Thursday, October 23, 2014

Longterm Weight Maintenance

Life isn’t always smooth sailing and neither is weight maintenance, at least for me. Sure, over the years I have figured out strategies that have helped me to get back on track when things are a bit “off,” but I still need to be very diligent on a consistent basis and there are slight ups and downs.
I am tall, so a 5 - 10 pound gain - that’s where I have worked hard at to keep my “gains” for years - may not cause alarm right away. I can still squeeze in my clothes - although they are definitely not as comfortable or flattering!

So while that “little” gain may not seem a big deal, it can be. Because those 5 or 10 pounds can easily become 15 or 20 or more. And losing that much weight becomes a whole different story.
While it’s important to reign in those “little gains” right away and turn them around, I also think it’s important to understand that they are normal and will happen once in a while. I used to beat myself up whenever my weight crept up a bit. I thought I was failing. But I wasn’t. What’s important is having an arsenal of strategies that gets you back on track right away. So here are my weight loss strategies that I use when weight starts to creep up a bit. Several of them I learned while doing the Conscious Cleanse for the first time almost two years ago. They have definitely made maintenance easier even though I had maintained my weight for years before then.
Here is what I do:
  • Start each day with warm lemon water while journaling (being extra mindful is so important when trying to lose weight)
  • Shopping, prep, and pre-cooking on the weekends so that there is always something healthy to eat - I do this year-round, but when I try to lose a few pounds, I am even more diligent. 
  • Make time for exercise - walks, yoga, weights - the benefits are far beyond physical - when I work out I eat better. Also, just a small drop in workout time can have an impact on how I overall feel and eat. 
  • Get enough sleep - oftentimes hunger is caused by sleep depravation.
  • Add “spa elements” to the day to relax - candles, flowers, a bubble bath, a pedicure - little ways to pamper ourselves can make such a difference in how we feel, which in turn makes eating right and getting enough exercise much easier
  • Doing a Conscious Cleanse a few times throughout the year has helped me make weight maintenance and feeling my best year-round much easier. It’s a great way to take care of little gains and bad habits that may creep back into your life. I didn’t think I would like a “cleanse,” but the Conscious Cleanse is a food-based cleanse that can be adjusted to any eating plan. Also, it goes far beyond food and helps you take care of yourself in all aspects of your life. If you would like to experience a group Conscious Cleanse with lots of built-in support (private FB group, daily emails, six live tele seminars (which are recorded), as well as email support), click here for more information about the November Conscious Cleanse. Registration closes on October 27. 
Questions: What strategies do you use to keep little weight gains from turning into bigger gains? 

Be well,
Andrea

[Disclosure: I’m a Conscious Cleanse ambassador and will earn a commission if you decide to sign up for the cleanse using one of my links. Links to clothing items are affiliate links, and I may earn a commission on actions taken on the links.] 

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Living Consciously this Holiday Season

Summer used to be my favorite season. I love the beach and the pool and usually work a lot less in July and August. But then, seven years ago, the kid was born in the fall, and fall quickly became my favorite season.

Whenever I go for a walk, and I see all the fall colors, I am reminded of those first walks I took with the kid in a carrier. He was barely 5 pounds when he was born, and people often asked if there was really a baby in there as he was so tiny that it was hard to see him. I also love pumpkin, cooler temps (still waiting for them here!), and reading a good book by the fire place. Plus, there are soups and stews and homemade apple sauce.

Yet, fall and the holiday season that follows can also be a source of stress. There are countless parties, often with few healthy food options. The days are shorter yet there is more to do with back-to-school activities, fall sports, and parties. It’s no wonder that we often look for the “reset button” on January 1.

Last year, I approached the holidays differently. I had done my first Conscious Cleanse - a food-based cleanse where you eat real food customized to your needs and preferences - in January and loved how it had positively changed my life. I had lost weight, slept better, had better skin, and felt more centered and mindful. For the first time in years, I didn’t have stomach pain and discomfort.

When Jo & Jules, the founders of the Conscious Cleanse, offered a pre-holiday cleanse, it made a lot of sense to me. Why wait until January to feel my best?

The pre-holiday cleanse helped re-affirm a lot of the positive changes I had made but had started to let slip a bit. I recommitted to starting every day with warm lemon water followed by a green smoothie. I got rid of all condiments and everything with added sugar. I gave up chocolate and anything with caffeine.

Conscious Cleanse8

Since I had followed the Conscious Cleanse guidelines most of the time, the changes weren’t radical but rather little tweaks here and there that left me feeling great.

One aspect I love every time I do a Conscious Cleanse is that it helps me to be more mindful in general. As recommended, I start each day by journaling for 10 to 15 minutes. It’s a great way to clear your mind and focus on what’s really important. I also always declutter my surroundings when I cleanse - from the kitchen to my closet to the garage. It feels great!

On January 1, 2014, I was at my lowest weight in 10+ years and felt great. I had had a great holiday season and felt ready to tackle the new year.

The 2014 pre-holiday cleanse starts on November 1, 2014. Right now early bird registration is underway, and you can get $25 off with code EBCC1114. The code is good through October 12. Click here for more information and to register for the Conscious Cleanse.

For those who are interested, here are some posts about my experiences during and after the Conscious Cleanse, including the foods I ate and how I planned and prepped cleanse foods. [Note: The posts are in reverse chronological order.]

Question: What are you going to do to be more mindful and present during the holiday season this year? Even one little change, like journaling for 10 minutes first thing every morning, can make a huge difference...

Be Well,
Andrea