Sigh … did you eat love much as I did this year?!?  Whew!  My mother-in-law is an amazing cook/baker and since we spent Christmas with them we ate well!  BUT like many of you I want to stay healthy and fit so where is the balance?  I understand that behind having my 2nd daughter I put on 40 pounds.  It was overwhelming to think about loosing weight except I knew it had to be done. I used Weight Watchers and walking to slack weight. I learned some things along the way and thought I would share them with you. 

1.  When starting my “diet” I gave myself a week to get my mind and body used to the idea.  Sometimes we get into eating habits that we aren’t aware of.  I would find myself snacking and that snack had put me through my everyday allotted points.  So I gave myself grace and knew for tomorrow I need to watch myself that I didn’t snack.  After my week of “grace” was up I found that I did better on my “diet” since my mind had get used to the idea.  Before I would have quit after one day of trying to loose weight because i had already failed for that day.

2. Exercise is so important! We know the benefits but sometimes it is hard to even start.  So … what do you enjoy?  What did you enjoy as a kid? In order to WANT to do exercise you have to have motivation.  I know that I love to dance so dancing became part of what I did every week. Not only did I have fun but I gave my heart a good workout and I truly didn’t notice that I was “exercising”.

3. I used to walk every morning. During my pregnancy I was super sick so I had to stop.  Trying to start again was soooooo hard. I had to study to receive child steps.  I would start just walking to the end of the street and back.  Then the following week I would go to the next bar then the next block etc.  I did the same thing when I wanted to start jogging.  I set small goals each week and that way I did not feel like I was failing and thus want to quit. 

The most improtant thing is to not give up. Each day take small steps. You don’t become an athlet overnight … it takes time.  Set small goals for yourself.  Give yourself grace and know that it is possible.  You can do it … I trust in you.

Here are some tips that our HAWT MAMAS have:

From Kirstie:

In 15 months I’ve lost 27kgs (just over 50lbs) and turned my life around. What worked for me was learning about calories and good food in general. Things that I thought were good weren’t and were high in calories. My diet is full of fruit and veg and with the least processed foods as possible. Then you have to move your body. I started at the gym 3 days a week during the day when one kid was at academy and I put the other 2 in the gyms kids club. I then switched to going at 5am for 2 hours 5 days a week before the kids woke up and DH would get them breakfast and dressed. I do weights cardio machines and boxing/fight classes.

Basically that’s what it comes down to power in (food) versus energy out (exercise) that’s the only way to keep it off long term.

I’m also now doing a course that will have me be a Qualified Personal Trainer in a couple of months time

From Stacey:

Drinking a lot of water is another large one along with 4-5 small meals instead of 3 big ones

From NeeNee:

I am just beginning a program that worked for me 3 years ago. I only eat 1200 calories per day consisting of lots of natural clean foods. Such as fruits veggies turkey bosom skim cheeses entire wheat breads and pastas etc. I also consume about 64 oz. of water per day. I job out 5 days per week consisting of 3 heavy cardio days and 2 light cardio and weight toning days. When I did this program before I lost 25 pounds in 4 months and I kept it off on a modified program where I just increased my calories to 1500 per day. This worked so well for me and I found it easy to do as I didn’t have to cut out foods I love. I just had to learn control in portion sizes. The key to this program is to burn more calories than you take in.

Do you have any great tips for us?  If so leave a comment! You never know who’s life you might change forever!  On this note have a happy safe and healthier New Year!!