I never in a millions years believed I would be writing a post about weight loss. Over the last 3 years, my husband and I lost over 60 pounds together and kept it off. The crazy part is that we never set out to lose weight and don’t consider our journey a diet, we changed our lifestyle. The journey started because I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and I wanted to find a natural way to remain in remission. The ultimate goal was never about weight loss but then it just started to happen.
A little history: I struggled with my weight throughout my entire life. I spent almost 12 years as a vegetarian, not a well-balanced one. My husband was very active and loved running (ran a marathon and several marathon relays). I was active too but had a love of sugar. We ate a typical American diet, especially as children which impacted our choices as adults. We ate processed foods, fast foods, lots of meat, (more him than me), low fat dairy and lots of grains. We also thought we were healthy. We ate salads and vegetables every day but also paired them with cheese, dressings, and other toppings.
When I told him I was writing this post, we talked about how active we were and how little weight we were losing. The years before we actually started our wellness journey, we had gym memberships (went every other weekday), had an elliptical in our home, we even did a 90-day workout program several times. We saw results but nothing that we sustained or made a huge impact on our health. We didn’t see real results both inside and out until we tackled the food we ate.
We put the changes we made in 10 easy steps.
Step 1: Stop buying junk food and soda. This got easier as time went on and I learned more about ingredients. This helped my husband because it wasn’t in the house.
Step 2: Stop fast food, as much as possible. I won’t lie, we still end up picking up a sandwich once and while when we are traveling. We make sure that it still contains vegetables. We will also stop at a grocery store on long trips to get nuts, fruits, and vegetables.
Step 3: Cook. Using fresh, whole food ingredients. Shift to organic if possible. This helped us to avoid processed foods.
Step 4: Cut back on added sugar. If we need some sweetness, we use raw, unfiltered honey or real maple syrup.
Step 5: Consume high quality fish and meats. Our grocery bill has increased because I focus on buying wild fish and pasture raised meats but at dinner time, it is worth it. Also, we don’t feel the need to eat out as often, saving on that expense.
Step 6: Eat higher quality grains. Yes, we still eat grains in our home. I went through phases trying gluten free, paleo, etc but I felt the best with small amounts of grains. We use ancient grains in our cooking, like quinoa and einkorn wheat.
Step 7: Review portions and distribution. We began to shift the focus of our plate. We eat fewer grains, smaller meat portions, less dairy and increased the vegetables
Step 8: Focus on Healthy Fats. Some example of what we eat on a daily basis include: avocados, nuts, eggs, olive oil, and coconut oil.
Step 9: Know your numbers and what they mean. We go to the doctor at least once a year for blood work. It has been exciting over the years to compare and see our improvements.
Step 10: Find a support system. If you are in need of a support system, don’t hesitate to reach out and get a Health Coach.
This journey led me to study at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I am now a Certified Holistic Health Coach and help individuals and families achieve their wellness goals. I fought a sugar addiction, inflammation, excess weight and won each fight. You can reach your goals too and having support along the way is very important. I want to be your coach! Contact me for a complimentary consultation.
The statements and information on the website should not be taken as medical advice. Always consult a medical professional before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. The statements on the website are not evaluated by the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration)
