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Monthly Archives: January 2013

Thoughts As The New Year Gets Underway

11 Jan

As the new year gets into full swing, undoubtedly the memories of the holidays are growing distant with each passing day. Perhaps the excitement of the new year and the promise it held is starting to wane.

Maybe you’re already struggling with your weight loss goals or feel like giving up because you haven’t seen visible results yet. To you, I say don’t quit. Losing weight, becoming healthier is a process. It won’t happen over night. Believe me it will happen. Just trust the process.

What’s the process? For me, it was focusing more on nutrition. Don’t get me wrong I exercise and that’s part of it. However, you can’t out train a bad diet. I’ve said it countless times. Losing weight is 80% nutrition. Most people focus on the 20%. I began focusing more on the 80% and that has led to sustained weight loss.

If you’re having trouble with the 80%, below are three adjustments that helped me the most with my nutrition. I didn’t do them all at once. Gradually over time, I incorporated them. By doing that, over time positive habits were created which led to results.

1. Water Water Water
Water is amazing! Make it a habit to drink 8 cups of water daily. If you can’t drink 8
cups at first, start with whatever you can and increase it over time. Dehydration and
hunger feel similar. If you feel hungry, drink a glass of water. If you’re still hungry
after that, then eat.

2. Spices
Learn to use spices and herbs to season food instead of salt. Sodium doesn’t help with
weight loss. The spices (Paprika, garlic powder, basil, thyme, etc) are full of flavor and
low in calories.

3. Proper Portion Size
Learn proper portion size. The quicker the better. We unknowingly consume more calories
than we think simply because of portion size.

Those are probably the most effective changes I made. Try them out. I’d love to hear how they worked for you. Also, share with me some your weight loss tips.I’d love to hear those too!

 
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Posted by on 01/11/2013 in Uncategorized

 

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I Don’t Like New Year Resolutions

03 Jan

I like this time of year. Excitement abounds at the possibilities of the new year and what it holds. Futures seem brighter. Impossible things seem possible. It really is a magical time in my opinion. However, in copying the words of Charles Dickens – “It’s the best of times and it’s the worst of times.”

Why do I say that? Well, the best of times because of the possibility of the new year. The idea that this year can (and should) better than the last. The feeling that brighter days are within reach. The idea that this year can transform your life!

The worst of times because of New Years Resolutions. Often times we make far-fetched resolutions. They’re done with good intentions. At least mine were. They were hard unrealistic to keep. Mine usually came from a place of guilt. Guilt because over indulgence from Thanksgiving through Christmas. (I’m only speaking of resolutions regarding weight loss.) Guilt combined with unrealistic resolutions,placed me directly behind the eight ball from the very beginning of the year. That’s why I don’t like New Year Resolutions.

They didn’t work for me. Honestly, my resolutions had a very short shelf life. By the end of February, they were all but forgotten.

The past two new years I haven’t made one resolution. I haven’t vowed to do anything. What I have done is set a vision of where I want to be 12 months later. Once I had the vision, I created a process that put me on the path to my vision. Along the way, I set goals to keep me focused.

This approach is by far more impactful for me. I was freed from the guilt of “messing up” on my resolutions. I was able to understand that the process was 12 months not one or two bad high calorie meals or two or three missed workouts. Most importantly I had the feeling of “everything would be okay.”

If you find yourself struggling with your weight loss resolutions early in the year, try my approach. I can’t guarantee it will work for you. I can guarantee that if you work for it and remember it’s a process, you’ll accomplish your goals!

Happy 2013!!

 
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Posted by on 01/03/2013 in Inspirational

 

Glancing Back and Looking Forward

01 Jan

hny

2012 is nearing an end. There have been many changes this year for me. New job, new city, new state. The last few months have been ridiculously crazy for me. Lots of travel, long work hours, figuring out how to squeeze exercise in all of that.

That’s when it hit me. I have truly gone from losing weight to being healthy and living healthier. When I started this blog, I was nervous about being so transparent. Honestly though it’s been one of the best things I could have done.

While I didn’t write as much towards the end of the year, I’ll be writing more, doing more with the blog in 2013. My goal is to grow the blog next year. (I’m not completely sure what that means.) So if you have any ideas on what you’d like to see. What I can do better or topics about which you’d like me to write, by all means email me, tweet me, facebook me, etc…

I’m excited about 2013. I’ve lost 101 lbs so far. I’ve set my goals for 2013 and will be pursuing them!! I hope you do the same! Your dreams and goals are definitely worth the chase!!

Thank you all for sharing this journey with me. Your e-mails, words of encouragement, questions, criticism have helped me tremendously. I appreciate you all so much!!

Here’s to a fantastic 2013. May it be filled with all your heart’s desires!!

-Antuan

 
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Posted by on 01/01/2013 in Inspirational, Weight Loss

 
 
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