The number one question I get asked whenever people learn I am participating in a social media fast is, “Where does the extra skin go?” As a fat chick who has been able to maintain a healthy weight for most of her life, this question really creeps me out. I have to constantly reassure people that the skin isn’t going to come off (at least not on Twitter). It’s not like I’m going to undergo a plastic surgery makeover or anything. Just because I’ve been able to maintain a certain weight doesn’t mean my body is perfect and there’s definitely room for improvement.
Why Do You Want to Lose Weight?
When you’re in a safe environment like the one created by Twitter, you’re free to be yourself and share your journey. One of the things I love about the Twitter community is the encouragement you get from people who want to help you reach your goals. I’ve seen so many people’s personal journeys of defeat and self-discovery through their tweets. I find the platform to be a place of empowerment and inspiration.
How Do You Plan on Losing Weight?
This is the part where most people get frustrated because they feel like I’m not being completely open with my plans. I want to assure them that I am being 100% real and transparent about my goals and plans; it’s just that I don’t want to ruin the surprise of my final results. I have a five-step plan that I’m following and I’m sure you’ll be surprised when you see the results.
Step One: Reset
The first step in my plan is to reset my relationship with food. I’ve been living in denial for way too long and it’s been causing a lot of unnecessary damage. When I decided to participate in the Twitter fast, I made it my mission to read as much as I could about nutrition and health. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that food is neither good nor bad; it’s a tool used by your body to function. What’s more, it can be relatively easy to make unhealthy food choices if you’re not aware of what constitutes a healthy choice. For example, lots of people eat ice cream because it’s delicious and also because it’s a common belief that if you’re fat, you must enjoy ice cream. This couldn’t be more wrong! So, the first thing I did was to stop eating ice cream and focus on foods that were good for my body. I also decided to cook more of my own food and avoid relying on takeout or food from fast food restaurants. Eating healthy food doesn’t mean you have to follow a strict diet or deprive yourself of foods you love. It means you’re aware of what makes your body function at its best and you enjoy a variety of foods that contribute to that goal.
Step Two: Create a Routine
After about a week of following my plan, I noticed I had a lot more energy and was able to get more done. Now, I make sure to get at least seven hours of sleep each night and make sure to engage in activities that help me relax and de-stress. My routine is important because it helps me avoid unnecessary distractions that could otherwise lead me to make bad food choices. Without a consistent routine, it’s easy to get distracted by the foods in front of you which may make it more difficult to stick to your plans. For example, if you always eat sweets after work, when you eventually allow yourself to have some, you may feel guilty since you’ve been deprived of your daily dose of chocolate all day. This could lead you to eat more than you intended or indulge in a little bit of binge eating which could ultimately cause you to lose a lot of weight. So, taking time out of your schedule to establish and follow a routine is important if you want to succeed.
Step Three: Manage Your Emotions
Now that you’re no longer denying yourself food, it’s time to focus on the next step: Manage your emotions. When you’ve been living in denial for so long, it’s not easy to change how you feel about yourself or your body. However, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this struggle. One of the most significant things I’ve learned on my journey is that nobody is perfect and we’re all fighting an uphill battle. This is why it’s so important to find a support system and surround yourself with people who believe in you. Your friends and family may not always be able to see your true potential, but they will always have your back.
Step Four: Consume More Food
In order to lose weight, you have to consume more calories than you burn. To put it simply: You have to eat more than you burn. This might sound like a difficult task since we’re constantly surrounded by food that’s enticing us, but it’s not. You just have to be aware of what makes up a healthy diet. For example, if you want to lose weight, you should aim to reduce the amount of sugar you take in and instead focus on filling your body with foods that are rich in fiber. These foods will help you feel satiated while also encouraging your body to produce more insulin, which helps regulate your blood sugar levels. In addition to this, try to reduce the amount of salt you consume and eat more fresh food. Consuming foods that are high in fiber, low in sugar, and low in salt will help you feel fuller for longer which, in turn, will help you manage your emotions and manage your cravings. Consuming foods that are higher in protein will also contribute to the building of muscles which, in turn, will help you to feel greater and enable you to manage your cravings more effectively. Finally, try to avoid food that’s fried. You’re bound to overindulge if you regularly consume foods that are fried. These foods are usually loaded with saturated fat, which will contribute to your body’s accumulation of fat.
Step Five: Track Your Progress
The last step in my plan is to track my progress and remind myself that this is a challenging but totally achievable goal. I like to use my weight loss journey for motivation and to keep myself motivated, I like to check in with myself throughout the week to see how my progress is coming along. It can be difficult to stay motivated when you’re not seeing the results you want, but knowing that you’re making progress and that you’re on your way to a healthier and happier you is what’s keeping me going. The truth is, nobody’s journey to weight loss is the same and it would be unfair to judge myself against others’ standards, so I like to keep track of all my progress privately rather than comparing it to some imaginary perfect state. This is a process, not a destination and it takes time, but I know eventually I’ll be able to look back on my journey with pride. I also keep an eye on social media to keep myself inspired and to see how others are dealing with similar challenges. Through observing other people’s success stories, I’m able to remind myself that my journey isn’t as impossible as it seems.
I’m only human and I’m sure I’ll slip up now and then, but I’m committed to this process and I want to share my results with everyone. The truth is, there’s no other way to know for sure if this is the right fit for you other than trying it and seeing how it works for you. Nobody else can tell you what will and won’t work for you. Only you know that. So, try it and then, if you don’t see yourself benefitting from the program, it’s time to change gears and find a different approach. But, for now, commit to this process and start tracking your results. This way, you’ll have concrete proof that all the effort you’re putting in is paying off and you’ll be able to maintain your weight loss long term. Thanks for reading! I hope this article has helped you gain some insight into how a healthy relationship with food can help you to lose weight and how you can maintain a healthy weight even when you get busy traveling or spending time with friends.