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Today is my first try writing into this journal since I became a fatsecert member in 2007 (yes, I'm still struggling with my weight). I always thought it would be silly, but after reading different kinds of journal entries, as well as, many helpful books related to losing weight I found out that writing definitely will help us to maintain us motivated not only physically, but also mentally which I think it’s the best asset we can use to achieve our weight loss goal.
My story isn’t a successful story yet, that’s right! I have been struggling with my weight all my life since I was a little kid. In a way, I’m pretty sure is because I have always liked food and I’m not just talking about junk food. I’m someone who enjoys any type of food from different countries around the world, especially ethnic food. As a consequence, I became someone with 130 lb. overweight, the maximum weight I had ever been in whole my life. Most of the time and during different periods of my life it made me really sad with myself, but suddenly I ignored it and moved on, so i continued gaining more weight. Now days, I can tell that isn’t a good idea, because you end up weighing more, buying bigger clothes, feeling sorry about yourself, and blaming you for being like that.
I restarted my weight loss journey on July 17th, 2013. I know it’s little time to try to motivate others, but I can truly tell that if people can change their mind, they will be able to change their body. On that day of July I went to the doctor’s office because of a huge pain in my lower back that was killing me. The doctor told me it was fibromyalgia, which it’s really weird in men, so she prescribed me Pregalex, a similar medicine to Lyrica that it is supposed to help control fibromyalgia symptoms. Meanwhile she was explaining me about it; I was thinking “I cannot live with fibromyalgia… I need to do something by myself to end with it somehow, because fibromyalgia might be caused by a lot of stress, and being sedentary, etc.” Also, she found out that my blood pressure was high and she imagined that my blood sugar and cholesterol were high as well. Good guess! At the end, I felt really scared when she told me that I could die any time soon if I didn’t take care of my health.
After seven days, I lost 13 lb., and the following week (July 24th, 2013) 5 lb. more. Now, I don't have any pain in my lower back (I’m not taking Pregalex anymore), I am feeling better, and moving faster. At this moment, I’m going to a different doctor who is treating me for the high blood pressure, and ordered me to get some tests and exams to check my heart, liver, and etc.
What am I doing? Well, I drastically changed my meals system. I have found this one-meal-replacement shake from AMWAY called Nutrishake (I use this brand, because it’s the best I could find in my country, you can use whatever good one you can find near you, but check the nutrition facts) I replaced my breakfast and my diner with one at a time (2 per day). In addition to that, I’m having one mid-morning snack which can be a small portion of fruit and one afternoon snack like 8 almonds, or 8 walnuts, or a few baby carrots with NATURAL peanut/almond butter cream, or a small portion of Greek yogurt with 2 tsps. of honey, or etc. For lunch I have a well-balanced meal that includes proteins, little amounts of carbs or sometimes none, a lot of vegetables, and some fruit. I never eat fruits after lunch, so my body won’t receive more sugar until the next day. The idea is to control my calories intake and burn sugars meanwhile my metabolism is still high. I do this from Monday to Sunday, but I treat myself on Saturday’s lunch by being able to eat a normal or regular food including some dessert, but I always avoid junk food, greasy food, and never have a second serving. I would rather a really good homemade food where you can control the amount of salt, oils, etc.
Of course! I’m working out, but in the easiest way as possible (effective), because I have no time to go to the gym. Last time, more than two years ago, I paid for three month to slim down some pounds for my wedding, guess what? I just went once. Hence, instead of losing weight, I gained it, so that was sad. I wake up every morning and after give thanks for a new day alive I begin with the Tabata System, it's a 4 minutes program. With this, I work a specific exercise, like marching as fast as I can for 20 seconds then, rest for 10 seconds and start again with other exercise like doing boxing movements as fast as I can for 20 seconds, and repeat with two more different exercises like jumping jacks with no impact and squats. When I finish the first set of 4 different exercises, I rest for 10 seconds and I restart all over again. The whole workout will takes me 4 minutes.
Work 20secs – Rest 10secs
Work 20secs – Rest 10secs
Work 20secs – Rest 10secs
Work 20secs – Rest 10secs
Work 20secs – Rest 10secs
Work 20secs – Rest 10secs
Work 20secs – Rest 10secs
Work 20secs – Rest 10secs
I had found a free app that is called HIIT Interval Training, it helps me a lot. Also, I use it to workout biceps, triceps, shoulders, etc. using dumbbells.
During my lunch time I go almost every day for a 15-20 minute walk. By doing this, it not only helps me to lose weight or increase my metabolism, but also it will help my mind and body to relieve from stress, which cause some extra pounds.
To sum up, I can tell you that by facing my weight problem, going to the doctor’s office for a general exam, decreasing my calorie intake (replacing two meals at least for a few months, then I’m planning just to replace one meal), consuming a lot and different kind of vegetables, moving my body all the time plus the Tabata System I will be able to reach my small goals and finally maintain my ideal weight.
REMEMBER: The most important thing before starting a new weight loss program and physical exercise is that should be approved by your doctor who is the only one qualified to know what is appropriate for each person condition.
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