Sunday, January 1, 2023

No Junk January Weight Loss Challenge: Identify Triggers and Traps



 Hello my dear friends! Happy New Year, 2023! I've been blogging since 2013 about how I lost 100 pounds (happy weight loss decade-aversary to me 💋!) Needless to say, in order to maintain weight loss, I have to keep at it. But I also have to mix it up occasionally, using different strategies, diets and eating plans. My initial method was calorie restricting with a 1200 calorie diet (actually 7 calories X goal weight, so about 1150). I've used intermittent fasting, keto, cleanses and diet supplements as well. 

A big part of how I lost 100 pounds in the first place was not just calorie restricting but completely revamping how I ate. So, to both mix it up and revamp eating habits, I've decided to challenge myself to a No Junk January as an anniversary present to myself. Since the blowout that Christmas usually is, I've been purging the house of junk food, empty calories, sweets, baked goodies, salty snacks, fatty, fried and fast foods. I wrote about that a few days ago, but as per my MO, I neglected an important first step: identifying trigger foods. 

But maybe it's not out of order to purge first and determine triggers next. If I have access to other junk food, even if I don't like it as well as my favorites, I know myself and I'll eat the other stuff in desperation. 😏 Obesity stems from a variety of factors but I can pinpoint certain foods that helped me become overweight. My triggers were the three Cs and one W: chips, chocolate candy, cheese and wine. 

For No Junk January weight loss, I'm going to evict those troublemakers from my cupboards. Cheese, I'll still keep around because it's a good protein source and bedtime snack and because I'm better at portion control now, with cheese. But I'm also getting rid of all salty snacks and sweet foods so I don't sublimate with say, pretzels or tortilla chips instead. 

Oh, also, I'm cutting down on salt, sodium and salty foods in general. The DASH diet identified salt as one of the biggest, but also least addressed obesity causatives. when calorie restricting on a 1200 calorie diet I found that salty foods made me hungrier and also dehydrated.  

If you'd like to join this No Junk January weight loss challenge, begin today by figuring out what foods are your kryptonite. I can't promise weight loss but it's a pretty fair bet that eating healthier will have a positive net result.  And even if you don't need to lose weight, nixing junk, especially sugary, salty stuff will aid with pain management as both cause uncomfortable inflammation. And better diet is definitely a mood lifter! 

Here's to health! I pray your 2023 is all you need it to be. Love, mar

#howIlost100pounds 


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