We have all struggled with weight loss and that is okay. Life happens. The hardest part about losing weight is actually trying. This post was created to help you develop new habits instead of keeping you abreast of the latest trends.
The 3 C’s – Cardio, Commitment and Cleanse
Cardio
Cardio, or any exercise that raises your heart rate, should always be a part of your daily routine. This includes running, jogging, swimming , jump rope and cycling. Cardio doesn’t always have to be a vigorous activity. Did you know that taking short walks throughout the workday counts as cardio?
Staying active at least thirty minutes a day can:
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Improve balance
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Reduce the risk of heart disease
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Strengthen your bones
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Support your joints
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Contribute to weight loss
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Improve sleeping habits
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Lighten your mood
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Tone muscle
Commitment
Health serves as he main purpose for my weight loss. Of course everyone wants to look good but the ultimate goal for me is to lose unhealthy weight and maintain my progress. The hardest part of my weight loss journey was commitment. When I decided to make a drastic change back in September 2018 it took three months for me to finally stay committed and persistent in reaching my goals
Contributing factors:
Fitness Tracker/Accountability – My sister purchased a fitness tracker for me over the holidays and let me tell you, this has played a major role in keeping me persistent. It can be easy to forget to drink your daily recommended amount of water, keep active and track your weight loss progress.
With a fitness tracker you can log this information on a daily basis and monitor your progress. Honestly, the fitness tracker is easy to use and fun in my opinion. It’s almost like I am playing a game and competing with myself. I think that is what makes it entertaining to me.
Before and After Photos – Taking before and after photos can be very helpful. It was not until the month of December that I wanted to give up after three months of going to the gym and noticing no progress. I thought that a gym membership would make me feel more inclined to go to the gym to exercise but it didn’t. Around mid-December I felt like I did not make any progress at all after checking my weight and it was exactly the same as when I started off.
I wanted to cry. Something told me to look at my old photos from back in August last year and I am ecstatic that I did! It wasn’t much of a difference but I noticed my body had become more toned although I was the same weight. When you are feeling down please take a look at those old photos for boosts of encouragement (whether they’re from this year, last year or two years ago). Never give up.
The Scale – Being committed means staying away from the scale as much as possible. Checking the scale too often can be discouraging if you are gaining muscle and not losing any pounds (I learned this the hard way). Try checking the scale once a week on the same day to get a more accurate reading of your weight.
Initiate – Stop making excuses, just get up and do it! It really is that simple. Thats right, there is no big secret. All you have to do in order to lose weight is try.
Cleanse
Many of the foods that we eat are processed. Naturally, our bodies crave fruits, vegetables and water. It can be very hard to consume your recommend amount of produce and water on a daily basis. In order to succeed it is important to stay way from processed foods.
Try substituting these processed foods:
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Canned fruits and vegetables for fresh produce.
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Potatoes instead of potato chips.
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Candy and sweets for banana chips and dried fruit.
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Water instead of soda.
If you’re looking for something drastic try and want to go all out try a green smoothie cleanse for seven to ten days. Here are the benefits:
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More energy
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Detoxification
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Weightloss
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Healthy, glowing skin.
After completing the green smoothie cleanse I feel like a new person. I highly recommend it as a jump start to your weight loss. It is very important to rid your body of toxins if processed foods are consumed.This past January, I lost 11 pounds by completing the cleanse and doing cardio for the duration of the ten days.
25 Down 20 to Go
Weight loss is a very tricky subject, there are a lot of things that you have to take into consideration. I was able to lose my first 25 pounds after completing at least 30 minutes of cardio a day, staying committed, and cleansing my body of toxins through green smoothie cleanses once a month. Again, the only way to lose weight is to try. Start off small by setting goals for yourself through your fitness tracker (or even write them down with pen and paper) and gradually work your way up to your ultimate goal. The benefits will always outweigh the temporary fixes.
