Weight Loss is not a diet – How to lose weight the easy way

How to lose weight the easy way.

Being slim or fat is a lifestyle choice for most people.  It also gets harder as you grow older to get slim and get fit.

This can all be remedied.  I am not a doctor or dietician but I have had my battles with weight, especially in my later years.

Everything we do in life has consequences and we should take responsibility for our choices.

When I finally figured out that I really needed to lose weight (especially as the doctor said my cholesterol was high) I knew that I didn't want a fast solution, I wanted a permanent solution.

All those quick ‘lose weight now' did not attract me because I knew that if I could lose weight fast then I would put it back on just as quickly.

A change of mindset.

I realised that for any lasting change I was going to have to think this one through.  Of course, as everyone knows, it takes discipline.  I would love to say there is a pill that could do all the work but it doesn't work that way.

As with anything, shortcuts are always that, they might seem like a good idea at the time but in the end, they end up disappointing you and then demotivating you further.  As if one isn't demotivated enough knowing what kind of mindset this was going to take.

I know I love my food and cutting back on that seemed like an insurmountable task.

So what to do?

I know this sounds crazy but I decided to start running.  I have always hated running like the plague.  But I knew I wasn't going to go to the gym, too many people and I was not in good shape.

I figured running might help me (although it is going to be more like shuffling than running) to at least give me more energy.  I have heard all about those endorphins that are supposed to kick in after exercise so I thought I would give it a shot.

I went a bit crazy and decided to run around this Bay nearby.  The whole course is 7 kilometres (4.35 miles) long and luckily it's pretty much flat the whole way around.

Now, I didn't think that running would lose the weight.  It takes a lot more to lose weight than exercise.  I was going to have to change my diet.

But that I would leave for later.

Starting the regime.

I had to go and buy some running shoes, track pants and T-shirts.  This felt very foreign to me and I just picked what I liked and spent as little time in the shop as possible.

I then worked out I could run once a week and see how that panned out.  For me, Wednesday evening seemed like as good a time as any.

My mistake was starting in summer in Australia!  But I was not going to wait anymore, I needed to get back into shape.

That first day that I ran was a nightmare.  It was hard and I struggled with it, but I did it.  I don't know how or whether I would even attempt it again but I did it!

After the run, my knees turned to jelly but as I walked home I had a grin from ear to ear.  It was such a sense of achievement as I had never felt before.

Running really does not help you to lose calories, reducing your food intake does that.  But first I had to see if I could keep this up.

As I said, I was doing the shuffle but my breathing was more laboured, not incredibly so, but I was definitely breathing harder.

How to be motivated.

Because it took many years to put on the weight I needed to be realistic in how long it would take me to get it off.

Also, I am talking about a lifestyle change not just a weight loss regime.  I had to make choices which would enable me to reach my goal and because it was going to take time, I wanted them to be life choices – for life.

All the choices I had made to date were poor choices which meant I got fat, would puff going up stairs, couldn't tie up my shoe laces and all the other associated health issues that result from a bad diet and non-existent exercise regime.

I think this choice I have made is similar to giving up any addiction, be it cigarettes or food.  I was determined and I was in it for the long haul.

My motivation?  Having a body that looks and feels great!

It's easy to say these things when I am at the beginning of my regime but I feel very different about this now than I have ever felt before.  I was going to lose weight and I was going to get a whole new body plus I get to keep it that way for the rest of my life.

Couch potato out, sleek, svelte body in!

So if you really want a body that will give you years of trouble free operation then think of lifestyle.

How much food?

Since I have been running (I started in September) I have found that my diet has been changing without me thinking about it.  The more I run, the less I want to eat.  This is really strange because I thought I would have to make radical changes to my diet.

Also what's strange is I only want fruit for breakfast.  It leaves me feeling great and not so tired.

New body!

Today for the first time ever since I started this regime I feel like I have a brand new body.  I feel almost invincible…maybe bullets won't bounce off of me but perhaps the wounds will heal faster?

This has not been easy to do at all.  I have struggled with this for the last 6 months but finally, I am seeing results.  I have lost 4 notches on my belt.

I don't weigh myself because I think that is very demotivating.  I go by my pants size, if they go down then I know I am on track.  This hasn't been easy but now I am getting results.

Quite naturally I am eating less at meals and I know I am on the path to a better lifestyle without me forcing it.  My habits will become my daily ritual.

Do I have to exercise for life?

The couch potato inside of me goes, oh no!  But the truth is, of course, you have to do this for life if you want a fully functioning, fantastic body that will take you through life and not give you any trouble.

Getting healthy is a massive reward and one that should be kept up.

How old am I?

I am 62 years of age.  If I can do this so can you.

Here is the first post I wrote about my running in September, 2016, I hope you enjoy it.

I hope you know what endorphins are?