My "Secret"

WOW... I can't believe that it's been almost a month since I've had a chance to write!  At my "full-time" job (one of many), I'm mid Prom season and understaffed (what company isn't right now) so my time  has been limited.

I've received tons of emails lately from people that are interested in what my "secret" is for the weight loss as well as my ability to maintain and keep it off for as long as I have. I wanted to share my "secret" with as many of you as I can so I figure this is the greatest forum to do so! 

Sooooo... here goes, my "secret" is....

THERE IS NO SECRET!!!!

As much as no one wants to see me write this, the only answer is a healthy, clean diet and exercise!  I don't take fat burners, I don't have a miracle pill that I can take and eat anything and everything that I want to all day every day and not gain a pound and most assuredly I do not "starve" myself.  NONE of these are the answer.  

Now, if you take a fat burner and/or if you reduce your calories to 1200 or less per day is there a chance that you will lose weight?!  SURE but there is NO chance that you will KEEP IT OFF and NO chance that you are doing it in a healthy manner and most importantly you run the risk of doing long-term damage to your body!

So here goes, I eat 7 times a day!  I make healthy food choices by eating things like plain oatmeal, egg whites, tuna, chicken, lean beef or turkey, vegetables, almonds and brown rice.  I don't stop at fast food restaurants EVER. If I go out to eat then I special order my meals to accommodate what I want - not what is convenient for the restaurant to serve me. I order fish, chicken or filet grilled with no butter and steamed or grilled veggies with no butter.  

Now that I am at my "goal weight" I will share dessert from time to time with everyone at the table so I only have a couple bites.  I will also enjoy a glass of wine with dinner once a week but not every week. 

I drink water - all day, every day!  Soda is extremely rare and I don't drink any sports drinks or juice.  Your body requires water to function properly, water helps maintain your metabolism and helps control your urge to snack -- so drink up!!!

I'm ACTIVE -- I mean, all the time!!! I work out 6 days a week - this does not mean that I walk into the gym and chat it up - I workout!  I lift weights and I do 40 minutes of intense cardio each day. When I first started working out, I did only cardio for the first couple of weeks - so that I could get my body used to the changes that I wanted to make.  I did cardio for 30-45 minutes a day, 4 days a week.  

My point is that it is not easy to always say no to things that you may want to eat and it isn't easy to get up and go to the gym each day when sometimes I'd rather just chill out after work but it is NECESSARY for me to maintain. 

Being healthy is a lifestyle, 

there is no quick fix!!!

You HAVE TO be ready to make permanent changes for yourself, for your health, for your well-being and for your body.  If you aren't committed then you will not stick with it and you will not succeed!!! 

Sure, it's easy to stop by McDonald's for "dinner" but in doing so you are not providing your body with one single nutrient that it needs to survive, to function or for you to live!!!  Are you okay with this!?  I certainly wasn't and I am happier, healthier, I have more energy and I look better at nearly 40 than I have my entire life... I COMMITTED TO MAKING A CHANGE FOR ME!!!

ARE YOU READY TO COMMIT?!