Please name one or more easy ways to eat healthy

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

Here are my top two ways to eat healthy.

Always start your day with a healthy breakfast.  It’s very important to fuel yourself up for the day ahead.  And I know a lot of people say they don’t have time so what I tell them is that it doesn’t have to be a big production.  If you feel you don’t have time, just grab some granola, a piece of fruit or prep something the night before.  I personally like overnight oatmeal (cold or hot). It’s filling, tasty and most of all easy to prepare.

The other way to eat healthy is to eat less meat, less processed foods and more WHOLE plant based foods.  I like to try and focus on the colors of my meals, the brighter the food on the plate the better.  Eat the rainbow! Here are some colorful healthy foods to eat.

Diana Walker – @ The Cravings CoachEasy ways to stay healthy, for me, include:

1.  Variety — Having a variety of foods that I enjoy and that are close to nature, not processed.
2.  Fiber – whole foods that contain fiber help make me feel full longer, are great for my digestive system, and are often easy to grab and go, such as fresh or dried fruit, raw vegetables, and nuts.
3.  Healthy Snacking – I plan ahead so that I have healthy snacks available
4.  Fruits and Vegetables – I have fresh fruits and vegetables at every meal

I have an outline on Four Easy Steps to Healthy Eating Habits here —http://thecravingscoach.com/blog/healthy-eating-habits
For me, it is important that my eating plan is easy — because I won’t stick with it otherwise!

How can someone develop self motivation when stuck?

Jillian @ I’m Finding My Weigh

Remotivating yourself can be a challenge, but when I’m feeling stuck or like I’m heading the wrong direction, it’s usually because I haven’t been keepin to my workout schedule. I plan a workout, and make sure I have a new (or re-jigged) workout mix on my iPod and I try a new variation on my workout. I find if I can find that one perfect song that just makes me want to push even harder on the treadmill, or while on the weight machines, I’m back in game and there’s no looking back.

Gillian is a wife, a mother, a career woman…and trying to juggle the fun that comes with all three!

She has two kids. The little man is providing endless hours of whining enjoyment as he enters the preschool years, exploring and pushing every boundary he can while keeping them laughing. The little miss is the newest addition to the family, arriving October 2009.

I joined Weight Watchers in December 2009 with a view to lose 50+ lbs. I’ve lost 70lbs and reached my goal on July 30, 2010. I am now a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers and I’m never looking back!

Diana Walker – @ The Cravings Coach

I first heard of the Law of Attraction when I was working with Dr. Paul Bragg in the 1970s.  It was not called Law of Attraction – but it was the same idea.  The idea that we each have choices and we can choose how we think and we find that — “what we focus on expands”.

It takes work, but we can change our “programming” so that we will have less and less of those times when we get discouraged and are not motivated to take positive actions that bring us joy and health.  I have been working with Affirmations and Visualization for over 30 years.

Here is a quote from my ebook:

“Using affirmations is a technique that can help you overcome your subconscious “programming.”  Affirmations are like goals, but they are said in the present tense.  Affirmations are statements that are said with belief and feeling.  When they are repeated on the conscious level, they begin to “sink down” into your subconscious and become part of your programming.  When you use the right affirmations, you’ll be able to empower yourself to lose weight and overcome food cravings.”

So it all starts with developing the right thoughts, and “re-programming” our thought patterns from negative to positive.  That is what works for me.  It’s not always easy, and I am grateful that Dr. Paul Bragg put such emphasis on that in our Inspiration circles on the beach in Hawaii, after exercise class, so many years ago!

I have created a mini electronic report on Law of Attraction – How to Curb Cravings and Lose Weight Using the Law of Attraction – - See the bottom of the page at http://www.diana2.com to receive your free copy.  Diana Walker, Cravings Coach

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

Angie Newton writes about her weight loss and fitness journey and shares tips on living a healthy lifestyle at her weight loss blog.  Feel free to drop by for a visit!

Whether we like it or not being overweight or obese has serious health affects, have you experienced that at all and if so, how did you overcome it?

Tishia Lee @ No More Plus Size

I’ve had quite a few weight related health issues – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, swelling of my feet/ankles, back problems – just to name a few. Luckily I haven’t had to be put on high blood pressure or high cholesterol medicine! I’ve had more than one doctor reiterate that all these issues are significantly increased because of my weight and being morbidly obese.

Aside from those I have some minor things as well like my legs, knees and feet constantly hurting. It’s harder to do normal things like walking up steps, tying my shoes, shaving my legs, exercise, etc.

The only way to overcome these issues for me was to change my eating habits and to get up and move! Once I start exercising and eating healthy swelling in my feet/ankles goes down, my blood pressure & cholesterol go down, etc. It’s amazing how something as simple as exercise and healthy eating can reverse negative health issues in our lives.

Tishia is just a small town girl rambling about all the ups/downs and in-between’s of being on a journey to lose 150+ pounds and become no more plus size…eventually.

http://www.nomoreplussize.com

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

I have been lucky to not experience any very serious health affects BUT being obese has limited some of the things I can do.  Last year I was hoping to run a half marathon but after trying to train that way, the running was not going to happen. I had a very hard time breathing so I had to train to walk the race instead.  I’m very proud that I finished that race but I’m almost sure it was my weight issues that were the result of the breathing issues.  The more weight I lose, the more opportunities I will have to do things I thought were a stretch.

Angie Newton writes about her weight loss and fitness journey and shares tips on living a healthy lifestyle at her weight loss blog.  Feel free to drop by for a visit!

Jillian @ I’m Finding My Weigh

I never had any serious health issues when I was at my heaviest, but I am amazed at how little my feet hurt NOW compared to before. I would suffer through sore and blistered feet every day, within a few hours of putting on even the lowest heels for work. I thought it was just my feet, just my shoes, but it never occurred to me that the extra 70lbs I was carrying around was the culprit.

Now I can wear almost any style of shoe with only the “normal” discomfort, and I can wear them all day! It’s a whole new world.

Gillian is a wife, a mother, a career woman…and trying to juggle the fun that comes with all three!

She has two kids. The little man is providing endless hours of whining enjoyment as he enters the preschool years, exploring and pushing every boundary he can while keeping them laughing. The little miss is the newest addition to the family, arriving October 2009.

I joined Weight Watchers in December 2009 with a view to lose 50+ lbs. I’ve lost 70lbs and reached my goal on July 30, 2010. I am now a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers and I’m never looking back!

What’s been your biggest hurdle getting (or staying) fit?

Diana Walker – @ The Cravings Coach

My biggest hurdle getting and staying fit is — Planning Ahead.  Sometimes I do really well planning ahead – have my whole week’s food in the fridge and menus planned.  Other weeks I don’t.  I think planning ahead is the only way to go for long-term success, but I prefer to not have to plan!!

When going to a potluck, it really helps to plan ahead that I will NOT try every dish there! – and be prepared with a healthy salad or vegetables and dip, or humus and pita and cucumbers, things that I enjoy and that will satisfy me so that I won’t be tempted to try everything.

Planning for exercise and carrying through on that – like aquafit, yoga, Zumba dance/exercise classes, etc. as long as I join a class, works really well for me.  However, if I don’t plan ahead, bringing exercise into my daily life becomes a challenge.

So, if I have to narrow down my answer to just one “biggest hurdle” – then the idea of “Planning Ahead” seems to be something I still deal with, frequently.

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

My biggest hurdle getting and staying fit is food!  I was doing really well at one point with portion control and making wise food choices but fell off the wagon.  It can be a real struggle to get back on but like I keep saying, if you stick with it and never give up, it will happen. Once one thing doesn’t go right it all seems to go down hill for many people, myself included.  It’s really important, like I said before, to look at your past success and know that you CAN make things happen.  You have to move on.

One other hurdle for me is getting bored with doing the same exercises over and over so it’s really important for me to change things up on a frequent basis and always make sure I’m doing workouts I enjoy.  Sometimes you’ll end up doing workouts that you don’t love and end up quitting altogether. Don’t let that happen!  Find workouts that will make you want to keep going back for more.

What is one activity you LOVE and feel FANTASTIC doing?

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

The one activity I absolutely love and feel fantastic doing is boxing.  I cannot even explain the feeling I get after a good boxing workout.  You would have to experience it for yourself to understand. Whether it’s using the bag, mitts with a partner or shadow boxing alone, it makes me feel AWESOME.  Another activity I love is spinning (cycling). It’s also a great workout and the class environment, when you have a good instructor AND fun class participants will leave you wanting more.

Angie Newton writes about her weight loss and fitness journey and shares tips on living a healthy lifestyle at her weight loss blog.  Feel free to drop by for a visit!

Tishia Lee @ No More Plus Size

I absolutely LOVE dancing. Of course I have no rhythm and just kind of make up moves as I go…but hey that’s the great thing about dancing, you can do your own thing. I don’t do as much of this activity as I would like and need to change that because I feel so…free when I do it. It’s fun, I get a great workout and feel fantastic doing it. The one thing I love about dancing is you can do it in the comfort of your home whenever – put on some music and dance around as you’re cleaning the house.

If you’re looking for more of a workout based dance, check out Just Dance 2 (for the Wii – not sure if they make it for any other gaming systems). If you’re like me and have no rhythm it’s a bit challenging to get the moves down but you’ll have a lot of fun trying (especially if you have a 12 year old son who watches you try! lol).

There’s just something about dancing that makes me grin and giggle like a little kid

Tishia

http://www.nomoreplussize.com

Diana Walker – @ The Cravings Coach

I love Aquafit, Yoga and Zumba.  I know that is more than one, but it is hard to say which I love the most!

Aquafit makes me feel alive.  Being in water is essential for me.  Aquafit is “aquatic fitness” and is a fitness class in water – as you probably know. It is amazing what a good workout you can get.  I have awesome instructors at the local Community Center and I attend 4 or 5 one-hour classes weekly.  Some classes are in the shallow end and some are in the deep end of the pool.  The fitness class is done to lively music, which makes it so fun, the time goes by quickly, and it doesn’t feel like exercise.

Yoga is something I have loved since the 1970s…. I used to teach yoga and exercise classes on the beach in Hawaii.  Yoga really helps with relaxation and flexibility, and I love it, and feel fantastic doing it.

Zumba has become a worldwide phenomena in the past few years.  It is a combination of Latin music, dance steps, and exercise.  The music is so lively and I feel such energy and motivation in class.  Zumba is fairly new to me, and I love it so much that I am doing 2 classes a week and feel fantastic doing it!  Be sure to see if there are classes available near you.

Are cravings for sugar, salt, junk food, sodas, and coffee running your life? For over 20 years, Diana Walker, the Cravings Coach, has assisted people like you in using natural, safe options for creating vibrant health. Learn more at http://www.thecravingscoach.com/blog and http://www.diana2.com

Jillian @ I’m Finding My Weigh

I love swimming and walking. Even at my heaviest I loved walking fast along trails or on our seawall, feeling my legs getting stronger.

My community rec center has a large swimming pool and on Sunday mornings I am usually the only one there swimming lengths. It’s so peaceful and I just love it. It’s a little bit of “me time” and I can even take a steam, a hot tub or sauna when I’m done. Heavenly!

Gillian is a wife, a mother, a career woman…and trying to juggle the fun that comes with all three!

She has two kids. The little man is providing endless hours of whining enjoyment as he enters the preschool years, exploring and pushing every boundary he can while keeping them laughing. The little miss is the newest addition to the family, arriving October 2009.

I joined Weight Watchers in December 2009 with a view to lose 50+ lbs. I’ve lost 70lbs and reached my goal on July 30, 2010. I am now a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers and I’m never looking back!

What is one thing you could say to someone who loses and gains the same 20 lbs over and over again?

Angie Newton @ Losing It And Loving It

I would recommend to them that they really take a close look at their life to figure out if the really want to get healthy.

Losing and gaining weight multiple times like that is unhealthy both for the body and mentally. Make a commitment to get healthy if that’s what you want to do. There will be ups and downs and it’s possible to gain weight back (I get it because I have experienced that) but someone doing it over and over again doesn’t seem to be ready to face it head on.

My advice would be to really dig deep, set goals and go after them. Find a support system to cheer you on to lose the weight and keep it off. And stop making excuses! Another thing I would recommend is to get to the doctor for a checkup to see if there might be an underlying reason for the multiple losses and gains.

Angie Newton writes about her weight loss and fitness journey and shares tips on living a healthy lifestyle at her weight loss blog.
Feel free to drop by for a visit!

Jack @ Jack Sh*t, Gettin’ Fit

What would I say to someone who loses and gains the same 20 lbs over and
over again?

WHAT would I SAY to someone who loses and gains the SAME 20 lbs
over and over again.

What WOULD I say to SOMEONE who loses AND gains the
same 20 lbs OVER and OVER again?

I’d probably just keep repeating the question until the person walks away in boredom or disgust. But if they do stick around, then I draw on my years of experience as a non-dietician, non-doctor, not-healthcare-expert, non-personal-trainer and non-fitness-guru to encourage that person to focus ALL of their energy and effort on getting through ONE GOOD DAY.

Not necessarily a perfect day and definitely not an OVERACHIEVING day. Just ONE GOOD DAY. A day that you can look back at the end of it and say that you ate a little less, ate a little bit more healthy and got in a little exercise. I think we have a tendency to gaze at the mountain off in the distance and trip over the hole right in front of our
feet. I’ve had my best luck when I narrow my scope to getting through one day relatively unscathed and then get up and try to repeat that success tomorrow.

Jack Sh*t is a weight-loss/healthy living blogger who does his thing over at Jack Sh*t, Gettin’ Fit. He’s chronicled his 70-lb. weight loss journey over the past two years and enjoys a readership of over a squatrillion (approximately). He also has a number of imaginary blogs, including Whittle a Bit with Jack Sh*t, Scrappy Jack’s Scrapbook Shack and The Huffington Post. When not blogging, Jack is married to the sea.

Scott Tousignant @ Fat Loss Quickie

If I could only say “ONE” thing to you, it would be to stop putting all of your focus on the end goal of losing 20 lbs and instead focus your attention on the greatest reward… the journey itself.

I encourage you to discover the joy in the process of transforming your body and life. I encourage you to become “Present” in every moment where the intention is to improve your body and health.

I encourage you to nurture the mind-body connection while you workout. I encourage you to embrace the baby steps and celebrate even the smallest of victories that you achieve each and every day. I encourage you to take pride in your body and your ability to become better from one day to the next.

I encourage you to make the most out of every moment. I encourage you to view the loss of this 20 lbs not as “THE” destination, but as “A” destination. Transformation is not just a 12 week period of time in your life. Transformation is your life. If you are not growing as a person, you are dying. You have the power each and every day to choose “Growth”.

During this new journey of yours, I encourage you to not “Lose” this same 20 lbs. Instead, I would like you to release it. Set it free. Avoid the temptation to peek inside the lost and found box, because your 20 lbs that
you released is nowhere to be found. It’s evaporated into thin air.

There may be a million things that you would rather do than work up a sweat and feel temporary discomfort in your muscles. What will make you successful in this journey is to recognize those things, yet go ahead and workout
anyway. For a while you may feel like this is something that you “Have” to do. In time, as you embrace this journey, it will become something that you “Want” to do.

Scott and Angie Tousignant have been helping busy men and women, just like
you, transform their body and life for over a decade. This dynamic duo
prides themselves on providing a balanced and practical approach that will
motivate and inspire you to become the best YOU that you can be.

Scott and Angie have dedicated themselves to sharing their exact workouts,
what they eat, and how they stay motivated to continue transforming their
body’s and life. You can find them at Fat Loss Quickie.

Jillian @ I’m Finding My Weigh

I would ask them if they felt they were really and truly ready to make the lifestyle change necessary to get past that 20lb hump. It really is a change in thinking.

For me, it was to realization that I would have to make CONSCIOUS choices and decisions every day for the rest of my life, if I wanted to maintain the success I had achieved. Every day.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not super strict every single day, but every decision I make is a conscious one, and I know the consequences.

A person who loses the same 20lbs over and over obviously has the will power and commitment to get to THAT point, so I would ask them what happens at that 20lb mark that makes them go back to old habits.

I know for me, back before I fully committed to making the lifestyle change, I would reach the point where people were starting to tell me I looked good, I was feeling better, and instead of going further and feeling even BETTER, I would start to slack off a little here and there. Well, THAT doesn’t work!

Gillian is a wife, a mother, a career woman…and trying to juggle the fun that comes with all three!

She has two kids. The little man is providing endless hours of whining enjoyment as he enters the preschool years, exploring and pushing every boundary he can while keeping them laughing. The little miss is the newest addition to the family, arriving October 2009.

I joined Weight Watchers in December 2009 with a view to lose 50+ lbs. I’ve lost 70lbs and reached my goal on July 30, 2010. I am now a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers and I’m never looking back!