Have you struggled to lose the FINAL 10 POUNDS and are ready to give up?  Well, I was!!!  But then I changed just a few things in my diet…and all of a sudden, the weight started to melt off!  Interested in how I did it?  Keep reading to learn my secrets!  

In the last 4 months, I’ve lost 10 pounds – THE FINAL 10 POUNDS!  Amazing right?  Thanks 🙂

See…I’ve always had a plateau area and I just assumed that this was the lowest that my body was willing to take me after having 3 children.  I reached my plateau early last year, upped my workout regime thinking that I could push past my plateau…and….NOTHING!  Absolutely NO CHANGE!!!  I stopped doing my intense workouts and just focused on getting my 10,000 steps a day until I figured out my next plan of action.

Then, last April, my husband and I watched a documentary on Netflix that made us change our views about the food we were ingesting.  We normally eat pretty healthy– you know, lots of fruits/ veggies/ no pop or soda, and limited on the junk food consumption too.  But this documentary opened our eyes as to other switches that we could make to further enhance our healthy approach to eating.

After lots of discussion, planning and research- we made some switches to our diet.  4 months later and 10 pounds lighter, I broke the stubborn weight plateau.  HOORAY!  Even better, I have somehow managed to get back to my high school weight!   This was mind-blowing as I thought it was an impossible reality!

What did I do?

It’s quite simple actually. Not much at all- just a few tweaks in my diet– no intense workouts necessary!  It’s been said that 80% of the weight loss has to do with food, the other 20% is exercise.  So during the last 4 months, my primary focus was controlling my food intake.  Here’s what I did–

1. Wear an Activity Tracker Watch

I made sure that at least 6 days a week, I had the minimum of 10,000 steps per day.  As well, I tried to burn between 2100 and 2400 calories each day.

2.  Go Vegetarian-ish

Instead of meat, I’m consuming vegetarian meals.  Don’t worry, I’m making sure I get all the protein I need and consume other sources of protein (spinach, kale, broccoli, almonds, quinoa, etc).

I use the -ish because I’m not against meat…and would consume if there were not any alternative options.  Also, I’ve been allowing fish, eggs, and shrimp into the diet periodically too.

3. Cut out Majority of Dairy

I’ve been noticing that every time I have dairy, I’m on the couch in pain, bloated and looking like I’m 6 months pregnant! But I’m not!  So, I have decided to take out diary from my diet (or at least consume in low amounts if needed-like on pizza for example).  Similarly, I’ve switched from cows milk to almond milk and I’m loving the taste 🙂

3. Focus on Eating Plant-Based Foods

NO Processed foods! This was the hardest part and took a lot of planning.  I was always looking for new recipes and trying them on my family.

4. Drink Apple Cider Vinegar Every Day

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) helps to detox my body and regulate my digestive system.

5. Don’t Eat Anything After Dinner

This means no snacking at night.  I did, however, make an exception for my Thursdays, it’s my wine night when I enjoy some dark chocolate covered almonds!

6. Calorie Count-ish!

That’s right, I sort of round about calorie count. I have an idea what everything I eat adds up to. Before I eat my meals, I pre-calculate in my head how much I want to eat and it helps control my portion. By the end of the day, I try to consume about 1500 calories of healthy foods.

7. Weigh Myself EVERY morning

This just keeps me focused and in check with my decisions for the day.  If I’m super excited about the number I saw on the scale in the morning, I might relax a bit.  If it’s the opposite, I might tighten up my food choices for that day to ensure that I’m eating super healthy and making smart choices.

Was it difficult?

I’m not going to lie, it was difficult at the beginning! There was a lot of planning and preparing to ensure that I had the proper food to eat in the house.  Also, I needed to make sure that the food was ready to eat- veggies cut up, fruit cleaned, etc.  This prevented from grabbing on the go and making unhealthy choices.  And my kids…well, they tried fighting some of the dinners, but I just kept trying week after week…and now they eat and ENJOY the meals that I prepare!

All things considered, I feel now that I have trained myself and it’s easier for me to avoid certain foods or say NO to sweets & processed or greasy options.  Plus, I’ve collected a large assortment of breakfast, lunch and dinner ideas that the whole family enjoys and I’m not constantly looking for more recipes.

I truly believe now that it really is ALL about the food to get control of your weight-loss!!!

How I’m Feeling:

In the end though…I feel amazing! I’m full of energy, never bloated, and enjoying some other added benefits such as healthier looking skin, hair, and overall better moods.  I’m sure I’ll slump here and there, indulge in some delicious desserts or even overeat portions once in a while.  And that’s okay.  Because I now know the secrets to what pushed me to get back to my high school weight and shed the FINAL 10 POUNDS!

So – Are you ready to switch out a few things to jump start your weight-loss of the FINAL 10 pounds?  GO AHEAD…Try it for 2 weeks and see the differences!  I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below.

BE STRONG & COMMITTED….AND IT WILL WORK FOR YOU TOO!