Susan Wenner Jackson is a 33-year-old mother of two, living with her husband in Cincinnati, Ohio. She blogs at WorkingMomsAgainstGuilt.com and runs her own writing and social media business.
In 33 years, I’ve learned a few things about losing, gaining and maintaining weight. For people like me who have “what doctors call a little bit of a weight problem” (as Chris Farley put it in Tommy Boy), the struggle never ends. It may get easier for a while, or harder as the years go by. It may even go into hiding for a brief time – just long enough to lull you into a false sense of security that you’re finally free! Obesity will never trouble you again!
And theeeeen, you’re right back where you started on the scale – or worse, heavier than where you started – and wondering if you’ll ever get the upper hand again. Read Full Post >
Guest blogger, Carol Dunlop is certified through FiTour as a Personal Trainer and through the American Red Cross as a CPR, AED and First Aid Instructor. She has competed and placed in several Fitness America and National Bodybuilding competitions. To receive your Free E-course “How to Burn Calories While you Sleep,” check out her website, OptimumBodySculpting.com.
Congratulations! You’ve overcome a huge hurdle in achieving your weight loss goal. It took a lot of hard work, determination and commitment to get this far, but don’t rest on your laurels just yet. Your journey isn’t over. Now comes the hard part, keeping the weight off.
Did you know that two out of three people who lose weight regain all of it and sometimes more, in as little as two years? If you don’t want this happening to you, read on to learn how to keep that weight off, for good.
One of the biggest curiosities surrounding the Biggest Loser contestants is what happens when they go home. The recent story of season three winner Erik Chopin regaining his weight has raised concerns that this is common for most. However, the truth is, most contestants continue to manage their weight loss long after the confetti falls.
Dan Evans, season 5 contestant, tells us that the maintenance is the hardest part, and that two years after his season’s finale, he still has to “work hard to maintain.” That’s why he, joined by former teammate and mom Jackie Evans, have decided to spend a week at the Biggest Loser Resort. Set in the southwestern, picturesque town of Ivins, Utah, the resort offers a fitness getaway unlike any other and allows guests to focus on their health for a week at a time or more.
“It’s so awesome to me that there’s a place where people can go… and it’s as close to the experience as you can possibly get,” says Jackie about the Biggest Loser Resort. Saying that she and Dan were fortunate to be only two of 20 applicants selected for her season, out of 250,000, she’s glad that there’s an accessible place where others can reap all the benefits. Without the cameras!
Listen now as Jackie and Dan tell us about their week at the Biggest Loser Resort, including what a day is like, what surprises them and what they like.
Sooner or later, everyone trying to lose weight hits a plateau, defined as a period or state of little or no growth or decline. In dieting, a plateau means that you’ve stopped losing weight. Getting on the scale weekly shows little to no change, and it can be frustrating to expend the effort with no visible reward. Take heart, though! There are several ways to bust through this.
Most importantly, make sure that you haven’t slid back into poor eating habits. Are you underestimating your caloric intake? For one week, go back to the beginning and keep a food journal recording everything you eat. Odds are, you are eating some extra calories that you might not even fully acknowledge. Maybe you got back into the habit of sampling as you are cooking, or finishing the leftovers on your kid’s plate. Write it all down, take a solid look at it, and see if there’s an area you need to address. Read Full Post >
Whether it is an exercise or diet plan, have you ever found yourself just tired of doing it and tired of thinking about it? Have you ever wanted to just take the night off? Does it feel exhausting? Do you feel like you are approaching burn out? If so, take a break already. Yes, I really just said that. Jillian Michaels suggests to those she trains to take a high calorie day (eating enough calories to maintain current weight).
Recovery is an important component of both growth and maintenance. If you run a marathon without proper training, you will probably find it difficult to impossible to walk the next day. If you push yourself too hard, eventually your body will refuse to work. The same thing happens mentally. Have you ever had a tough day at work or had to think too much and found you could not bring yourself to do anything but stare at the TV that evening? Creating a new habit and sticking to a food plan are mental stressors. Read Full Post >
Susan Wenner Jackson is a 33-year-old mother of two, living with her husband in Cincinnati, Ohio. She blogs at WorkingMomsAgainstGuilt.com and runs her own writing and social media business.
