Tips that helped me lose...

Happy Hump Day everyone!!

Did you realize that today is "09/09/09"?! Pretty COOL!

Once again I would like to take a quick moment to say THANK YOU to all of you who have commented on my blogs as well as the emails of encouragement. Your encouraging words help get me through some very tough days!! Please keep them coming and remember to keep me in your prayers.

Today I would like to share a couple of tips with you that has been a tremendous help to me in losing my initial 60lbs.

First and foremost, you have to be willing to change your eating habits. I was a one meal a day eater for so many years, and when I sat down to eat that one meal, I ate and I ate until I was STUFFED and most times MISERABLE! Now this didn't happen all the time, but I will admit, it was most times.

So saying that, break your meals up into 3 small meals a day(breakfast, lunch and dinner) and then in between those meals, if you get hungry, have a piece of fruit a boiled egg or a cheese stick, maybe add a little protien and wrap a slice of deli turkey or deli chicken around that cheese stick. I have found that doing this has made a tremendous difference in my eating patterns and I am not starving by the time I sit down to eat.

Secondly, remember to enjoy your food, savor the flavors while your eating, so take your time and eat SLOWLY!

This next tip FLOORED me when I actually paid attention to my bodies involuntary reactions! Not everyone get's these involuntary signs, but I would be willing to say that most people do. So, I say, pay close attention and if these signs happen to you, take a minute to focus on it and ask yourself "am I satisfied" and if you are satisfied, stop eating and dismiss yourself from the table.

They call these signs a "SOFT STOP" and listed below are 5 involuntary signs that your body has had enough to eat...

1. Sigh
2. Runny nose
3. Hiccup
4. Sneeze
5. Watering of the eyes

The first time I paid attention to my involuntary sign, I had sat down with family and friends at a buffet setting for a birthday breakfast. Let me tell you, buffets hated to see me come in the door, they see this BIG FELLA, and they think to themselves that I was getting ready to wear that buffet out!! HAHA! Well, I usually would eat my fare share of food, but on this particular morning, I loaded my plate up as I usually would and headed back to the table. I sat down and began to partake in the heaping plate of delicious breakfast food, and about half way through my first plate, I caught myself take a "BIG SIGH".....

WOW! For the first time, I paid attention to my bodies reaction to something!!
I sat back and pondered on how I was feeling, was this a joke or was this really happening. I said to myself, "DUDE, you are not hungry, you have a satisfied feeling in your stomach, so STOP now!"

Well, STOP is exactly what I did!! I pushed the plate away, looking at it thinking to myself that I just wasted enough food to feed at least 2 children or even a hungry adult. You see, ususally I would go back to the buffet line 2-3 more times, but from that day forward, I knew it was time to STOP!

I no longer do the "buffet" thing, as it is a waste of my hard earned money and the wonderful thing about it, I knew I was taking another step at taking control of my life!

Also, fast food is a no no, those "Golden Arches" and that dude they call a "King", well, they will super duper size your meal just to see you become "SUPER SIZED"!!!

As time has gone along, I find myself having a "RUNNY NOSE", so what do I do?, I STOP and push away from the table!

Tip #4 - WATER WATER WATER!!!!!! I was a coke aholic. I drank a bottle or can of coke everyday and multiple times a day. If there was a 12 pack of Coke in the house, it would disappear within 2 days!! I was dumping sugar and caffeine into my body so rapidly that I couldn't burn it off fast enough, so, what does that do to you?, it makes you gain weight. Also, caffeine is a stimulant, it not only stimulates the brain, but it also stimulates the stomach making you feel hungry.

I haven't had a coke since this past January, and I can honestly say that I DO NOT miss it at all!!

Drinks that you should avoid:
Soda, Sports drinks, Smoothies, Milk Shakes, Fruit Juices, Alcohol, Sparkling Water and caffeinated beverages.

Replace these with water, trust me, you will feel so much better. I can tell you how much better I feel by replacing my favorite drinks with water. It is important to drink at least 64oz of water a day, and of course, the more the better.

Functions of water in the body:
-It is a component of all body tissues
-It transports nutrients and all body substances
-It regulates body temperature
-It is essential for all bodily functions
-It carries nutrients and oxygen to cells
-It slightly increases your metabolism

Remember, WATER WATER WATER AND MORE WATER!!!!!!

Tip #5 - EXERCISE!!!

Regular exercise is a very important part of your life!!

I have always struggled with exercising, but let me tell you, when I made up my mind that I was going to do something about my life, my health and my happiness, exercise became a very important tool. I started out walking 1 mile a day. It was very hard at first, but making myself get up in the morning and heading out the door became a routine for me. When I miss a day of walking, I feel terrible, I don't have the energy that I would have had if I took that walk. Start out slow and as you make it a part of your lifestyle and daily regimen, you will find that you walk faster and may even want to walk an extra 1/2 mile or even mile.

What was taking me 37 minutes to walk a mile several months ago, now takes me 17 - 20 minutes depending on the pain I have in my knees that day, and some days I feel so good, that I take that extra mile!!!

Try to add at least 30-60 minutes of exercise everyday(break it up into 10 minute increments if you need to)! You will feel so much better, plus, you get to enjoy nature, the fresh air and most days the sun and cool breeze! Saying that, it is time for me to head out the door to get my walk on!!

Have a GREAT DAY and remember....

YOU ARE #1 IN YOUR LIFE!!!!

Take control and live a HEALTHIER, HAPPIER LIFE!!

God Speed!!
Tony