Think of it as a Lifestyle Change!

So this last summer I have finally had the time to get my butt in gear and start working out. I wanted to lose some weight but also wanted to create a lifestyle change for myself. I didn't want to lose the weight and go back to my old habits and gain it all back. I decided to make a lifestyle change where I regularly work out but also watch my diet so I could keep what I worked hard for. I also wanted to do this to have more energy, feel and be healthier, and feel GOOD about myself! I had no clue where to start and so I started doing a bunch of my own research and I was overwhelmed and surprised at what I found out! A lot of my beliefs about working out and getting results were wrong. I have noticed a few others trying to find a way to lose weight and I decided to share with others what I have found is working for me. Because I have so much to share I will probably spread this out over a few posts and will continue to when I learn knew things.

Everyone has different limits, different likes and dislikes about different work outs. This is just what I have found that is working for me! This is a journey for me and I am not where I want to be, yet, but I will update my results. :)

First off One thing I learned, that was kind of disappointing but made sense, is that 80% of losing weight starts in the kitchen. Getting fit happens in the gym! (Or when you workout/exercise) If you are not changing habits with what you eat, you WILL NOT get the results you want! This is really hard for me because I LOVE my sweets! I am not a fan of veggies so that one is hard for me. But if you just realize that this is part of what it takes to lose that weight, you need to start rethinking your diet.

DO:

Eat 4-5 smaller meals throughout the day. Make sure they have some sort of fruit and vegetable and protein! Protein can be nuts, cottage cheese, peanut/nut butters, string cheese, lean meats (tuna, fish, chicken, turkey). Protein is essential to help keep you feeling full and recovering from working out.

Watch how many calories you are taking in. WWW.MYFITNESSPAL.COM is a great calorie tracker. It has really helped me know how much overeating I was really doing. It also helps you know how many calories you need to be eating to lose the weight you want.

Drink 8 cups of water a day. I always have 1 cup in the morning when I wake up before breakfast. Then 1 cup before every time I eat. Then if there are times I'm getting hungry between eating I drink water. Most times when you think you are hungry, your body is just thirsty. Drink more water and you will feel more full and won't need to eat as much! Drinking water also helps your digestive system work better when you do eat. It causes your body to not store as much fat! So stay hydrated!

DON'T:

Eat processed foods as little as possible. Try to make things from scratch more, you have less preservatives and additives. Stay away from high fructose corn syrup! It chemically alters your body to not know when you are full! Buy less pre-packaged stuff! Packaged stuff has more calories and just aren't good for you.

Cut way back on sugar and salty foods. Sugar causes your blood sugar to spike and store fat. Salty foods store as fat as well. (More on the glycemic  index and blood sugar spikes later).

Stop eating about 3-4 hours before you go to bed. I usually go to bed around 10:00 so I try to stop eating by about 6:00, 7:00 at the latest. Your body knows about the time you go to bed so your digestion starts slowing down. Anything you eat within that time period will have a hard time digesting and store as fat! Eating at night will also cause you to sleep more restlessly. Getting enough sleep is crucial to keep your body energized and healthy. I sleep so much better when I don't eat late at night! If you get hungry and just can't wait till morning eat something healthy. Like carrots, apples, or even a string cheese (protein will help you feel a little fuller). Sometimes I'll just eat an apple and string cheese and drink some water and then I will feel pretty full again. But this is only if I just can't wait.

REMEMBER:
Consistency is the key! If you want to see results when it comes to weight loss, you have to start in the kitchen. You have to be consistent!  Think about how long you have had these habits you want to change. Doing good for a week won't give you the results you want in a week. You have to be committed to making this a lifestyle change and stick with it for a while.
I've had my bad habits for practically my 25 years. So I have to keep reminding myself that one week, even one month, won't put me where I want to be. I have to stick with it for a while to get to where I want to be weight and health wise.

Good luck to you guys and I hope this has helped! I would love feedback on anything you might know about diet or exercise and if my post has helped you! :)