Lose Weight and Keep it Off

While I had intentions to start my squat challenge last week, nothing happened. I set the time in the diary and then all my timings went to pot. I tried this three days in the row, and every day I kept finding myself behind. It got to the point that I was stressed and tired about missing everything that I'd set; that I wasn't even getting any needed breaks throughout the day. For those who don't know, I work from home. I'm a freelance writer and now I've become an editor on a variety of sites. While I completely love my job, it does take up a lot of my time. The more I sit at the desk, the more I realize just why I'm so overweight. But trying to find a life balance in my weight loss journey--or even add my weight loss journey into my life--isn't easy. I'm done beating myself up for not sticking to a plan. Quite honestly, my weight loss is the last thing on my mind at the moment. I really wish I was at least two dress sizes smaller. I want to be ...

It’s the middle of the month. This is the point where people start to fall off the wagon. They forget about their weight loss goals or may find that their goals are no longer relevant. I’m a great believer that goals are the key to success. You may have found they haven’t helped in the past, but be honest with yourself. Have they not helped because you didn’t think they were worthwhile reaching or because you started making excuses? If you don’t make goals, how do you know you’ve achieved something? How do you know when you’ve reached the end of your weight loss journey? The truth is you don’t! You’re more likely to not even bother because you don’t have goals in the first place. But what about when those weight loss goals are no longer relevant? What about when your life takes a different direction? Back in January, my weight loss goals involved the Weight Watchers diet. I wanted to get back to my pre-baby weight. Eight months later I have completely different goals...

There are so many diets out there that it begs the question why I chose to follow the Weight Watchers plan. If you’re thinking about losing weight, you want a plan that you know will work but there are so many other factors involved. The truth is I tried different plans. I’ve done Slimming World and I tried the Atkin’s Diet. Out of all the plans I’ve tried, Weight Watchers is the only one that I’ve found real success with. Here’s why I decided the Weight Watchers diet was worth a try when I started my recent weight loss journey on September 21, 2012. I’ve Tried It Before I know Weight Watchers works. I’ve done it in the past and I even got to my goal weight. By wait, I’ve had to do it again, so surely it doesn’t work? Well, between then and now, I went off track and had a baby, which didn’t really help. Before trying it the first time it was a friend who suggested it. I then found out my mum had done it in the past and found success, so it was time to give it a try...

It’s coming up to Christmas and the New Year, so it’s time to look back over the past year. I’ve already given you tips to handle your Christmas weight loss and next week I’ll be here giving tips for your 2014 weight loss. This year has been a successful one for me. I reached my goal, and I’ve managed to deal big events and control cravings. There have been weeks I’ve gained—and sometimes unexpectedly—but they’ve helped me reassess my weight loss goals and get back on track. There have definitely been points where I've been down. Part of my wishes that I tracked on paper as well as online. That would have allowed me to write my thoughts and feelings, to know if there was a pattern to them. Unfortunately, I didn't, but it's something I'm going to start doing for 2014. I may even use this blog to share those thoughts and feelings more than once a week. Exercise has been the biggest problem. It's not that I don't want to do exercise. I've just ...

Drink water to lose more weight Water on its own is not a healthy way to lose weight. However, drinking water is essential if you want to live a healthy life. It can also aid your weight loss journey. In fact, the main reason you struggle to lose weight, especially those last few pounds, is because your body is dehydrated. It starts to act in strange ways when it doesn’t get enough. You Start to Retain Water When you don’t drink enough, your body retains water. This makes you feel bloated and you tend to gain weight because of it. This is why during the first couple of weeks of weight loss you will find that your weight drops considerably—you will get enough water for your body to survive and it won’t feel the need to retain it. Yes, there is such a thing as too much water. If you drink too much, your body naturally retains the excess because it doesn’t need it. Two litres of water per day is the optimum amount for your body to survive but up to four litres is gene...

Make losing weight and having a coffee easier to deal with Have you ever tried to enjoy a tea or coffee on a diet? Whether you have it at home or you go out with friends, it can seem like hell trying to make it fit into your weight loss plan. A tea or coffee break is always seen as the time to have a treat—usually a biscuit or two (or the whole packet!) or a cake. It is possible to enjoy your coffee on a diet. Yes, honest! Here are a few tricks so your coffee break is still weight loss friendly. Only Take the Number of Snacks Allowed for the Day If it’s at work, limit yourself to only taking the amount of snacks you are allowed for the day. If you want others, take healthy ones with you. Vegetable sticks with a hummus dip or a handful of nuts are so much better than biscuits or cake. Are the snacks readily available in the workplace? Keep them out of reach. You’re less likely to get up for another snack (and be seen doing it) than if they were just in reach...