Weight Loss Is Hard!

by Tessa
(Perth, Australia)

Weight Loss is Hard! It’s true that weight loss is hard, but it is possible! I am a proof to that.

I have been focusing on weight loss through monitoring food intake and increasing exercise for a year and a half now. I have lost 70 lbs and still have about 35 to go. It is just a matter of time and consistency, before I achieve my ultimate goal.

I think there are a few KEYS to weight loss and they are as follows: Support, patience, consistency, exercise and self-monitoring. You need to have people to turn to when weight loss gets hard. I attend weekly meetings and have a weight loss buddy that I shop with for healthy foods.

I often have to remind myself that it took years to gain the excess weight; it will most certainly take some time to lose. One to two pounds a week is a healthy weight loss even though I WANT to lose five pounds every week. I think perfection is not required to lose weight but being consistent is definitely required.

You need to follow whatever plan you have devised most of the time in order for it to be effective for weight loss. I plan to have a splurge now and again otherwise I don’t think I could keep it up for so long.

Exercise is so important for weight loss, but it is even more important to help maintain that loss once you reach your goal. The best approach is to find an activity you enjoy doing and work towards a more active lifestyle. I love riding bikes and often ride to school instead of driving my car. I get an extra 40 minutes of activity in my day and it is something I enjoy doing.

The most important thing you can do to lose weight is to monitor yourself. I know it sucks! You don’t want to do it, neither do I! But if you don’t write down what you eat, you will be likely to eat more than you think you do and weight loss will be elusive. You need to find a system that works for you such as a spreadsheet, online program, a piece of paper, a small journal. The choices are endless.

You can lose weight, just start today and keep at it!

Not All Carbohydrates are Enemies of Your Figure

by Raina

I had a nice figure till the end of my high school years but had gained a lot of weight in the first year of my college. Despite having avoided fats and oily foods, I kept gaining weight.

I consulted my dietician and she told me that different carbohydrates have different effects on my body and apparently I tend to gain more weight with certain carbohydrates than the others.

I have been on a low GI diet since then. I will have oats and barley cereals for my breakfast and pasta or noodles and vegetables with a little bit of wholegrain bread for my lunch. I eat a lot of salad and fresh fruits and vegetables for my dinner.

Since I can’t give up on rice, I have been allowed to have Basmati, low calorie and lowest glycemic index rice twice a week. I have given up on potatoes and junk food, but I do love sweet potatoes.

Now I can enjoy a number of carbs without having to worry about my weight because I know not all carbs are adding pounds to my weight.


*Here I'd like to tell you about my favorite diet program that uses a lot of the healthy lower GI foods: Isabel de los Rios' 'The Diet Solution Program'.

The Diet Solution Program favours a long term health orientated approach to fat loss, but not offering anyone a quick fix to their weight troubles. It has loads of valuable data and research to support its approach. I personally investigated the program thoroughly and my mum has been using it for a while now. I have to say she got some great results.

The nutrition plan is one of the healthiest we have seen, a strong core focus on vegetables, fruits, vitamin dense foods, lean proteins, select dairy produce and a clear approach to not expecting one diet to work for all body types. So give it a try and let me know how you’re doing.*