If you are anything like me, you have probably tried a number of different diets but found no true answer. As a matter of fact I have tried almost every diet I have found on the market (except for the paleo diet), and managed to shed pounds and feel revitalized for the length of my disciplined regime. The problem is non of these created lasting habits, and that’s where I’m at right now, questioning whether I want a new diet or a new lifestyle.
I figured this is not a new concept, as nowadays more and more people go to life coaches who teach you anything from meditation, to eating and sleeping habits, self-confidence and a number of other seemingly unrelated things that affect your everything. But I decided I had to get myself to write in order to share my train of thought, and my experience that hopefully will help others put a face on these issues.
So as I said, I have managed to loose up to 50 pounds with multiple diets, the best one was with a low-carb and well-balanced diet I got from a nutritionist, and I stuck to it, worked out and felt absolutely amazing. I managed to keep up with my social life by changing some habits, but the difference is that back then I lived at home with my mother who would cook and help me plan meals, and now I live by myself and have to create a mental and health routine alone.
I have been trying anything from Atkins, to juice fasting every three weeks, to working out compulsively and counting calories, but all of these options have just proved to be unsustainable without a right mindset and routine to support its results in the long run. While doing these I was just focused on loosing weight fast, without any plans for maintaining the results of my hard work afterwards. So as it has happened to many other I started having health problems and that was the only way I reacted.
I was 180 pounds and was advised to loose 40 pounds ASAP in order to help regulate my hormones which I did. However I recently learned that my liver and gallbladder were suffering from all the unbalanced low-carb diets; and that’s when I decided I needed to start becoming more aware of what my body needs in the long-run, besides just loosing weight. I had been toying with the idea of practicing yoga daily, I have been practicing Buddhist meditation on a regular basis for the last couple of years, and I love cooking and making everything from scratch, so now my goal is to mindfully combine all of these things to create the lifestyle I should have had for a long time.
So to make things clear, I am planning to “diet” for a month, for my doctor wants me to detox my liver and gallbladder and kickstart the remainder of my weight-loss. But as I do this I want to make sure I tackle some of the issues that have resulted in the failure of my last attempts to create long lasting habits and results for after I am done “dieting”.
- Food gets boring!
- The routines I set are too much to handle realistically.
- I don’t exercise for health, but weight-loss.
- I forget the importance of a clear, happy and focused mind.
And I’m sure I’ll think of many more as this adventures begins. But here are my strategies, that I hope will help others.
For food getting boring
I decided to make a list of my cravings, and my favorite seasonings and spices. Most of what I crave are carbs, and sugar. So I made sure I found a number of alternatives. For example I found a number of cabbage recipes with sesame oil and cumin, which happen to be flavors I die for (I’ll share my versions next). I am planning on eating this (and other options) instead of huge bowls of rice or potatoes at lunch, as cabbage gives one the feeling of being full and provides healthy carbs. However I must say, it is the spice that makes this a good and interesting option.
I also found while Pinterest-ing recipes for cauliflower tortillas, among other crazy amazing recipes. I then made sure my fridge and pantry is full of everything I need to easily cook these things. But the most important thing is I’m not going to completely eliminate the real thing, I will just make it a priority to look for the alternative on a regular basis.
And I will proactively look for new recipes, and fun kitchen adventures. This keep me on the right mindset, and it’s not something completely new I’m trying to incorportate to my life, for I’ve been doing this for a couple of years. Rather than a torture, it becomes an interesting and fun task to fulfill.
Unrealistic routines
I remember jumpstarting weight-loss regimes by working out every day for a week and then being unable to find time and motivation afterwards. So one of the ways I’ve started to tackle this was by starting 30 day challenges, in which I would make sure to do something at least 5 minutes a day. So I did this with meditation, until I was able to establish a habit. I slowly made it to 1–2 hours of meditation and now started working on making yoga and jogging part of my routine. I found that finding other people to practice with definitely helps, and you are never alone in wanting to be healthy and happy.
I bought an amazing and simple workout app called Fitness for Women which has 10–30 minute workout routines one can do at home without any equipment. I figured it’s not the cardio I need, but it definitely helps me get out my lazy routine. And because I love yoga so much, but not always have the possibility of going to a studio I found some amazing online videos to do at home from my favorite yoga studio: Your Yoga in Minneapolis. I also made it a thing, to bike everywhere I can and hope to swim once I have a more established routine. I don’t want to add all of these new wonderful things at once, because I know I won’t stick to them if I do.
And part of this new routine has to do with cooking and fixing meals. I learned to enjoy grocery shopping, but also spending time looking at new recipes. I have to plan ahead to not only have the ingredients ready, but also to have certain quick bites and meals prepared so I don’t end up desperately succumbing to a fast food crave. I can’t tell you how important this is! I have failed to stick to a diet so many times due to not finding what I need or not having something simple ready right away.
Exercising for health instead of weight-loss
Most of the times I have started to work out regularly, I have done so in order to jumpstart a weight-loss routine. So as soon as I reach a goal or get “busy”, I stop doing it and then feel exponentially embarrassed about it. But now that my allergies, my asthma and everything have been quite accute I was reminded by doctors and therapists that I have to work out! And never have I been so healthy, as I was when I used to swim and jog on a regular basis! So knowing this, my goal as I mentioned above is to slowly add these things to my routine.
Last year I had a good semester, in which I was swimming 3–4 times a week, spinning 2–3 times a week, doing yoga at least twice a week and biking everywhere. This only stopped when my college life got busy and I failed to adapt to my new schedule. So now I’m trying to make these workout be just as essential as brushing my teeth or sitting down for meditation, especially now that I have a little more time to dedicate to this.
Forgetting the importance of a clear, happy and focused mind
For a number of years I linked my happiness to the way people saw me and ultimately how I saw myself. I wasn’t happy at all with my weight, my career, my lovelife, or pretty much anything. With this state of mind everything was a vicious cycle, and everything was terrible. It took me sometime to surround myself with amazing and inspiring friends to start seeing I was in the wrong place mentally, but as soon as I did I started dedicating more time to myself and caring for my health and happiness.
I began to meditate, and eat healthier, work out and I also decided to go to counseling. With all of these things I started to like myself more, and by doing this, taking care of myself becomes the only logical way of proceeding. Right? So that’s where I’m at. My next step is mindfully and hollistically taking care of myself.
I will be sharing some of my recipes, stories, and experiences, and feel free to ask me questions.
