I feel that if you are going to lose weight and keep it off, you must work on your own eating program and not just go on a diet. For long-term success facing your food challenges will be the key to winning at the losing game. As many of you know, I have been in this process for a few years. I started my journey at 326 lbs and I am now 202. I still have areas that challenge me and I strive everyday to eat healthy and exercise to keep my body machine in great shape.
Some of the challenges that I have worked on over the years are: eating out, eating three meals and three snacks a day, attending events where meals are served, and family birthday parties. I am still challenged when I travel. When I go on a trip there is a switch in my brain that says, “Oh, I am on a trip and it is a vacation and I should be able to enjoy all these new and different foods.”
Five years ago when I went to Florida, I did not gain a pound. That happened with planning and commitment. Tomorrow I leave for China for two weeks. I had a wonderful conversation with Jackie Keller, Founder of Nutrifit, who is my food coach. She said the most important thing I can do is to make a plan and to be very specific about how I plan to accomplish my eating goals. When I am really busy I write a detailed “to do list.” This guarantees that I successful accomplish my goals for the day. I must do the same with my eating and exercise. Even though trip is over a two-week period I must follow the same process.
Here are some of the specific steps I plan to take:
1. Call the airline and make sure that the meals that they are serving fit my eating plan. Besides the dinner, they will serve several snacks. I will have the dinner but I am prepared to have my own snacks.
2. When I am so pushed the day before I leave I often overeat so I have made a wonderful vegetable soup with all the vegetables that are left in my fridge. If I get stressed and want to eat, I will have some of the soup.
3. The first day I will travel all day and only get a dinner that night. I will prepare 2 sandwiches, several vegetables and some fruit so I will not have to depend on fast food in the airport.
4. I have my pedometer with me and plan to walk a minimum of 12,000 steps a day. I would like to be above 15,000 when I can.
5. I am taking a lightweight scale to weigh myself along the way and make sure that my weight is going in the right direction.
6. I take an empty water bottle in my carry-on bag so that I will have my own water container on the 15-hour flight.
7. I take a lot of 20 to 30 min projects as well as an I Pad that is loaded with my own movies and a couple of books on tape so I do not get bored and look for food on the long flight.
Well, here I go. In the next column I will share my experiences with you. Remember it is the small steps that make a big difference in your health, you weight and your happiness.
Dian has taken her ideas and shared them throughout the years in her many books. This month she is offering a 35- year Johnny Carson Anniversary special. Get 6 of her best books — a $95.00 value — for only $35.00. They’re great for gifts or just a wonderful library for you. These books contain the ideas that Dian has used on the NBC “Today Show”, Good Morning America and the ABC “Home Show” over the years. Check out this wonderful special at www.dianthomas.com. You can also preorder her new book on weight loss there.
