Plates and plateaus

Derek wrote:

I really like this blog Sean. Just want you to know I follow it daily. I like your mentality when it comes to nutrition too. I am totally against dieting myself. I had started eating healthy about 2 years ago after realizing how obese I actually was while at Disneyland. I couldn't even fit into the rollercoaster seat. I was so embarrassed. I'd tried diets in the past but always found it too easy to give up.
Eating healthy is a real challenge, but the rewards are limitless. I've lost 140lbs already and I feel fantastic. Any words of encouragement for anyone else out there?

Derek

Awesome job Derek. I am guessing there was also some exercise in there, and I commend you for deciding to put your health on your list of priorities. It's a smart move in this day and age of expanding waistlines.

Being healthy should be viewed as a low cost, long-term health insurance that you control. It can be as cheap or as expensive as you like. Gym memberships aren't expensive (and some insurance companies pay for a portion of the membership, depending on your employer), and eating healthy isn't as difficult as a diet.

A diet restricts what you can and cannot eat on a daily basis. After some time, frustration sets in and people usually cheat or give up the diet altogether. By changing your mindset to just eat healthy, you will develop a good eating habit that will allow you to eat unhealthy things from time to time without feeling the guilt of "cheating" like you would with a diet. It starts with discipline. If you set a caloric goal for yourself and keep a mindset of making the right decisions when choosing food, you'll eventually begin to automatically make these healthy decisions without having to think about them.

If you have a chance, check out the book series, "Eat This Not That" at your local bookstore. It shows some really good alternatives to foods we think are "okay" to eat.

Don't forget that exercise is also key. Challenge yourself.

Derek says he's lost 140 lbs...I've changed my habits..let's see what you can do.

Sean