Final 6 wk/10lb Challenge Update

(CREDIT)

We have finally come to the "finish line" of the 6 week/ 10 pound challenge. If you haven't been following along with me, this challenge is basically self explanatory. I, along with a few other ladys, have challenged myself to lose 10 pounds in 6 weeks. As I promised, here are my results:

Total Weight loss- 5 pounds

Total Inches lost- 6 inches

At first glance, my results can seem a bit discouraging. I only lost half the weight the challenge called for! But, I am actually happy with my results. Yes, I wish I would've lost all 10 pounds, but I have learned a lot about weight loss throughout this journey. So, here are a few tips from me on losing weight:

- DON'T GET DISCOURAGED: I know this is easier said than done, but in my opinion it is one of the most important things to have successful weight loss. It is easy to give up when you step on the scale and don't see any results. However, what you should keep in mind is that if you give up you are not doing yourself any favors. As long as you are eating healthy and excercising, then there is a really good chance you won't GAIN weight. That is what I tell myself when I don't see any results. You are helping yourself and your body by keeping up your eating and excercising habits.

- TAKE YOUR MEASUREMENTS- There have been a couple of weeks where I would weigh myself and wouldn't see any loss, but measure myself and realize that I have lost a few inches. There are several reasons why this could happen including: you can gain muscle as you lose fat so it will look like you haven't lost anything, and as women especially, our body weight fluctuates throughout the month. So, if you don't see any weight loss, then you can stay motivated by looking at the amount of inches you have lost. I would take measurements of my upper arm, waist, stomach, hips, and thighs. I think this combination gives you a good look at where you lose the most. I decided on those based on where my "trouble areas" were. So, if you are unhappy with your calves, lower arms, etc.you should add those into your measurements as well. Seeing results from your problem areas will better encourage you! 

- ESTABLISH A WORKOUT ROUTINE- Obviously, excercising is key to losing weight. It is also healthier for you because it gets your heart rate up and helps to tone muscle. Choose a routine based on what you enjoy. If you like going to the gym, dancing, swimming, or dvds at home, choose accordingly. If you are enjoying the workout, you will be more likely to actually do it. Also, if it helps, you can find a workout buddy to help you along the way. It is important to find a workout that you are comfortable with, but not so comfortable that it doesn't challenge you. For instance, if you don't break a sweat, then it's probably not the workout for you. On the other hand, if you are having to rest every 2 minutes because it's just too hard, it's probably not for you either. Don't think you have to workout for hours a day from the start. Remember, you have to build up a habit of working out just like anything else. Take baby steps and increase the difficulty at your speed.

- EAT HEALTHY- This is also very important for weight loss. What you put into your body affects every aspect of your life. You can't just expect to work out and not change your eating habits. You might lose weight, yes, but there is a good chance you will gain it back when you stop working out. It's about WHAT you eat more than how much. A big bowl a fruit salad that will fill you up is still healthier than a small piece of pizza that won't. You should choose healthy foods that you like to eat. It will be so easy to get off track if you don't like the taste of what you are eating. Remember, you can "splurge" every now and then, but keep your quantities in check. If you want a cookie, have a cookie, but only have one instead of the whole batch. You will be surprised how much changing your eating habits will affect your weight.

The key to losing weight is that it needs to be a lifestyle change. You have to fully commit to excercising and eating healthy in order to see results. For those of you who have a more than 5-10 pounds to lose, set small goals. If you weigh 156, instead of just wanting to get down to 126, say "My ultimate goal is to get down to 126, but my first goal is to get to 153, then 150, then 145" and so on. I have set small goals like that and it has helped me to stay encouraged. It's easy to get overwhelmed when you are looking at 20 or more pounds you need to lose, but it's easier if you concentrate on 3-5 at a time.

If you have been participating in this challenge along with me, or you have tips of your own to add, I would love to hear from you!! If you still have more weight to lose, like me, please keep going!! You will hit your goal in no time!!