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Just last week Oprah had a show on people who had lost an incredible amount of weight. Hundreds of pounds! Anywhere from 100 to 500 lbs! That was amazing to see the before pictures and  what they transformed themselves into. Absolutely inspiring.

Most of the people that lost so much weight reduced the amount they were eating first until they got to a place where they felt comfortable to start exercising.

In an earlier post “Now What” I talked about my C.A.R. plan of losing weigh for us moms whogained weight during pregnancy, and afterwords being a new mom – like I did..

C = change (an eating habit)

A = adapt (allow time for your body to adapt – a month)

R = repeat (after adapting and accepting the change physically and mentally- meaning you don’t miss it, crave it, etc. – repeat by introducing a new change)

I was using, testing it for myself as I do,  sad to admit, have weight to lose weight. And … I want to report to you that I lost 15lbs! What I did was:

1. stopped using sugar or consuming any thing with sugar, high fructose, corn syrup , or any sweetener in it. I also read food labels to see how much sugar and salt was in a product. The LEAST amount is best.
2. stopped eating anything with  high amounts of salt in it or close to none at all. Stayed away from processed foods.
3. increased more salads creating cool blends with beans. Used recipes from My friend Elissa Joy’s book (a member her at Smartbirth) “Uncomplicated Raw”
4. for breakfast I have a bowl of Grape Nuts with honey ( a natural sweetener) and low fat milk
5. drink a meal shake at lunch

Now that I have mastered this for a month -  adapted to these changes, my next challenge change is not to eat anything after 8:00 PM. I’ll let you know how that works .:-)

Here’s what it’s done for me:

1. I am thinking about how much more I am going to lose! Not how FAT I still am!! (boy was I consumed with that)!
2. improved self esteem
3. improved confidence
4. improved self-image
5. detoxed my body from sugar and salt
6. have more energy
7. clothes fit better

So the C.A.R. works (I think I’ll make a tea shirt saying that)!  I have  …..()06&5$#3%… :-[ 100 lbs to lose. There I said it. BUT! I now have a plan. A slow plan that will keep the weight off because I have allowed my body to adjust to the changes.

If you need to lose weight, try out the C.A.R. V-a-r-o-o-m …

Let me know what you think!

Much love,

Lesly

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Ok.

You had the baby.

You have recovered.

Now,where do you begin to get yourself back in shape physically? 

I know this is an area of interest for many women after having a baby. For me as well. In fact, I don’t even think I lost the weight I gained and that’s from 14 years ago!  I am embarrassed to say. But maybe you can help me with this! Be my support!

Right now I am making changes in my eating habits – like cutting out salt (chips etc.), or eating salty meals (eating out). I never did add table salt to my food, thankfully. And, I have reduced the amount of sugar I eat too.

I have to say this is hard to do to lower or eliminate these items from my diet. Salt, sugar, and fat are three substances that taste and feel good when you eat them!  YUM for sure!  Yet these are the three culprits that make you gain weight.

So what do you do?

My suggestion is to make small changes, one at a time, adapt, then repeat. This is my CAR system!  This is from my own experience that has worked for me.

Here’s why -  once you make a change mentally your body has to go along with it – but slowly. I have noticed my body took about 3 weeks to get used to not  having sugar in my drinks or food (deserts). Sodas, drink mixes and so on.

It’s actually a “detox” period in your body of that substance and your body needs time to adapt. It may be a reason why diets don’t work because time and respect to your body’s ability to adapt is not considered.

Once your body adapts, then do the next change, eliminate or lower the next of the three – salt, sugar, or fat. Don’t do it all at once.

Yes it takes time and that’s good because you want to lose weight slowly. At the same time you’ll be getting healthier by lowering these substances in your body.

Do this test and you’ll see what I mean: Go without soda for 3-4 weeks. Then drink one and it will taste differently to you. It will be incredibly sweet.

What happens is when you drink a soda every day is this – your body builds a tolerence to it and then it doesn’t taste so sweet anymore.  In a way your taste buds become “numb” to what you are consuming.

The other action is I read the food labels for salt, sugar, and fat content in the food products I buy. That’s very helpful. And of course do some exercise … I am still working on that one and that’s another topic for later….  Exercise is a good thing while you are changing your eating habits – I keep telling myself that!

T hat’s my suggestion to get started, to get your body back in shape slowly and consistenly, and changes that will stay.

You can help me too by sharing what you’re doing. Let me know!

My best,

Lesly

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