How I lost 10 Pounds in 5 Weeks

Ok let’s get real. Losing weight is hard and requires a ton of self control. So how can you make it as easy as possible, I’ll explain what I did.

If you google losing weight, 750 million results come up…I kid you not. Every kind of diet possible, diet supplements, pills, exercises, quick weight loss techniques and even shots are suggested. So what really works?

I have struggled with my weight over the years and tried many different types of diets. I’m not obese by any means, but there is a range I feel most comfortable that I strive to stay within. A couple years ago, I went on the Ketogenic Diet and got to my ideal weight. I stayed there for a year or so and last year the pounds slowly crept back on.

The KETO diet was a good quick fix, the weight came off quickly but I don’t believe it is a healthy long term option for me. The low carb, high fat diet strives to get the body into  ketosis where the body is metabolizing fat at a high rate and converting fatty acids into ketones. It works, but I experienced many adverse side effects like kidney stones and extreme fatigue.

I have tried pills to increase my metabolism but they cause sleeplessness and gitters. I have starved myself, been on Herbalife, supplements and shakes in an effort to lose weight. All these methods worked for a short amount of time but eventually the weight came back.

So much research has come out over the past years about healthy eating that even the food pyramid has changed over time. The number of servings for fruits and vegetables has increased and the number of servings of whole grains like bread, cereal, rice, potatoes, and pasta has decreased.

But I think the biggest revelation over time that has been discovered and gets a lot of attention is the danger of sugar in our diet! You just can’t get away from hearing about it and I welcome the information whole heartedly. In fact, I get so angry 😡  at the food industry for forcing sugar on us by adding it to so many products! The food industry gets our kids addicted to sugar at an early age by adding fruit sugar to baby foods. As parents we want the best for our kids, but when my kids were young, I didn’t realize how much sugar they were getting from the baby foods I was feeding them. I guess it’s my fault for not researching it, but I never really thought about it. No wonder child obesity is such a big problem.

So what is my approach now? Beginning January 1, I have made a lifestyle change by eliminating bread, rice, and pasta from my diet. I have also significantly reduced my sugar intake and increased my protein consumption. Exercising?? I’m slowly getting back into it, but most of my weight loss came without working out.

After 5 weeks, I am 10 pounds lighter and exercising moderately, to include 30 minutes of cardio and weight training 3 times a week. It’s no secret that a healthy lifestyle includes exercise and eating the right foods, but for many of us, this is a total lifestyle change. Having a gym in our house motivates me to work out even if only for 15 minutes at a time, check out Designing a Professional Home Gym.

Sticking with a low carb diet is the hardest part, it’s so easy to fall off the wagon and grab that piece of pizza after a couple glasses of wine…and then you’re back into the same routine of eating  starchy foods. Once you get that taste of bread, your body starts craving it again. But if your body gets off starchy carbs, your body will not crave bread or pasta.

How have I been able to stick to a low carb regime? During the month of January I restricted going out and socializing with friends. It was hard to decline get togethers and nice dinners, but I think of it as temporary. Once I reach my target weight, a 15 pound weight loss, then I will resume my regular activity but be very cognizant of everything I put into my mouth.

While I am trying to lose weight, a typical day of food looks something like this:

Breakfast – A protein bar HERE, usually chocolate and a cup of black coffee

Mid morning snack – A tablespoon of low sodium peanut butter HERE

Lunch – A protein and vegetables such as chicken breast and broccoli cooked in olive oil

Afternoon snack – Not recommended but I succumbed to my salty craving for barbecue Lays potato chips, I limited my craving to 1 ounce of chips..again not recommended!

Dinner – Another protein bar or light meal such as 2 fried eggs with a slice of turkey meat.

Could I have lost more weight had I not eaten the chips, and other little treats? For sure…but I enjoyed them in moderation. Having a little treat actually helped me stay on my regime..it didn’t feel so restrictive. I am also working on eliminating processed meats from my diet all together, bacon, sausage and ham included. There is too much data out about the dangers of these foods, it’s not worth the risk.

Losing weight is hard, changing your lifestyle is hard, working out is hard but the results are worth every bit of effort. I feel so much better 10 pounds lighter and I hope I can maintain and keep the extra pounds off. I’ll update you on my progress as I try to get the last 5 pounds off.

What is your method for losing weight? Would love to hear from you.

Also check out Is the Dyson Hair Dryer Worth the Cost?

These KETO and low carb recipes are some of my favorites:

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Frittata Muffins

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Spinach, Onion, & Mozzarella Cheese Omelette

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Chili Lime Shrimp

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Cinnamon “Cauliflower” Oatmeal

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Roasted Red Pepper and Cauliflower Soup

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Spinach Salad with Crumbled Bacon

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Bacon, Red Pepper, & Mozzarella Frittata

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Italian Stuffed Meatballs

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Chicken Curry Drumsticks

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Maple Pecan Breakfast Bars

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Oven “Grilled” Asian Chicken Thighs

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Bacon Avocado Muffins

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Chicken Enchilada Soup and What I have Learned from the KETO Diet

KETO Low Carb Recipe – Chicken Parmesan

Subscribe to Happy Haute Home to receive posts right to your inbox, and follow along on Pinterest HERE, and Twitter HERE and feel free to pin and tweet your favorite pics from Happy Haute Home.

You can also get daily home decor inspiration by following along on Instagram HERE.