TIME FOR A CHANGE - Recently Updated Pages

Tips and Tricks

jodiehunt — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:47:38 CST

1. Always use your head before your eyes or your stomach! Think of the consequences and if it is worth eating it. You'll be surprised at what you can talk yourself out of when you realize how many minutes on the treadmill it will cost you! LOL
2. Use light, fat free, or sugar free versions of your favorites. They can save you tons of calories. Most recipes you can substitute light ingredients with very little difference in taste and save you calories.
3. Buy bite-size or single portions of foods when available so you know exactly how many calories you are getting. I enjoy quiche so I buy those bite-size tarts and I am not tempted to have too large of a piece and I know exactly how many calories each one has.
4. Always treat yourself to dessert. Fresh fruit and Lite cool whip, sugar free angelfood cake, Light Ice Cream bars, and frozen fruit bars are some of my favorites.
5. Make salads out of your favorite foods. Cheesburger salad is my favorite!!! Grill a turkey (or lean ground beef) burger and top with 2% sharp cheddar cheese. Cut into bite size pieces. Make a salad out of your favorite veggies. Make a dressing out of 2 TBS Light Mayo, 2 TBS relish, and 1 TBS dijon mustard. Add dressing to greens and top with cheesburger meat. Delicious and you never miss the bun or fries!
6. Use a calorie guide when you go out to restaurants. Look on the Favorite Helpers page for the one that I use.
7. Exercise at your own pace. If you over-do, you will dread it and you'll likely give up. Exercise at a convenient time as well. Work it into your schedule and not work your schedule around exercise.
8. Most importantly choose a plan that works into your lifestyle and not a plan that your lifestyle works around. I believe that is why most diet plans fail. If it is too difficult or time consuming it is easy to give up on.
9. Weigh yourself once a week.
10. NEVER EVER GIVE UP! If I can do it, anybody can!!!

Contact Me

jodiehunt — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:14:50 CST

If you need me for any reason or have suggestions email me at:

imajohndeeregirl39@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you!

My Journey

jodiehunt — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:43:03 CDT

This year I decided to take charge of my life instead of my life controlling me. After years of struggling with a big weight problem I have decided to take charge and actually do something about it! This is my story and I am writing this in hopes of inspiring anyone else who was in my shoes.

I had been extremely overweight for many years. My life was totally miserable. I felt so bad about myself that I hated me. Not only were my looks affected by the weight but practically everything in my life was affected by it. I was limited physically. Walking long distances, outdoor activities, even shopping were difficult. I quit caring about myself and there were even times that I didn't care if I lived or died. I knew that I was going to have to do something to make a change or waste my life. I wanted to start living again. I was so tired of just existing.

Of course I had tried many times to lose weight and failed. I would lose some weight and then give up and start back to the old habits again. Food was an obsession. My whole life revolved around it. I knew that had to change in order for me to be successful. I had to control food not it controlling me.

I knew how to eat in order to lose weight. No magic formula. Less calories in than you burn. I decided to take a look at what I was eating and modify my eating habits in order to make it happen. Small portions are one way to do it. But my choice was to make more healthy food choices instead. Breakfast was typically a bowl of low sugar cereal like Special K with berries with skim milk. I knew that it would have to be easy especially what I ate at work because I would not stick with something difficult that takes a lot of time in the morning to get ready so I chose meal replacement bars or shakes for lunch. Dinner was always a salad piled high with veggies and low-fat dressing and a low-fat entree such as: Chicken breast and rice, Turkey breast with mushrooms and vegetables, or a Lean Cuisine if I didn't feel like cooking.

Like I said before there is no magic formula or pill. What worked for me is to figure out what will work for my lifestyle and not my life revolving around the diet. That was key to my success.

Exercise made a big difference in the way I felt and the way my body look as well. When I first started losing weight I didn't exercise. Being so heavy it was very difficult and frustrating. After I had lost about 30 lbs I decided to give it a try. I knew that I would have to do something that I could realistically do. In-home walking was my choice. I bought the dvds (which came with an incline step) and decided to try and do the best I could. I was hooked. I gradually built up and was able to do it! Now I work out 6 times a week for about 45 minutes a session. It has built up my endurance and shaped my body. Exercise is a great stress reliever as well. My advice again is start with realistic goals and do something that fits into your lifestyle not your lifestyle fitting into your workout.

Don't ever let anyone or anything get you down! You can do it! You are amazing and you have the power to change yourself for the better!!!!

Favorite "Helpers"

jodiehunt — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 17:38:13 CDT

Here are links to some of my favorite things that helped me make my journey an easier one:

Weight-Tracker

In-home Walking and Dance

Calorie Counter For Your Favorite Restaurants

Home

jodiehunt — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 16:49:11 CDT

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