There is nothing requiring more patience than when you\’re losing weight.
It is a slow and tedious process that can easily leave you feeling defeated, deflated and ready to quit.
I had to decide from the outset that weight wasn\’t my true goal. It\’s a great by-product and is a fantastic way to see my progress, but every day, and with every meal, I\’m making decisions about my health. Every time I eat clean, I\’m investing in my future. I\’m investing in living another day.
It doesn\’t keep me from the disappointment, though. And I\’m sure you\’ve experienced it, too.
However, here are a few things you should know as you\’re losing weight. My hope is that they keep you moving forward, pressing on to better health. They\’re helping me stay the course, and so I offer them here…for you four faithful readers…because I care…so shut up.
1. Don\’t weigh yourself everyday!
This is one I will break often, but it\’s better when I don\’t do it. The fact of the matter is that, as we\’re losing weight, it will fluctuate. You will put on a pound and then drop two. You might lose two and put another back on. However, if you\’re tracking your weight over time, you\’ll begin to see the slow decline. This is the best way to lose it.
Here\’s where I\’ll insert a plug for loseit.com. It\’s the site I use to track my weight and progress. It\’s free (unless you want to upgrade, which I haven\’t), and allows you to set goals and track not only the food you eat, but keeps you apprised of an end date if you continue to lose weight at a certain rate. Great little app you can use online or on your phone.
2. What to do if you\’re not losing weight
So, you\’re eating right. You\’re not eating oil. You\’re not eating meat. Veggies up the yin yang. But you\’re still not losing weight.
First thing you need to do is eat MORE. Yes, more. No, I\’m not a recreational drug user, and no my mind is with me…most of the time.
When your body isn\’t getting enough calories (as can happen when you move to a vegan diet), it holds on to the fat it has because it thinks you\’re starving. When in starvation mode, your body will hold onto anything and everything it can get, to sustain you through what is obviously a stint on, \”Survivor 138: Inner City Detroit.\”
It\’s counter-intuitive, but it works.
If that doesn\’t work, you might be eating too much. Watch your portions, and see if that makes a difference.
Finally, watch your sugar intake. I LOVE non-dairy ice cream and sorbet, but I eat them RARELY. Dr. Esselstyn recommends not eating more than three fruits a day for the same reason. Sugar can really make the weight sneak back on if you indulge too much. Watch your sugar.
In all of this, loseit.com can be a really handy tool.
3. Give yourself TIME
You\’ve heard \”slow and steady wins the race.\” The fact that it\’s true is really only aggravating.
When you decide to eat a certain way, especially if you\’ve decided to follow Dr. Esselstyn because of your coronary condition, you have to commit for the long haul. Short stints aren\’t going to work. Three months and out will only get you further away from your goals.
Think in long terms. What will this be like after a year? Two years? How much repair could my arteries experience after three years of eating like this?
Once you have your mind made up, take it one meal at a time. This is a lifestyle. It\’s not a quick fix. Your arteries and waistline didn\’t get this way overnight. The solution won\’t come overnight, either.
Did you know that people EAT turtles? That would sure change the tortoise and the hare story, wouldn\’t it?
Thanks for sharing! Good advice!