Me: I’ll start Monday!?

Tomorrow never comes. I know it sounds a bit doom-and-gloom, but it should be encouraging. Anything you put off for tomorrow is something not getting done today. If not now, when? The future won’t reach back and change the present, just as the present can’t change the past. When Monday comes around, it won’t be the future anymore, it will be the present, and you will have to be able to say “okay, I’m starting now”. But if you can do that on Monday, why not today? Tomorrow hasn’t happened yet, so by putting it off to tomorrow you’re making sure it won’t happen until you decide to make it happen. So, make it happen! What’s stopping you?

Anyway, I think I’ll start my diet on Wednesday 😉

As someone who has done this journey a few times, one should accept that it’s going to suck. You’re going to be cranky and hungry as 1200 calories is very low. But if you stick to it, it works. This is more of a “matter of fact” statement than a “rah rah motivation” statement.

Also, I mentioned that I’ve gone through this journey a few times. It is a lifestyle change. Once you hit your goal, you still need to eat fairly lower calories to maintain it. I didn’t do that and gained it all back and then some. So the journey doesn’t end when you hit your goal. If you want to stay at this weight, you have to re-wire your brain to count calories for the rest of your life

Hyperbole and a Half! One of my favorite books! I lend it to friends when they’re depressed 🥰

I love Allie Brosh! She gets it!

“I’ll do it later” is a terrible mindset and that goes for anything. You’re relying on future you to change and putting the responsibility on them. It’s why so many people with New Year’s resolutions fail. If you’re waiting for some arbitrary “ready” date, then likely you aren’t committed. (I’m using the Royal you, I’ve been there myself.) Start today, but start small. Maybe you don’t start a 1200 calorie diet today but you start tracking your calories until next Monday. Hell, I’d even recommend it because this gives you a great idea of how much you’re typically eating. Mindlessly grabbing a snack here or there really adds up unfortunately. Or maybe even try replacing a snack or meal with something healthier that you don’t normally eat. Start somewhere, but just start.

Calculate your BMR. Take that number and subtract 500. That’s your calorie goal now. Get a food scale and just weigh and track for a few days. Just tracking (without restriction) will make you more mindful and you’ll probably end up eating less without trying. When you’re used to tracking, focus on your fiber, protein, and calories. The rest will either fall into place or you can figure it out later once you have those down. Learn to “add not subtract” from your plate. Okay, so your food noise is crazy and you can’t stop thinking about having a cookie. Have one cookie with an apple and some water. Up your water intake in general. Work on your sleep hygiene. Move, even if it’s just a ten minute walk. Those things will all help you to regulate your appetite. Don’t be on your phone when you eat and pay attention to your hunger cues. Stop eating when you’re no longer hungry and not when you’re full

You don’t have to do all these things at once. Just do 1-2 habits every 1-2 weeks. When you master them, add 1-2 more. Rinse and repeat. I lost 60 pounds with sustainable, incremental changes. Doing a complete 180 will just make you frustrated and burn out. Don’t crash diet. It won’t work. Build habits that you are willing to maintain even after you lose the weight or you’ll just gain it back again

I keep thinking next week is my moment but somehow it turns into next year… just gotta take baby steps, or like, crawl your way there, hahha.

Me this week. On a real note, anyone down to be accountability buddies? Ive lost 20lbs this past 2 months but it’s suddenly gotten exponentially harder to stay on track since my last period.