A reader recently asked me if I have had cheat days during my weight loss journey. I thought this was a wonderful question and wanted to post a community response here because others may have similar questions.

This is a life long journey for me not just about weight loss but also about maintaining a healthy and sustainable life. Something that has been key to my success on this journey is having a positive mind set about weight loss and healthy living. So I never really thought about having “cheat” days. Actually, I don’t have “cheat” days, instead I like to call them my “treat” days = )  On my treat days, I get to eat foods that I especially love but know aren’t the healthiest for my diet. For example, veggie pizza and desserts especially yummy home baked cupcakes! I try my best to also have these foods in their healthiest version (example, veggie pizza with whole wheat honey crust or fat free/sugar free cupcakes). I also keep track of the portion size and calories/or Weight Watchers points of these foods so that I know I am not going overboard. These treat days really help me stay on track and stick to healthy eating because I am not deprieving myself of any foods, and I can still go out and eat at some my favorite restaurants. For instance, I can still go out to my favorite New York City Bakery, Bouchon and still enjoy their infamous TKO cookie which is like a rich oreo cookie with white chocolate ganache…mmmm. At times this journey can be difficult and fustrating, but remember you still need to enjoy yourself and eat the things you love! Just with moderation and good conscious. 

Even on the the hard days, we must remind ourselves of how far we’ve come and where we want to be. For me I’m at a place in my life that is much more healthier and enjoyable. Today I can go for long runs, bike rides in the park,  laps in the pool, and enjoy life so much more than I was able to do when I was overweight, unhealthy and often exhausted. I don’t ever see myself going back to my old lifestyle because I know my health and life are too precious to just waste away. It’s a beautiful life so let’s enjoy it = )

Best,
Theresa

The purpose of this blog is to share with others my experiences, feelings, thoughts, and advice about weight loss and living a healthy and sustainable life.  Honestly, I never thought I would start a blog, but then again I never thought I would make YouTube videos that document my weight loss journey but I have. Most of you who are reading this probably already know about my YouTube channel: Losingthefat (if you dont feel free to check it out @ http://www.youtube.com/user/LosingtheFat).

In April of 2009, I was inspired by many in the weight loss YouTube community to change the way I thought about food and how I treated my body with what foods I was putting in it. I weighed in at 194.3 lbs and was considered overweight by all standards including my BMI (i.e., body mass index). Physically I could no longer enjoy everyday activities like going for a walk in the park, or bike riding along the shore because my body would quickly get fatigued. And although I have been a vegetarian for a number of years now, I did not have a nutritious diet. My diet consisted of tons of carbohydrates (white pasta, rice, and bread) and tons of dairy. I did not know how to take care of my body and I knew nothing about how to keep a healthy lifelong diet. I also never even considered portion control or calories.

And then I had a “light-bulb” moment while watching weight loss videos on YouTube. I realized I had to make a change in my life. I had to become healthy. If I didn’t I wouldn’t have a chance to live a full and enjoyable life. I wanted to be free of the prison that I felt in my unhealthy body. So I made my first video and low and behold I got a great deal of positive feedback and support from many in the community. I must admit I have been blessed by the YouTube weight loss community. Many in this community have motivated and inspired me (and continue to do so) on my journey. Vlogging has also kept me accountible for my actions throughout this life changing experience. Additionally, I joined Weight Watchers in April and I began to learn that I could eat healthily and still enjoy my food. I will discuss my Weight Watchers experience further in a separate blog ; ) Today, I weigh 150 lbs and have lost over 40 lbs since I started my weight loss journey on YouTube. My current goals include: lowering my body fat %, toning and sculpting my body and eventually reaching a healthy weight in the 130s.

To get down to it, I want to give back to this community and to all out there who might not even be considering a health behavior change. This blog is for everyone! I hope that my experiences might be able to shed light and educate others on some of the issues, challenges, and triumphs that many of us on a journey towards weight loss and life change experience. In addition, some of the other subjects I hope to share and discuss with you through blogging, twittering, and photo journaling include: my vegetarian diet, grocery hauls, recipes, weight loss tips, exercise routines, my commitment and experiences with trying to live a more sustainable life through little things like buying second hand clothes and using reusable totes (e.g., I love shopping a thrift stores!), my educational experiences as a  doctoral student in the health education/promotion field and anything else that others may have questions about. My heart and arms are open to all of you and I would love to support you on your journeys as well so please if you have a blog suggestion or any questions please feel free to post them and I will try my best to attend to all of them.

Until next time my friends…stay positive, stay focused, stay healthy.