Natural Weight Loss Giveaway

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Back in January, I shared with you that I had been on a natural weight loss journey for nearly three years (at that time). Since then, I've met one of my milestones (100 pounds lost). It's been a journey that has changed me inside and out. Today, I'm sharing a little update with how I've tailored my plan to really fit my own lifestyle. I've got lots of tips and tricks for you below, if you're embarking on your own natural weight loss journey. Plus, a giveaway!

While I still have a bit more to lose, 100 pounds down was definitely one the milestones I was working towards. I actually hit the mark last month, but with the way I tend to lose (up a bit, down a bit, and back and forth), I wanted to wait until it actually stuck and I was able to surpass the 100 pounds before I shared the news. I've been holding steady for a few weeks now, around 103 pounds down, total. See some of my before and after photos, enter the giveaway, and check out my natural weight loss tips below.

Natural Weight Loss

With this being more of a creative blog, in nature, I wasn't sure that I'd ever actually share anything about this health journey I embarked on three and a half years ago. However, the reason I decided to go for it (initially back in January) was to possibly help anyone else who is considering a natural weight loss journey. When you have a good deal of weight to lose, it can be very overwhelming to start out. But, friends, I can tell you from experience that it definitely can be done...and it can last and stay off, too (and not be miserable in the process). It's so worth the effort!

I look back at the top two left and center photos and am kind of in shock. I honestly barely remember that girl on the far left. I had recovered from thyroid cancer in 2010 and was facing the idea of taking all the weight off from that ordeal. Instead of taking it off, more went on and I found myself in a really tough cycle. Fast forward to the spring of 2016 when my mother-in-law was telling me about the plan she was on. I started the Trim Healthy Mama plan shortly after that...and today, 100 pounds is gone (for good!). I took the middle photo about a year into the plan. I lost very slowly at first, but since then, it has come off a bit easier. The photo on the right was taken two days ago. 

I won't go into my actual plan today, since I've already shared it in detail. I posted about it here in my initial Trim Healthy Mama Weight Loss post. Today, I'm sharing how I've been able to keep the losing up, tweak the program a bit to match my lifestyle, my three favorite cookbooks (I'm giving them away, too!), as well as my favorite books and podcasts that motivate me.

Tips for Natural Weight Loss

These are some of the tips and tricks we've picked up in the past three and a half years. Definitely some are kind of tailored to our own lifestyle. However, I love hearing what other folks do, too, so I thought I'd share it all.

Find a Plan You Love and Make it Your Own

• And if you're not a "plan person", then just really work to eat smart and make good choices...make that your plan. I'm a person that needs a few guidelines so I don't go off the rails, so a plan of sorts was something I needed.
• Since we started this journey on Trim Healthy Mama, we've definitely tailored it to fit our own life. We now do a lot of what they call "crossover" meals. And we allow ourselves a few more starchy vegetables (butternut squash, carrots, etc.) than they normally have on their system. But, we've definitely made it work for our lifestyle.
• Whatever you do, own it. And then learn which ways you can bend here and there. I have tweaked a lot about the way we eat, and I now know what my limits are and where I can enjoy certain things a bit more.
• Don't forget water as a part of your plan. I drink a lot of water and decaf iced tea all day long...it's a huge part of the system. I also have three cups of green tea every day.
• Find a plan where you don't feel deprived, even when dining out. I did lots of other plans for years, but the deprivation was always there. This plan is something I know I can even enjoy at a restaurant.
• To cheat or not to cheat? I've learned that I am not one of those people who can have a cheat day. I can have a cheat meal maybe once a month, but I don't call it that. It's still a sensible meal, but maybe it has a few more carbs than I'd normally have. And often, it's not even an entire meal...maybe just a piece of baguette or a non-low-carb tortilla or two with my meal.

Don't Go It Alone

• My husband joined me in this journey about six months into it. He has lost sixty pounds (that was him before on the left and then this past summer on the right).
• If you don't have a significant other (or one that is ready to jump on a weight loss bandwagon) find a friend or a support group of sorts. I utilize the Trim Healthy Mama Facebook groups and also a small group of friends on there in another (more intimate) group. My husband didn't join me until I was already well into the journey, so I utilized these groups a lot prior to that (and I still do, as well).
• Since my mother-in-law was the person who introduced me to this, she's another member of my weight loss tribe. I will send her photos from time to time and she's always encouraging. It's also nice that when we visit them, she always has goodies on hand that work for us.

Workout Accountability

Besides a buddy on the eating-end of things, a workout partner is another great idea to hold yourself accountable. There are a few other ideas for workout accountability listed below, as well.

• I am a walker; it's my sole exercise. While at times, I will get my walk in on my own (I walk about six miles a day, so that can be a long walk when you're on your own), I also have a walking buddy. 
• My friend, Sandy, lives in my neighborhood and most weekday mornings we walk together for about an hour and a half. It's a great way to start the day.
• On days when we don't meet up, I will often divide my walk and do half in the morning on my own and the other half with my husband when he gets home. 
• Don't be shy about asking others what they do for exercise. After walking with Sandy for a bit, she has shared with me other things she does (weights, etc.) that have helped. I've been trying to put some of these things into practice, as well.
• Get a step counter or movement tracker of sorts. I have an inexpensive knock-off counter that I've literally used for almost two years straight. I use it to track miles and steps. It is definitely a basic version of these sorts of devices, but I grabbed it here on Amazon. It has other functions, but I've literally never utilized them.
• Get some movement daily. 
• On previous diets and journeys, I would work out 3-4 times a week. I didn't pay attention to the off days. That really didn't work for me, in the end. 
• Now, I make sure to get 12,000-14,000 steps at least five days a week. On the two days where I don't get that amount of steps (usually Sundays and one day during the week that is busier or work heavy), I make sure I get half of that (usually 6,000 steps, minimum). That can easily be a quick after-dinner walk with my husband. And it still feels like a day off, honestly.
• This daily movement is one of those rules that gradually become a joy. I'm not saying I didn't hate walking at first...especially in the Texas heat. I didn't love it until about a year into doing it regularly. It just took time to click with me. But even when loathing it, I didn't give it up, and eventually, I looked forward to it (I never thought I'd be one of those people). I walk fairly vigorously and have recently added leg weights to my daily walks, too. It truly is a stress reliever and something I really need daily. 
• Find what works for you. If you don't like to walk, consider other things that are easily doable (i.e.: don't require a lot of special equipment, etc.). I like walking because I can do it practically anywhere (I even walk our mall or hospital in inclement weather...you'd be surprised how many people walk hospitals for steps!).

Don't Use Vacations or Holidays as an Excuse for Cheating

This probably seems harsh, but hear me out. Once your health journey is something you actually enjoy and don't feel constricted by, incorporating it into your entire life (not just the days when you have that "perfect schedule") will not be as hard as you think. This didn't come easy for me at first. I would live for Thanksgiving and Christmas back in my old dieting days...I'd easily put on 20 pounds between those two holidays. And don't get me started on vacations...I lived to eat my way through those. But, now, we're just more sensible about it and enjoy things in a different manner.

• Incorporate exercise as a part of a vacation. Continue to meet your exercise goals daily. Most of the trips we take are oriented toward sight-seeing, so this is easy to obtain.
• If at all possible, avoid renting a car and try to walk everywhere or take public transportation. Even utilizing public transportation always gets us a lot of steps in between stops, up and down subway stairs, and from our hotel to whatever means of transportation we need to catch.
• In the above photo, our entire trip centered around walking. We love New York City and have always enjoyed the bridges there. We planned an entire trip around walking as many NYC bridges as we could...and it was one of my favorite trips ever. Each day, we walked multiple bridges. It was fun navigating our way to each of these landmarks, figuring out how to walk them, taking photos, and then actually walking across. And, yes, I even made us dorky t-shirts to commemorate the trip. I actually shared a great deal about this trip in my saved stories on my personal Instagram account.
• We would walk between 12-15 miles each day on that trip. It allowed us to indulge a bit more with our food without guilt. We didn't go too crazy, but I can say that pasta and dessert were had one day.
• Find seasonal fruits and veggies that are local to the place you're visiting. This is actually quite enjoyable!
• If you feel like you're missing out on vacation eating, indulge in one "fun" meal per day or just a couple of meals for the trip. Or, split something. Order a couple of side salads and then split an entree (and maybe even dessert).
• For holiday meals, find festive foods that fit within your plan, but are still a holiday treat. I have lots of cookies, bar recipes, and other indulgences that we only make around the holidays, but they're still on our particular plan. I listed them out in my post about my Trim Healthy Mama journey. 

The above was another one from our bridge tour! The Brooklyn Bridge isn't crowded before 7 am. And we walked from there over to the Manhattan Bridge and crossed them both before 8am. It was one of the highlights of the trip to get up early that day and take on the city.

Other Resources I Use

Besides the obvious plan resources and cookbooks (listed below), I have a few other things that keep me motivated.

• Good workout clothing: I buy new walking shoes every 4-5 months. I also try to find stylish workout gear that makes me happy (and has a pocket for my phone, my biggest requirement). 
• A subscription to Audible: I often listen to books while I walk and Audible is perfect. My favorite motivational lifestyle books that are available on Audible:
• French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano
• Choosing the Simply Luxurious Life: A Modern Woman's Guide by Shannon Ables
• Great Podcasts: when I am not listening to books, I listen to a podcast. One of my favorite lifestyle podcasts is from The Simple Sophisticate. She has great healthy-living tips woven throughout that I always find helpful.

Find Recipes you LOVE!

• I shared a lot of my favorite recipes in my previous weight loss post, but I wanted to share the cookbooks I utilize, as well.
• Below are the top three cookbooks that I use every week (I do enjoy cooking and this plan is perfect for that). My top three books are:
• Trim Healthy Table (from the THM sisters)
• This cookbook is only for those on their specific plan...it would be confusing on its own. Their plan book can be found here on Amazon.
• Necessary Food from Briana Thomas
• This is also THM-specific, but doesn't require as many "unique" ingredients. My entire family enjoys recipes in this one. 
• Against All Grain from Danielle Walker
• I ordered this on a whim, but I love it. It is a bit more prep and ingredients, but I enjoy being in the kitchen. I'm able to make her recipes easily fit our plan, too.

Cookbook Giveaway

In celebration of this milestone, I'm giving away these three cookbooks to one reader!

How to Enter the Giveaway:

• It's super simple, leave me a comment letting me know your best natural weight loss tips on this post. Be sure your name is in your comment's profile or leave it in the comment.
• The winner will be announced in two weeks, by email and via Facebook. If the winner doesn't claim their prize, another winner will be chosen.
• Residents only from the continental US are eligible.

Thanks so much for stopping by and following along on my journey. As soon as I hit the next milestone, I'll be sure to update!