Let's get real! The "secret" to weight loss

"What's your secret??" they ask... "I started eating less, eating better, and got active." I answer...
"But how? how did you lose so much?"
"Well, I found this website, called sparkpeople... I put in my height, weight, and how many pounds I wanted to lose a week, I selected the max amount of 2 lbs... it told me how many calories to consume in a day, and how many to burn in a week, so that's what I did. I counted every calorie I put in my body, and started running."
"No, really... how did you do it??"

Why is the answer I give not sound like enough? It IS that simple, and yet it's hard.

Let's get real!

Everyone wants a quick and easy fix.
Give me some fad crash diet, or a pill, or surgery even.

I guess it depends on the person... do you want to be happy fast and for a short while(because we all know what happens when you stop those pills and go back to eating whatever you took out of your diet before), or do you want to make a permanent change for life?
The answer was simple for me... I KNEW diets and pills wouldn't give me what I wanted, and this... this just sounded RIGHT.

So I committed. I decided for ONE week I would eat the EXACT amount of calories spark gave me, and I would make sure I hit the burn I needed, and see what happened.
I learned really quick that even though it was that easy, that it was crazy difficult. I realized within a day that I was consuming a STUPID amount of calories! I had to start eating better just so I could feel full without going over my intake... amazing how that works huh? In order to stay in those calories you HAVE to be eating better or you'll be STARVING! I was drinking away calories too...
hello water!! My new best friend! Hello crystal light! Hello Coke Zero!

I was amazed when I realized how OUT OF SHAPE I was, I mean, I knew I did nothing all day but... man!
Huff and puff was the sound I made all week!
BUT... when I stepped on that scale a week later and saw I was down 5 lbs, I was in shock! Surely this wouldn't continue, but I'm willing to find out!
Another week went by, -4 lbs!
That's right! 2 weeks, 9 lbs!


(before)


(5k after two weeks)

So I kept going, and I became stronger, so things were getting easier. Food was becoming my friend, I was going faster and longer while running and I didn't feel like I was going to die.
I lost weight every week, through Thanksgiving, through Christmas, New Years... I lost consistently until I was down almost 30 lbs, then I had to up my workouts a little.


(5k after 3 months)


(5k after 4.5 months)


(Half Marathon after 10 months down over 50lbs)


(second half marathon after 2+ years of losing and keeping off 77lbs)

Let's get real!

Pills aren't the answer.

Diets that you don't plan to keep up for the rest of your life, won't work.

You're going to have to get off the couch, and get your rear in gear.

You're going to have to make better food choices, and eat less of the stuff that got you where you are.

Calories in, and calories out. Yes it's that simple, and that hard. But... it works!

Do you want to lose weight, get healthy and stay that way? Then guess what? You're going to have to work for it!

Doesn't cost you a dime. Just some time, choices and determination!

It's not a secret peeps! When you see that ad off to the side of your computer screen that says "Click for the secret to weight loss!" "drop weight by following this old trick" or "so and so lost __ lbs using this secret!!!"
Just know... it's bull. ALL of it!

Love yourself enough to change your life, for the REST of your life!

It's simple, and hard, but you CAN do it and it's worth EVERY drop of sweat!

Rock it out peeps!

Much Love,

Em