Lately, I have had several people ask my for advice on their diet. They are asking me what I have been doing to lose weight. I have written about how I got started and you can read that by clicking this. I want to have a place to direct folks so I don't have to keep typing out the same thing over and over again, so I thought I'd type this out here.
The first question I get a lot is about my feelings about Weight Watchers. My feelings about Weight Watchers are this: I had success with the program years ago, it is an excellent program, a good way to stay motivated and it is easy to be successful with the program. However, I'm a cheap-o and don't want to pay for it this time around. If you are just starting out and unsure what to do, go to a Weight Watchers meeting.
Since I knew the program, I started out using the guidelines.
However that route didn't work out for me in the long run.
I began simply counting calories. I used the Lose It App on my iPhone. There are several apps out there for calorie tracking and dieting. I chose Lose It, because someone recommended it to me. I tried My Fitness Pal, because I had a few friends using it that I could add on there, however I didn't like it as much as Lose It.
You put your Current Weight (CW) and Goal Weight (GW) in the app. You decide how much weight you want to lose a week (1 pound -2 pounds) and the app tells you how many calories to eat a day and how long it will take you to reach your goal. You can update your CW and GW as many times as you want. It will edit your calories needed in a day every time you update your CW and GW.
You can add foods, either by their database of foods or by scanning the bar-code with your smartphone. It will automatically take the calories out of your daily allowance. Also, you can add your exercise in there and it adds those calories. It also tracks your proteins, carbs, sugars and fats.
I highly recommend using some from of tracking when you start out. Weight Watchers or apps, or simply writing it down. It is the best way to keep up with what you are eating.
I hit a standstill around May. I wasn't losing any weight. I was going to the gym and eating my calories that I was allowed in the day. However, I wasn't eating enough calories. I have since stopped counting calories and I am now eating clean and natural foods, which is so much easier in the summer with my grandparents massive garden. If you don't know about clean eating, so some research. Here's a clean foods list link here
I also got up and got moving. I started out walking on the treadmill because I know I could do that. Do what you can. You're not going to be a marathon runner the first day, or you may never be.
The most important thing I can tell you is watch what you eat! You can run all day long, but you CANNOT outrun a bad diet. I can't tell you how much better I feel when I am eating clean and eating right then when I am eating crap.
And my best piece of advice I have received is "Don't drink your calories". I stopped drinking sodas over a year ago...I stick to water. Occasionally I will splurge and have a soda or other beverage, but drinking soda with all those empty calories (you're not going to get full from a soda, or get nutrients) is foolish.
The first question I get a lot is about my feelings about Weight Watchers. My feelings about Weight Watchers are this: I had success with the program years ago, it is an excellent program, a good way to stay motivated and it is easy to be successful with the program. However, I'm a cheap-o and don't want to pay for it this time around. If you are just starting out and unsure what to do, go to a Weight Watchers meeting.
Since I knew the program, I started out using the guidelines.
However that route didn't work out for me in the long run.
I began simply counting calories. I used the Lose It App on my iPhone. There are several apps out there for calorie tracking and dieting. I chose Lose It, because someone recommended it to me. I tried My Fitness Pal, because I had a few friends using it that I could add on there, however I didn't like it as much as Lose It.
You put your Current Weight (CW) and Goal Weight (GW) in the app. You decide how much weight you want to lose a week (1 pound -2 pounds) and the app tells you how many calories to eat a day and how long it will take you to reach your goal. You can update your CW and GW as many times as you want. It will edit your calories needed in a day every time you update your CW and GW.
You can add foods, either by their database of foods or by scanning the bar-code with your smartphone. It will automatically take the calories out of your daily allowance. Also, you can add your exercise in there and it adds those calories. It also tracks your proteins, carbs, sugars and fats.
I highly recommend using some from of tracking when you start out. Weight Watchers or apps, or simply writing it down. It is the best way to keep up with what you are eating.
I hit a standstill around May. I wasn't losing any weight. I was going to the gym and eating my calories that I was allowed in the day. However, I wasn't eating enough calories. I have since stopped counting calories and I am now eating clean and natural foods, which is so much easier in the summer with my grandparents massive garden. If you don't know about clean eating, so some research. Here's a clean foods list link here
I also got up and got moving. I started out walking on the treadmill because I know I could do that. Do what you can. You're not going to be a marathon runner the first day, or you may never be.
The most important thing I can tell you is watch what you eat! You can run all day long, but you CANNOT outrun a bad diet. I can't tell you how much better I feel when I am eating clean and eating right then when I am eating crap.
And my best piece of advice I have received is "Don't drink your calories". I stopped drinking sodas over a year ago...I stick to water. Occasionally I will splurge and have a soda or other beverage, but drinking soda with all those empty calories (you're not going to get full from a soda, or get nutrients) is foolish.
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