don't call whatever plan of action you take a "diet". Most people associate this with something temporary: "I'm going to start my diet next week."
Don't start something you are thinking of as being temporary and give hope to it being a quick fix.
START A NEW LIFE!!!
Make serious changes and realize you need to change *all* of your eating habits as well as any other habits that may be detrimental to your health. (Smoking, laying around watch TV all the time, etc.)
Put the cigarettes down.
Put the remote down.
Get up. Get out.
LIVE.
