I Lost Over 90 Pounds in 8 Months

Everybody knows that gaining weight is a lot easier (and tastier) than losing weight. Yet, this time of year everybody starts a new diet or exercise program and is determined to lose those extra pounds.

Take it from me, it can be done. I lost a little over 90 pounds in 8 months.

At first I used those pre-packaged diet meals because like most people I just didn't have the will power to stick with a plan of my own. The diet meals delivered on part of their promise, they were indeed food, but that's about it. They looked much better in the commercials than they did on my plate, and the taste, while palatable, was not exactly 4 star restaurant material.

But, I had chosen this path and was determined to see it through, especially since I signed up for their auto shipments and was committed to the $300 a month program. After a few months of this I decided to do it myself and follow the principles I had learned using the diet meal system.

Here is a surprise - it actually worked. But the secret with these programs, or any other weight reduction program, is that you have to think of your food as fuel rather than entertainment. Once you embrace the notion that you don't need cheese and crackers to watch television, that water is better for you than soft drinks, and that portions the size of a volleyball are not necessary to sustain life, then you are halfway there.

The other secret is that you need to fill your stomach with foods that add bulk but not calories. Fresh fruit and vegetables top this list. Salads are a staple, but watch the dressing and other additives that people stick in salads. Having a bowl of lettuce packed with bacon bits and cheese covered with bleu cheese dressing is doing you more harm than good. Cut out the bacon and replace it with diced water chestnuts (it adds crunch). Dump the cheese and add a sprinkle of reduced fat parmesan cheese. And finally, lose the fat and calorie laden dressing and go to low cal/fat free dressing. Put a little of this dressing on the side and dip your fork in the dressing before you get a fork full of salad. You will taste dressing with your salad and cut loads of calories per bowl.

Here is the deal with calorie counts. Everybody is different with calorie needs and metabolism, but basically the formula is the average person expends 15 calories per pound per day. That means that if a man weighs 200 pounds, he is expending 15 calories for each one of those 200 pounds - or 3000 calories each day. That is the amount of calories this guy needs to maintain that 200 pounds. Any more than that and he gains weight, any less and he loses weight.

Water is vital for losing weight. It is advisable to drink 64 ounces of water a day. That is a lot of water, especially if you're not used to it. At first it will have you visiting the restroom with surprising frequency, but after a while you system will become used to it and will crave the water. Here is the plus for water; it will help you to feel full when you drink it. Don't substitute coffee or diet drinks for the water, since coffee has caffeine and diet drinks have sodium. Even decaf and low sodium drinks take more work by your kidneys to process. Water is a better choice, and there are some flavored waters and mixes that will work to relieve the boredom. Just read the label to see if these flavors contain sodium and/or caffeine.

Exercise is recommended with any weight loss program, but the thought of exercise is the stumbling block for many. It doesn't have to be. Start out simple with your workout. Work in the yard, park farther away from the stores, go for short walks - anything to get more active and get away from the TV set. The less you weigh, the more you will find you are able to do and the more enjoyable it will become. After a while you will find yourself doing more and even looking forward to physical activity. For the record, in the 90 plus pounds I've lost I haven't seen the inside of a gym once, I just do more daily activities.

You can do it. I know you can because if a former fat lump like me can do it, anybody can.