Today’s Inspiration | Don’t chase quick weight loss. Focus on lasting lifestyle change. I doesn’t matter what you call it: dieting, getting healthy, et. If you can’t commit to living a lifestyle that will help you maintain the healthy results that you work so hard to achieve, what is the point? Most of us have all lost pound after pound just to see it come right back after a few months. By making choices that will be with you for a lifetime and developing new habits that you can live with, you can give yourself a leg up on maintaining your victory.
Eat Real Food
Today’s Inspiration | EAT REAL FOOD.
Chemicals, ammonia, synthetic materials, dye, alcohols, plastics and artificial sweeteners are just some of the things that are found in common processed food. These things contribute no only to your health, in terms of sickness, but also your metabolism. Your liver has to help process all these chemicals. It has to do this while regulating blood sugar, breaking down fats/protein/carbs, cleaning your blood and producing enzymes…amongst many other functions. Your liver is also tied into the function of the thyroid and the hormones it produces. When the liver gets sick from excess fat, sugar, alcohol, etc…the metabolism slows down because food is not processed effectively. This is just one example of how processed food hurts our health. I encourage you to go online and learn more.
During our September smoothie challenge, we will be giving our bodies less processed food and more natural, unprocessed food in the form of fruits and veggies. Hopefully we will experience healing in our bodies via this change in our diets. – Ajima
Why do we fall for quick-fix weight loss products?
Today’s Inspiration | What quick fix weight loss solutions have you fallen for? Pills, powders, shots? Did they work long term? Do you really get the benefits that were promised? The quick fixes look good because so many of us are optimistic that we have found the magic solution that will help us to lose weight. We really want to find a good solution to help us lose weight, but we also want fast weight loss.
Since I started the Black Women Losing Weight Community, I can tell you that I’ve come in contact with all kinds of weight loss products promising quick results. Body by Vi, Skinny Fiber, Body Wraps, etc. Diet teas, Raspberry Keytones, and green coffee. The list goes on and on. I’ve personally been put off by most of these products because they are connected to pyramid style schemes where someone makes money from selling them to me and the person who recruited them to sell makes even more. It seems like the focus is to bring more people on to sell the products and sell more products not helping people to get healthy. Eh…that’s my opinion. Weight loss is a billion dollar industry for a reason.
I would never buy into these quick fix products now, but I have in the past. I took fat burners in college. I drank dieter’s tea in my twenties and dropped water weight. I even did the whole fiber cleanse pills thing when that was really popular.
The issue is that any weight I lost with these quick fixes came right back after I stopped using them. When I went back to bad eating habits and no exercise, there were no after affects of these products that kicked in to combat my bad habits. I didn’t get what I wanted. I didn’t get what I thought I was paying for.
So, now I don’t look for quick-fixes. Now I realize that the best way to lose weight is a way that will keep the pounds off long term. Quick weight loss is no longer my desire. I want healthy weight loss that I can maintain. I have found that eating right and exercising are the best ways to achieve that. The extra bonus is that I don’t waste my money on fad products or the latest thing in weight loss.
Is Obesity the New Normal
You are not alone. The CDC says that more than a third of Americans are obese and another third are overweight. Only 30% of people in the U.S. can now be considered at a healthy weight. The question is: How long will you be part of this new “normal”?
I talk to a lot of Black Women about weight and weight loss. One theme I hear all the time is that they “don’t want to be skinny” or “I don’t want to lose my curves”. I totally understand that and I’m on board. I love my body and I refuse to look at myself negatively because of the American beauty status quo and it’s obsession with “thinness”. However, I do have a problem with obesity being seen as normal. It is not the case that all black women are overweight and unhealthy. There are a lot of women, of various hues, that are larger than the standard bears would like but healthy and extremely well. My issue is with those who are not. My focus is on making sure that we as ourselves the hard truths. My focus is on shining a light on the fact that many of us could improve our health and our lives by losing a few pounds and there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that.
I’m not ok with anything unhealthy becoming normal in the black community. I want our normal to be health.
Off Topic: “This Seat is Taken”
I don’t know if you saw the RNC convention broadcast tonight, but the Clint Eastwood train wreak was CRAZY. My boyfriend created this in tribute to the terrible speech that should not have happened.
Try the The Semi-Vegetarian Jumpstart
Sistas, everyone wants quick weight loss. Everyone always wants shortcuts when I give them the advice to eat clean and exercise. Well, let me give you a healthy “shortcut”. Take these suggestions and do them all together for 30 days. I call it “The Semi-Vegetarian Jumpstart”. It’s not for everyone, but you may be able to make some of these suggestions work for you.
- Make 70% of your diet raw fruits and veggies.
- Eat raw, un-roasted nuts and flax seed for fats
- Only drink water, freshly made juice or smoothies and hot tea. Eliminate all soda and sugary beverages.
- Don’t eat any dairy.
- Don’t eat anything with processed sugar or corn syrup.
- Only eat lean meats. Eat meat during only one meal per day.
The funny thing is that when I suggest this, people go crazy. What about protein? What about calcium? There are sources of protein other than meat. There are sources of calcium other than milk products. The real question is how much real, unprocessed food are you eating. What eating like this will do is give your body the vitamins, nutrients and fiber that it’s not getting from processed food. That will allow your body to release waste and cleanse. Go Semi-Vegetarian and see what it does for your health.
Of course, if you’ve gone to the doctor and have been told not to eat certain fruits and veggies, or if you have allergies or medical issues that prohibit you from eating this way, this is not for you. Don’t hurt yourself trying to lose weight. What I’m offering is advice and my opinion. You have to do your research and check in with your doctor to find a plan that works for your individual health needs.
Von is down 40 pounds this year!
Von is looking great! She has lost 40lbs! She says, “I was having major health issues and had to lose weight. I was taking meds for diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol. I have 40lbs lost since January 3, 2012 and do not have to take any medications! My ultimate goal is to lose 60lbs more. Before Picture on the left, midnight 2012. “After” picture 40lbs lighter! Still losing and my ultimate goal is to lose 60lbs more.” Congrats, Von! Thank you for sharing with us!
Affirmation: Let go of worn out things
“I now let go of worn out things, worn out conditions, and worn out relationships. Divine order is now established and maintained in me and in my world.” -Catherine Ponder
BWLW Ladies, Let go of the worn out things in your life so that the divine can put in place the things you need in the now. Unclutter your life and make room for greater health and wellness.
Congrats to Sandra on Losing 87.5 Pounds
Congrats to Online Community Member Sandra! Her before and after photos are the top post on our community site: http://blackwomenlosingweight.com/photo/before-n-after. She she has gone from 249.5 to 162 and looks great!
She says, “I began my journey about 9 months ago. I would eat so badly I was ashamed of myself. Once I realized I was tipping the scales at 249.5 pounds, I realized fast food was literally killing me. I would eat fast food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. I would come home and eat dinner again so that my husband wouldn’t get suspicious. I was an embarrassment to myself and my daughters and I was not setting a good example for them. I also was drinking a huge amount of wine. I decided to cut out all “bad” things from my diet- processed foods, alcohol, refined foods, sodas, etc from my diet and oh what a change! I drink 80oz of water each day and I space out my meals for which I make better choices. I went from 249.5 to 162 pounds today! I had a lot of support and I suggest the same for anyone who wants to loose weight, too!”
Don’t Miss our Next Monday Night Weight Loss Support Chat!
“Tonight’s Chat Topic: We’ll be talking about smoothies, juicing, and how what you drink influences your weight. Join us 8-9pm ET. Our Live Weight Loss Support Chat is held Every Monday Night!
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