The Top 6 Tips to Losing Weight #NSNation

 This is a partnered post with Nutrisystem. All opinions are my own and may differ from yours.

I can’t believe it has already been 12 weeks since I started my journey with Nutrisystem. I have learned so much about myself and how to lose those unwanted pounds. I wanted to share my final results this week and share some tips that I learned throughout the last 12 weeks. First let’s get to the final results:

	Day 1	Day  84	Results
Weight	233 pounds	203 pound	-30 pounds
Arms	16 inches	15 inches	-1 inch
Chest	46 inches	42.5 inches	-3.5 inches
Waist	42 inches	37 inches	-5inches
Hips	46 inches	43 inches	-3 inches
Thighs	26 inches	22.5 inches	– 3.5 inches

 

I started my weight loss journey 1 week before I started the Nutrisystem my way plan. At that time I weighed 243.4 pounds, so in 13 weeks I have lost 40 pounds. The reason I did that is because usually it is really easy to lose a lot of weight in the first week of any workout plan. If you watch The Biggest Loser you normally see huge losses in the first week. I wanted to make sure that Nutrisystem would work for me, so when I used the Fast 5 and lost another 7 pounds I knew I was off to a great start. I learned a lot about my eating habits in the last 3 months and I want to share the top 6 tips to losing weight that worked for me.

Set a Goal and Write it down

You need to know where you want to go. One of my favorite quotes is by Yogi Berra, he said, “If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” That is so true! It is important to have something to push and motivate you and that is the importance of goal setting. You need to write it down and put it someplace where it is visible every day. On the mirror in your bathroom, the refrigerator, next to your night stand, in your wallet, it needs to be a constant reminder of the life change that you are about to make.

Have a partner

Starting your journey with a partner is key. They are the person that will push you to reach your goal. Whether it is a competition that you have set up with one person or a group of friends, it is easier to go on this journey with someone else because they will hold you accountable.

Eat your veggies

Vegetables are loaded with fiber and essential vitamins. The great thing is that you can eat as much of them as want. I snack on them throughout the day and try to eat at least 4 cups a day. I wake up every morning and load up a Tupperware container with my vegetables for the day. Personally I enjoy eating carrots, broccoli, green beans, bell peppers, cucumbers, and tomatoes. I usually pick two and then the next day I pick a different combination. But they keep me going throughout the day, while providing the body with the necessary nutrients it needs to work at peak performance.

Exercise at least 30 minutes a day

No dieting program is complete without a workout regime. I am sorry, but it is not possible to have the results that I had without working out. My workout of choice was the treadmill accompanied by a movie. I walked at least 3.1 miles a day on my treadmill. If you are not a fan of the treadmill, that is okay. Pick something that gets you in a good sweat and is enjoyable. Nutrisystem’s website provides a lot of activities to choose from.   

Drink more water

I drink a glass of water before every meal.  This helps me to feel fuller so I do not eat as much. Water is so important. Stop drinking your calories! Water keeps your organs healthy and keeps food moving throughout your body, so drink more water.

Portion Control

This might be the last of my tips, but it is the one that I have abused the most in the past, making it the most important for me. Educate yourself on portion sizes. Restaurants are notorious for putting huge portions on a plate and if you think like me you can’t let that food go to waste, so it is a challenge to not only eat it all, but to eat it quickly. Now when I go out to eat I divide it in half and box the other half up. This not only keeps me from eating too much, but I also have lunch or dinner for the next day, which appeals to my frugal side J  

The number one thing that I have learned from being on Nutrisystem is that this is not the end. When you are on a journey to get healthy there is no finish line, so I am so thankful for being a Nutrisystem Blogger because now I am on the right path. Nutrisystem has helped me to see that I can still have all the foods that I want; I just have to make sure that I am eating the right amount. I am going to continue to eat healthy because when I started this journey I had a goal in mind, and that was to be 185 pounds. I am now 203 pounds, so I have 18 pounds to go! Thank you for joining me these last 3 months. When I hit my goal you better believe that I will be sharing those pictures.