It struck me recently that nearly a year ago, I went to a local apparel shop to select a new ensemble.
I found a wonderful pre-Christmas promotion and shared my snug new attire that kept the cold at bay.
(Honestly, I really dislike how my hair appears in that photograph…)
While I adored that clothing, I neglected to mention the true reason for my purchase; my wardrobe items were growing too snug and uncomfortable.
This moment aligned with personal goal setting for Bildirimlerim. As I considered my blog objectives, I also turned my attention inward, leading to a clear plan to address my increasing weight.
A year later, I returned to the store, this time for smaller jeans—a far more enjoyable shopping experience, I must admit!
Reflecting on the past proves valuable. Minor adjustments over almost 365 days yielded substantial progress; the scale confirms I am 28 pounds lighter than on January 1st.
My intent in sharing this is not to boast or imply others must follow my path, but rather to offer encouragement to those in similar spots by sharing my successful methods.
How a New Year's Target Helped Me Shed 28 Pounds
I established a very specific objective to pursue.
After careful consideration, my aim became to “cultivate wholesome daily routines“. Past attempts like setting a pounds-by-date target failed; this time, the focus shifted to lasting outcomes, not quick fixes. I had previously tried the Weight Watchers Diet online, the Military Diet, the Juicing Diet, and the Cabbage Soup Diet; clearly, any 'diet' approach was unsuitable for me…
I clarified the fundamental 'why' behind my objective.
Though the prospect of a smaller size is motivating, I knew this wasn't my core driver. I firmly believe that beauty is not defined by body size; I've always maintained that every size possesses inherent beauty—so, what was my real reason?
My family's genetic background.
Indeed. Observing my close relatives, I noticed several developed diabetes later in life, which I aim to prevent. My logic was that adopting healthy eating now might avert that future health issue…
I devised a strategy with clear, measurable actions!)
Google and Pinterest became my research partners as I studied healthy eating. After reviewing numerous articles, I pinpointed 3 daily actions; these constituted my 3 primary new “healthy habits” for the year.
I dedicated time to documenting 3 pages in a bullet journal to monitor the completion of these daily “habits”.
These were:
- Consume 2 large Starbucks cups of water daily.
- Record my weight every single morning.
- Utilize the My Fitness Pal app to log daily food intake.
*Update: I created free printables in the printables library to assist with tracking your daily healthy habit goals and meals. Visit the VIP library by clicking here, and if you aren't a VIP newsletter subscriber, please join now using the box below.
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Rita Joy
I developed meal plans and recipes after researching and testing them to align with my daily calorie target.
Initially, this process presented a steep learning curve. The My Fitness Pal application determines your suggested calorie intake based on the initial data you provide; my target was 1200 calories.
I quickly grasped that poor calorie choices would lead to constant hunger throughout the day!!:)
For illustration, a small piece of fudge contains many calories but offers little fullness. Conversely, a substantial spinach salad packed with varied vegetables and deli turkey meat has few calories yet sustains you for hours!
I made sure to plan my meals prior to feeling hungry!
This proved crucial. I initially used paper and pen to map out daily meals, ensuring they totaled 1200 calories. I also discovered that to maintain consistency, I needed breakfast, lunch, and dinner, alongside morning, afternoon, and evening snacks. (Essentially, I eat throughout the day!;))
A significant shift occurred when I realized I could repeat my breakfast and lunch daily. While this may not suit everyone, I truly enjoy it! Having only dinner to plan daily brings me great satisfaction with my breakfast of 1 scrambled egg, 1 piece of turkey bacon, & 1/2 an english muffin and a lunch of a (huge!) spinach and veggie salad with turkey deli meat.
I did not restrict myself from any food group (including sugar, chocolate, or gluten, etc.).
Fortunately, I have no food sensitivities, so nothing was deemed 'off-limits.' My focus was on the overall positive impact. Since I have a strong sweet craving, instead of banning sweets entirely, I allow myself one square of high-quality chocolate daily as a 'treat.' This satisfies my craving without significantly impacting my daily calorie limit.
I benefited from encouragement from others on this journey.
I recognize that a strong support structure is vital to the success of weight loss groups. I now appreciate the necessity of being supported by encouraging individuals.
My husband has been on a healthy eating path longer than I have; for three years, he has tracked his diet and exercise on his My Fitness Pal and has shed almost 40 pounds.
His initial drive to begin stemmed from photographs we took while in Hawaii.
This was us previously…
And this is us now…
My colleagues have also been a great help as I began this endeavor. Their supportive words were invaluable in maintaining these new habits long-term.
I do not view this objective as having a fixed completion date
Maintaining these fresh routines is both inspiring and demanding; I wish for them to become permanent, not just until my target weight is reached. I have noticed a period of plateauing at the same weight recently, and I must confess that the holiday treats present a real temptation sometimes…
Therefore, I plan to consistently reinforce these new practices and strive for them, recognizing that some days will bring greater achievement than others…
A lack of drive towards physical activity is another area where I am currently falling short…
Perhaps setting this as a fresh aim for this period would be beneficial? :)
Several months ago, I hosted a brief Organization workshop via Facebook Live. Within that session, I covered goal establishment, specifically detailing my use of a Bullet Journal for weight reduction. You can view it here:
Should you have queries or advice regarding establishing nutritious eating patterns, kindly post them in the comments below. I genuinely value learning from your input!
