10 Steps to Single Digit Jeans

1.  GET MAD!!!

In order to tackle this problem you need motivation from whatever source you can muster. And let’s face it….anger generates it! A little anger can go a long way towards motivating you! When I decided I was fed up with my size, I got mad!! I mean I declared WAR on FAT!! I made up my mind!! I started looking at food in a different way….when I would see fattening food, I would see it as the very evil that kept me from the fabulous bod I longed for! I saw that it kept me from feeling good about me and therefore was a barrier to my happiness. I saw that it was SO NOT WORTH IT! This is how I talked myself out of food that tempted me and that I knew would prevent me from reaching my goals.

2.  MAKE A DECISION!!!

Once you get mad, you need to make the DECISION to take action. This decision means that you are going to make your health, self esteem, and fitness a priority. When you make this decision, you will instantly gain some self esteem and self respect. Because you have moved from the ranks of just talking about it, to deciding to DO IT!! This self respect will provide you with MORE motivation to start your health/fitness plan. When you take ACTION, you will be standing up for yourself and what you want and that is important. It does something to your psyche. These good feelings will in turn, motivate you more.

3.  ASK FOR HELP

God made you and He made your body and He desires for you to take good care of that body…”Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” I Corin. 6:19-20. Who better than God can help you stick with your plan of taking better care of yourself? Ask Him!

4.  HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE!

Get rid of the word “can’t” from your vocabulary. That word stinks!! And it robs you of anything good you might want to do with your life. Repeat this scripture 10 times daily!! “I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil. 4:13

5.  START SLOW…

This is not a “kill yourself in the first week” kind of thing. In fact, if you do too much too soon, you will get sore and discouraged. Take baby steps at first unless you are the GI Jane type. Look at it long term. This is a lifestyle change and it will become that but you must prepare your mind to realize that it will not happen overnight. Longevity and consistency are key here. Give yourself that pep talk everyday…..of how great you are going to look and feel. Visualize the figure you want and see yourself that size!!

6.  DECIDE WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO DO IT IN THE DAY

I prefer the lunch hour for two great reasons. It deters me from being tempted to “eat out” and I get my workout done during the workday so when I get home, I am through! If you have children, this might work best for you. On weekends, I workout whenever I want to. Whatever you decide to do, plan it into your day like a meal, a shower, or your work. It is simply something you have to do during your day.  Pick an activity you like to do.  If you don't know what you like, try something.


7.  SET YOUR SIGHTS ON A GOAL

Set realistic and reasonable goals for yourself like….(I’m going to go from a size 14 to a size 12 within two months)…..or….(I’m going to lose 5 lbs. in one month). Or, (I’m going to do 20-30 minutes of cardio at least 5 days a week). What is your dream weight that you would like to be? How long do you think it will take you to get there?

8.  DON’T TELL ANYONE YOU DON’T HAVE TO TELL!

Don’t make a New Year’s resolution for losing weight! You don’t need the added pressure of shouting to the world what you are going to do. You only need to convince and prove this to one person. YOURSELF!!! LOVE yourself enough to DO THIS for yourself!! Then, when the weight starts coming off, believe me, people will NOTICE!! 

9.  COME UP WITH AN EATING PLAN YOU CAN LIVE WITH

No starving allowed as this will only discourage you, and you will in turn pig out. I started out with the following eating plan and have stuck to it for the most part. Now, I can deviate whenever I want. In the beginning, I would stick to the plan. This is my plan and it works. I didn’t get it out of any diet book. I just picked things I liked to eat that were low cal and went from there.

Breakfast: Quaker Oatmeal for Weight Control (it is labeled as such). Tip: microwave after adding a good bit of water. This makes the oatmeal swell and gives a larger portion.

Lunch: One packet Starkist marinated tuna (I like hickory smoked) with some low-fat wheat thin crackers. Then eat a big bowl of any kind of fresh fruit you like or a mixture of it (strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, grapes, cherries, banana, melons).

Dinner: Eat some protein (chicken or fish or eggs) and some vegetables. If you have a sweet tooth, eat some more fruit. Or even just eat a bowl of cereal. I probably am not eating as many vegetables right now as I should, but I still got good results.


10.  GET YOURSELF SOME GOOD WORKOUT SHOES/CLOTHES:

A great pair of walking and/or jogging shoes will help insure success. (I like Asics and Reeboks). You need to be comfortable. A good sports bra, sweats, etc. is nice also. If you can only afford one thing, get the shoes. The rest is optional.

NOW GO GET ‘EM!!!



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