After losing a lot of weight, you’ll be surprised at what people will say to you. “Didn’t you used to be fat?” or “You were much bigger the last time I saw you.” However, I take these statements as a compliment. I know the catalyst behind the comment is that these people want to know how I did it. Did I take a magic pill or starve myself or workout every day – or all of the above?
The truth is that I lost forty pounds and five clothing sizes by eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly. But, no one wants to hear that explanation from me. People want an inexpensive and easily actionable solution that will show quick results. Right? If so, get started with this:
How did I start getting skinny?
Losing weight sounds like a big, overwhelming job. Even though you may know concepts about losing weight, it can be difficult to put these ideas into action and get started. This is why I failed miserably many times over before I finally found success. An all-or-nothing approach typically leads to failure and perhaps giving up altogether.
I finally started losing weight and keeping it off by taking one baby step. That was giving up soda. I used to drink an average of two liters of soda per day, and then one day I just decided to stop. I didn’t change my diet. I didn’t exercise. All I did was stop drinking soda–and I lost over five pounds in four weeks.
Not only did I lose weight, but I’m healthier. While the “sugar rush” sounds helpful in theory, long-term soda drinking will cause havoc to your health. According to the Nurses’ Health Study, after a few years of drinking soda on a regular basis:
- You’ll gain at least two more pounds per year
- You’ll have a 40 percent higher risk of heart attacks
- You’re twice as likely to get Type 2 Diabetes
And, why is this? While soda is not the sole cause of the above, soda drinkers generally lead an overall lifestyle that is not very healthy.
If you want to be a soda-quitter today, here’s how:
The first thing I tell people who want to lose weight is to give up all soda – even diet soda. Certain soda addicts respond with an automatic “no” when I say this, so I tell them to wean off slowly. This isn’t an overnight process! Here is how to get started.
Get rid of all the soda that is at your house. I don’t tell people they can never ever have a soda again. Of course, you can drink soda again. But, don’t keep it in your home anymore. Having one soda once in a while when you are out is much better than keeping twenty-four-pack cases in your home where you will be tempted to drink it.
Find a replacement drink. An alternative such as zero-calorie water, green tea or investing in a water-filtering system can help you replace your soda with more water.
Take it one day at a time. If you’re currently drinking three or more sodas per day, try cutting it down to just two per day for a week. Then, cut down to one per day the next week. If you slip up for a day or two, just get started again. Once you create your new habit, it will be easier for to take on another healthy challenge.
