I’ve kept 70 pounds off for more than 10 years.
Here are 10 key lessons I’ve learned along the way.
As I leaned heavily into the arts and a local youth group, I started to gain weight.
Emily Abbate
Despite feeling excited by my extracurricular activities, I began feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable in my own body.
I was forced to come to terms with a harsh reality: I had to change.
I knew that making changes wouldn’t be easy, but even so, I was ready to start.
Over the next three years, I lost 70 pounds through making healthier eating choices andlearning to love running.
Today, movement is my medicine, enabling me to better show up both personally and professionally.
Show yourself some compassion and embrace honesty, and the rest will come with time.
Never Eliminate Anything Completely
Many popular diets advertise cutting things outat least in small portionslikecomplex carbsor sugar.
When we eliminate things from our diet, it’s almost guaranteed that we will crave them more.
It’s a practice that truly helped me along my journey.
But in the earliest stages, I felt as though I would never.
The first week of running was awful.
I did it for about 15 minutes per day and ran the exact same route every single time.
With time, the enjoyment grew.
I didn’t have to be the best runner.
I just had to bemerunning.
This realization empowered me to try and stick with other things that felt hard in the past.
I’ve done it all, from barre and Spin class to dance cardio and even CrossFit.
There was no reason to stick with something that didn’t bring me joy or light me up.
Listen, we’ve all been there.
Here’s the thing: That all-or-nothing mentality isn’t going to do you any good.
Every single second, you have an opportunity to start with a clean slate.
Water Really Is Your BFF
I’ve never been “good” at drinking water.
When I made getting healthier a priority, I started downing at least six glasses each day.
With that,I started to notice a real difference.
I also started staving off that ever-annoying headache that likely was a result of previous dehydration.
I’ll never forget about the teenage girl who had trouble finding jeans that fit at her local mall.
But I know, now, that she’s not who I am anymore.
If You Want Lasting, Permanent ChangeIt’s About Your Lifestyle
This is something I can’t stress enough.
No amount of exercise will help you against an unhealthy diet.
But diet and exercise aren’t the only things that influence weight and health.
Sleep and stress do, too.
We want to focus on lasting change and better health for years to come.
