Briana's calorie-counting and positive mindset for healthy weight loss

November 07 2007

Briana S.

City & country: Toronto, Canada
Age: 22
Weight before diet: 260 lbs
Weight now: 226 lbs (lowest in adult life: 217 lbs)
Target weight: 160 lbs

After trying several weight loss programs, Briana decided to go with one that she feels best doing because it works the best for her. It isn't about being a militant dieter; she watches what she eats, monitors her calorie intake, and makes healthy food choices. Finding healthful foods to eat has become an interesting adventure to do regularly, along with engaging in physical activities and staying motivated.

-What finally made you decide to start with a weight loss program?
I remember looking at pictures from a European trip that I had taken with friends and I was a little disgusted with myself (I never thought I was that big), although, honestly, it was not enough to get me to lose weight then.
 
In fact, there was never an embarrassing event or traumatic moment that made the weight loss trigger just switch for me, but it did. One day I was content to be an overweight girl and the next I wasn’t. I stumbled upon an online food diary and a couple weight loss blogs and from there losing weight just started to make sense. And it was something very do-able.

-What type of weight loss program are you following?
I am not following any particular program. I count calories, fat, protein and carbohydrates (in healthy, appropriate amounts), but it is not the end of the world if I go over, or even under. I try to eat what is healthy for me including increasing my intake of protein, eating healthier fats, reducing my sodium, all while staying within calories. I love finding new healthful foods to incorporate into this diet.

It is always my choice whether I eat McDonald’s or a homemade meal, but I’ll usually choose the homemade meal because it means that a) I don’t get that fast food ache, and b) that I still have calories left over for the other two meals in the day. I am really trying to be honest with myself - if I really want that McDonald’s meal, well then I’ll eat it and move on.

-Why did you choose this weight loss program?
I knew that I would not (and could not) stick with something where I would have to pay someone to keep me on track. If I am to keep the weight off forever, I knew that I would have to find some way to do it myself.
 
I have looked into Herbal Magic, I have been to Weight Watchers (several times), had a dietician among other modes of action, and this is the only thing that I can say I have stuck with for any period of time (stuck with even after some weeks where my motivation was shot). This is what works for me.

-How long have you been on your weight loss program?
I have been losing weight since February 27th, 2007.

-What kinds of physical activities do you like doing to help you lose weight and stay fit?
I have just started at a new school, so I viewed it as an opportunity to get involved in ways that I never have before. I joined volleyball and soccer intramurals, which I play at least once a week. I have also begun playing squash whenever I can find people to play with. I walk part of the way to school each day (sometimes walking the full 45 minutes). There are two gyms I am able to go to, so I try to go a couple times per week for cardio and weight training, although sometimes it can be difficult with a full school work-load.

I am not necessarily good at any of these activities (especially soccer), but I am trying not to let that stop me. It’s been great to find things I am actually interested in and love to do - it makes the sweating much more bearable!

-What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome or are still overcoming?
Change is my biggest challenge. I find that I have the most trouble when I can’t control the circumstances I am in. I am a creature of habit, so I generally have the same meals week to week, or at most, plan in advance for any modification in my diet. Eating out or at family or friends' homes threatens to ruin my plan for the day. Some days I find the will power to avoid the fatty, sodium-filled food served, but I’ll admit that most times I do not. I just know that I have to keep what I eat in my own home as close to ideal as possible and stop feeling guilty about enjoying 'bad' food elsewhere.

-How do you keep yourself motivated?
I just have to keep reminding myself that every day (even every meal) is a chance to return to healthy eating. Just because I ate something that wasn’t originally in my plan for the day, doesn’t mean that the whole day is ruined. Where some days (or weeks), it gets really difficult to get back to healthy eating, blogging helps, as well as logging my calories at The Daily Plate. Seeing the numbers all in black and white makes me more accountable (which is the part you generally lose out on when you aren’t following a particular program). I eventually find my way back to routine through it all.
 
-Do you have any weight loss tips for our readers?
I think the most important thing is to avoid falling into the thinking that if you eat a chocolate bar that the rest of the day is ruined. No. It’s not. Maybe you eat a little less the rest of the day, or maybe not. There is always the next day or the next after that! Remember this is something you’ll need to do for the rest of your life – it has to take into account the odd chocolate bar… or buffet table.

-Do you think it will be easy to fall back into your old lifestyle pattern? How do you prevent this from happening?
I have found a lifestyle that includes meals and exercise that works for me. I actually enjoy doing it. When I go back to old habits I feel it in my waistline, in my energy levels and certainly in my avoidance to track my food. Those are all triggers that I find help me to stop believing that I wasn’t overeating. The way I have set up my healthy lifestyle, I will never feel like I can’t return to it. This is not an all-or-nothing situation. If I fall off the wagon… well, then I gain a couple pounds and eventually I get the motivation to get back to it. I know how to eat healthy, it’s just a matter of doing it.

-Do you have a favorite Web site or blog that helps or inspires you to lose weight?
I write, as often as possible, on my own blog Motivation! (http://myownprivateweightloss.blogspot.com) where I track my daily weight, any obstacles I have overcome (or alternatively, been defeated by) and just thoughts and issues dealing with living life while losing weight.

The Daily Plate (http://www.thedailyplate.com) is my number one tool when it comes to this lifestyle. It is what helps to keep me on track. It’s very user-friendly and I love the groups and message boards where you can always find an answer to any question.

The one blog that I found helped me the most while getting started, was Dietgirl (http://www.dietgirl.org). Her story of success gave me the hope to continue on and to believe it is actually possible to lose this weight for good.