Natural and Healthy Weight Loss: A Personal Journey

Weight loss has always been an issue with me. When I was younger I was skinny and wore boys extra slim pants. Something happened (less activity and more food) and I started having to buy plus size clothing. My size didn’t define who I was but it did affect my health. I’ve tried a variety of things in the past 10 years and not all of them are healthy or “green”.

I’ve done the over the counter diet pills but they made me feel jittery and I was always scared of side effects, so I would stop taking them. I’ve even had prescription medicine, Meridia, and despite the list of side effects, I had zero and it did help curb my appetite. It did not help me with self-control, emotional eating or to make any long term changes. It was not the answer. Then I did Weight Watchers and I have to say, I was very successful with this program. My weight toppled at 210 pounds and I was miserable. Weight Watchers taught me how to use portions control and count my calories and intake. It also taught me how to be more active. Yes, I had to learn all of this and retrain myself to exercise and eat better.

Even though Weight Watchers has an excellent program and I lost close to 50 pounds on the program I became hooked on diet soda and sugar free products and those aren’t healthy. Now I’ve gained a few pounds back but I want to lose them again and not rely on filler foods and sugar free products. I want to eat healthy and lose the weight naturally. I have to again, adjust my way of thinking.

What are some natural ways I am trying to shed the pounds and be healthy?

1. Cutting out the sugar free soda and sweet and low and adding more H20 into my day. Sugar free products aren’t good for you and there are a lot of studies to prove this. Here are a few resources to check out: Citizens for Health, Green Living Online, and Health Castle.
2. Exercise and activity. I’m not one for a daily schedule of exercise but I’m parking far away and walking. I’m running all over the yard with the kids and dog so I’m not on my butt. I’m trying hard to do sit ups and lunges throughout my day. Also to stretch and increase my flexibility. For some great tips on adding movement and activity to your day check out these sites: AOL Health and Act Now.
3. Eating less meat or at least leaner meats. I don’t believe you have to be a vegetarian to be green and earth friendly, but to help do my share I’m trying to eat less red meat and add more greens to my diet.
4. Sleeping at least 8 hours. Rest has a lot to do with metabolism and when I’m tired I just don’t eat as well. I’m more likely to give into the sweet tooth.
5. Keeping an eye on my Body Mass Index. It isn’t so much what the scales says but rather what my BMI is and how I feel.
6. Eat several small snacks to keep me full. You don’t want your body to go into starvation mode and to help me stay full and fueled I am eating more cut up veggies, cheese slices and having my favorite protein bars and tea to keep me energized.
7. Realize that mentally I have to be ready to make the life style change. Being at a healthy weight, eating well, exercising, drinking water and resting means I respect myself and I’m ready to make the change, long term.
8. I’m trying daily to give myself affirmations and encouragement. Part of weight loss and maintenance is emotional and mental. By telling myself I am doing a good job, rewarding myself with non-food rewards and patting myself on the back, I’m increasing my self-esteem.
9. No deprivation. If I want some chocolate, I eat it. I just don’t eat the box. Learning that I don’t have to eat everything in site and that a taste is good enough or one piece will do is helping me to not deprive myself. When I deprive myself the next day I eat the whole box!
10. Realizing when I am full. Paying attention to my bodies cues. If I feel hungry, I must be. When I feel full, stop. A body needs food for fuel and energy and listening to what my body is telling me helps me gage how much to eat and how often.

Nobody’s perfect and it isn’t easy to lose weight and keep it off but I truly believe anyone can do it naturally. It’s a journey but I want to be healthy. It’s hard to not define yourself by what the media tells you and the pictures in magazines show us but these imagines are not all healthy or always realistic.

(Disclaimer: I am not a health professional and this should not be taken as medical advice. The only person I am qualified to diagnose is myself. You should always consult with a qualified professional before starting any new program. This is just my story and what I am been through and am trying to do.)

Original post written for 5 Minutes for Going Green

Read more from Sommer over at Green & Clean Mom, where she writes about being some shade of green every day. Subscribe to her blog here and don’t miss out her latest finds, contests, giveaways and sexy and sassy green tips!