#THROWBACKTHURSDAY Working On Weight Loss & Forming Good Habits

I believe every woman wants to be and feel beautiful. For me, that means living with a healthy weight and maintaining that weight for the rest of my life. That also means I am in a battle with myself to lose sixty pounds and honey, it has NOT been easy!



WHAT I’M GIVING UP & GIVING INTO IN 2017

Since January, I’ve been under a doctor’s care to lose sixty pounds with diet, exercise and changing my lifestyle of eating. It was super hard in January, ultra hard in February and slowly getting easier in March. I struggle with eating late at night and sweets. As everyday poses its own problems, I have been counting calories, making better food choices, drinking more water and eating smaller portions with good snacks in-between meals. 

Scientists say it takes 66 days to form a habit or a lifestyle change and they are not wrong. Habits are created and you have to work at them, so as my 66th day is this Saturday, (yes, I actually put it on my calendar) and here’s what I’m talking about:

According to Charles Duhigg, author of “The Power of Habit,” habits are not born, but created. Every bad, good or insignificant habit starts with a psychological pattern called a “habit loop.” Duhigg reported to NPR, the “habit loop” is a three-part process. The first step is the trigger that tells your brain to let a certain behavior unfold. The second step is the behavior itself, or the routine it creates. The third step is the reward, or “something that your brain likes that helps it remember the ‘habit loop’ in the future.” Elite Daily

10 TIPS FOR SUCCESSFULLY KICKING FOOD CRAVINGS

I am working on four habits: 

Counting calories

Documenting what I eat (myfitnesspal & Fitbit)

Making better food choices

Using a better eating schedule

Sounds like a lot but it really isn’t when you understand how they all work together to allow me to lose weight and maintain. I’ve lost weight in the past but didn’t really change my bad eating patterns so it came back. This time I refuse to allow this to happen. I’m 46 and will be 47 in September. My metabolism is NOT what it used to be and I’m not happy with my body. There…I said it. I’m not happy with my body. 

That’s why you mostly just see head shots of me. It’s also why I chose that featured pic up above as a reminder to myself what I used to look like and why I am doing this. I’m also doing this for better health but to say looks has nothing to do with it would be a bold-face lie! I am well on my way to being beautiful as I call it and I’ve lost 14 pounds so far. 



MUST YOU GAIN WEIGHT AS YOU AGE?

Let me tell you, it was and still is hard! I am struggling and I work at this everyday and I am finding new foods, meals and mindsets to keep me going. My mother, who is in her 70’s, has the metabolism of a 20 year old and can lose weight at the drop of a hat. That ain’t me because every year makes this process harder and I’m afraid if I don’t do it now, I will never lose the weight.

So, my #throwbackthrusday is of me and hubby at an Essence Fest of many years ago because I will be getting back into my sexiness soon enough. I plan on losing the reminder of my sixty pounds by my birthday but on Saturday I’ll be rewarding myself for sticking to this lifestyle change for 66 days. My next habit forming challenge will be working out and that starts Monday and yes, that is going on my calendar too. 

I’m on myfitnesspal and Fitbit and you can get to my profile from either link and I love cheering on friends so follow and I will follow back! If you need encouragement, I’m full of it right now so let’s make 2017 all about losing weight and making great habits!

Sabrina