Five weeks ago, I embarked on a journey to lose weight for the trip that I am currently on. My goal was to lose 20 pounds by the day I left (yesterday). Traveling wreaks havoc upon one's body, especially since most economy seats are built for numbers and not comfort (think sardines).
I am happy to report that as of Monday, March 28th (the day I left), I have lost 18 pounds. It's not quite 20 pounds, but it's close enough for me and I am happy about it. The two weeks prior to my leaving, I really struggled with my training, but I was able to maintain my diet.
Helpful Hints
- Establish the Pattern Early
- Exercise – I shocked my body by hitting the workouts hard and everyday or at least six days a week to establish the pattern.
- Caloric Intake – I dropped my caloric intake drastically to shock the body as well as force myself to start eating the “right” kinds of food.
- Weekly Accountability
- Since I was doing this as part of our church's Community Wellness Program, I had instant accountability. I had to weigh in each week which strengthened my commitment to developing a healthy lifestyle.
Where Can I Improve?
Towards that end, I lost some focus heading into this mini-milestone. I allowed some stressors to affect my training and my approach.
Stress can play a part in your weight loss, but usually it is at the expense of your entire physical well-being and not just weight loss part. I do not encourage a highly stressful lifestyle.
In addition, my sleep patterns were completely thrown off. I usually average between six and seven hours of sleep per night, but lately I was averaging between four and five hours per night. My body needs sleep to recover, especially after a tough workout. This is one area where I really need to improve.
So far, the benefits of the weight loss include more energy, and my clothes fit so much better. How can you not like that benefit?! My ultimate goal is to lose between 80 and 100 pounds by the end of 2011. I am making a lifestyle change, and that is a process, not a quick fix.
Question: What works best for you and your wellness journey? You can leave a comment below.
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