How I lost 100 pounds by eating: weight loss workarounds

 I've been working at weight loss for several years now. And ya wanna know something weird? Part of how I lost 100 pounds is to eat! Seriously! I wrote in a post a few days ago about the 5Ds of weight loss and one is diffusion. I diffuse extreme hunger by eating healthier and staying satisfied. 

Starvation diets fail because they're too restrictive. Not eating enough leads to huge blood sugar drops and insane, unquenchable hunger. When I get that hungry, I need to eat yesterday! I go into "hangry" mode. I'm shaky, dizzy and can't think straight. I'm literally stuffing food into my mouth, package and all. Obviously, that binging derails weight loss. 

When little hunger pangs become raging hunger pain, it hurts like a sunuvugun. I will do anything to make it stop. So I don't let it get to that point. I snack all day. I avoid large meals and eat more smaller meals. I track calories so I don't overeat. 

I keep protein snacks with me at all times. I cook up a big batch of kick-obesity, good-4U veggie-protein food like my gluten-free rainbow goulash (shown above), and nibble on it throughout the day

True, I'm never really full. But I've learned to be okay with that. I've found that I can survive being a little peckish. And that state of being "never full but never starved" is how I lost 100 pounds and beat obesity! 

Wherever you are with your weight, from underweight, perfectly satisfied, overweight or obese, I wish you the very best. If you are trying to make some changes I'm cheering for you! You got this, brothers and sisters! <3 Love mar

How I lost 100 pounds using hunger pain: poverty, empathy and weight loss

It might surprise you to know that feeling hunger pain was a big part of how I lost 100 pounds. I discovered a connection between my own hunger, the poverty and hunger of others and weight loss. Feeling hungry helped inspire me to lose weight but also to work on losing selfishness. Let me explain. 

As a Catholic Christian, I'm called to live in solidarity with the poor, to fast, to show empathy, to pray and  sacrifice for others. This is based on Biblical gospel teachings of Jesus, which the Catholic church has listed in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. 

I have practiced religious fasting for awhile now but it didn't really hit till I started to work at weight loss. Then I learned on a small scale what was meant by hunger pain. Being hungry really hurts. I don't know the deep hunger of systemic poverty. That pain is something I've never had to endure. But I can offer up my meager sufferings for those who really suffer. 

By denying myself food, I align myself with those in need. Feeling a little of what they feel a lot, makes me more empathetic and sympathetic. When I'm hungry I recall those who are starving. I can ask our Heavenly Father to show mercy. I can give up my selfishness. And on a pragmatic level, saving money on food gives me more to share. It's not enough. It never will be until we eradicate poverty and world hunger for good. But it helps me and I'm grateful for that.