I’ve always known that I was a good person on the inside, but my physical frame did not compliment that. My body was flabby and what I thought was muscles were nothing more than just fatty corpuscles. I wasn’t going to stand for the same thing another spring going into summer. I would wear baggy clothing in 90 degree plus weather because I was ashamed, until last spring when I challenged myself to lose weight and show off a new body for the summer. I followed the Akins diet, but I took it with more pride, I made my commitment a regiment.
The Atkins diet is known for a low carbohydrate approach, so I threw out any high carb food as well as all of the junk food in my home. I incorporated more fresh fruits and vegetables into my diet as well as pure juice and water. One of the dishes that really had an effect on my body was kale salad. Lettuce is indeed good for you, but the durability of the food is nothing compared to kale. Kale last twice as long as lettuce, is higher in fiber, and also higher in calcium. As far as meet was concerned I only ate lean meats that were well done or baked. If I ever fried food in were only being olive oil, and a small amount at that.
With my exercise I did not go out and pay for a hot shot trainer or sign up for an intense aerobics class, I simply incorporated exercise gradually into my daily routine. In the morning one of the first things I would do is sit ups and push up, I didn’t do a 100 or more at a time I just did small sets of 10 the entire day. Spreading out sets of 10 during the day is 100 of each and has the same effect on your body as an intense set of 100 would. One thing that really intimidates people and what intimidating me at first was running. I am no Usain Bolt, but I did learn pacing yourself is the best thing you can do. Walking on the first day and then a faster pace a few days later let my body get used to things as I progressed in my diet and exercise. I found myself jogging and then sprinting as weeks went. What I keep in my mind about exercise is that the first two days are always the toughest, but once I mentally and physically got through it, it became a natural part of my day.
I started this journey in late March and by the time June arrived I had lost up to 40 pounds. My body had an entire 360, I could finally wear that bathing suit I never thought I could fit into. Finally I felt good on the inside and even better outside. Getting into shape is no walk in the park, but it’s not starving you or working out like an animal. Losing weight starts in the mind and shows results on your body. Once you change your mind about losing weight then sky is the limit.
Source
Coffman, Melodie Anne. “Facts for Kale Vs. Lettuce” healthyeating.sfgate.com. 7 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 Mar 2014.
