RESOLUTION #2 – Lose Weight

Some of the resolutions that I’m posting I REALLY need to do and others will be general. This one is MINE ALL MINE (OK, it could be yours too). You would think that moving from the cold New England weather to sunny South Florida that I would maintain my weight. I mean, I have to wear shorts, dresses, sleeveless much more often. There’s just no hiding like when you’re snuggled under a big, bulky sweater. So, why is it that I came to Florida a size 4/6 – 4 years ago and am now a 12/14? It’s really only been in the last 2 years that I’ve put the weight on. Maybe it’s psychological, I miss my friends and family, maybe life isn’t what I expected. I think it’s mostly the fact that I’m used to running around working, balancing, living and I had more of a routine. I guess that there are parts of retirement that really aren’t that great.

The good thing is, this can be fixed. It can be fixed EASILY actually. Well, after the first few weeks it’s easy…LOL. I’ve done it before and I can do it again. Most of us have lost weight and we know what works. It’s not those fly-by-night fad diets that’s for sure. Oh, maybe you’ll lose quickly initially, but they are always so hard to maintain.

Here are my 3 all time favorite programs/books/eating plans that WORK.

Weight Watchers

One of the things that I like (and sometimes DISLIKE) about Weight Watchers is the meetings.
Yes, they keep you on track. I don’t know if it’s the fact that I get that schoolgirl attitude of trying to please the teacher, or getting an “A” on a paper, but having to check in every week helps. On the other hand, I do find it a bother to get there. The good thing is that you can actually attend online meetings now (I’ll put the links up later). There is even a Brand NEW Weight Watchers 2008 Deluxe Starter Kit and 2008 Points Calculator that you can purchase on Amazon.com with the same kit you get when you go to the actual Weight Watcher’s office.

The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss (The South Beach Diet)

Now out in paperback. This is a very practical, very healthy way of eating. Dr. Agatston has recently updated the diet with a Supercharged edition. Dr. Agatston is a Miami based cardiologist who developed this diet to help heart patients reduce their risk is also the creator of the CT heart scan scoring. You can get a lot of the information on the South Beach diet free at Prevention Magazine.

The French Diet

Finally, my FAVORITE. Not really a diet, it is the way that most thin people actually eat. There’s really no trick, it’s a matter of eating rationally and reasonable. Whether you prefer French Women Don’t Get Fat, The French Don’t Diet Plan: 10 Simple Steps to Stay Thin for Life, or the Chic & Slim Series (which is how I initially began, but are now difficult to find), you will find practical ways to eat wonderful foods (only less of them) and how to incorporate exercise into your life without sweating at the gym (which means to walk or bicycle just about everywhere that you have to go). This is a non-diet, diet. It is the way that I know I should be eating. The French Diet allows us to eat real food the way that it was meant to be eaten (without chemicals, but with full butter & sugar). To eat with joie de vivre (loosely translated – looking at your life as something that is to be taken with great pleasure and enjoy it) makes the MOST sense to me.

These are the programs that have worked for me in the past. If losing weight is one of your 2009 resolutions you need to find the method that fits best into YOUR life (that’s the trick). If you have any tips, tricks or recommendations. Please comment as we all need support and I have only listed what I have done. I’d LOVE to hear what works for YOU!!!!