Free Holiday Weight Loss – How to Do It

Am I a Scrooge for bringing up  holiday weight loss on Christmas Day?????  I hope you don’t think so. In fact, I hope you consider this a gift.

If you struggle with weight loss, it’s probably in the back of your mind right now.  You think about it when you belly up to the turkey bar or dessert tray.  I know it’s true because that’s what I go through. Well, I want you to enjoy today and the rest of the holiday season without worrying about food whatsoever.

I stumbled on a free weight loss program a few weeks ago that’s really working. Even though it’s the holiday season, with this program you can actually lose weight and enjoy it – starting right now.

I’m here to tell you that I’ve lost weight over the last several weeks and I’m confident that I’ll continue doing so. The key to my plan is to keep it very simple.

I’m pretty confident that I’ve found a very good system that I’ll be able to stick with going forward too – and that’s the most important part of it. I’d like to share my experience with you. My goal is to help you achieve a similar goal without your spending lots of time or money in the process.

OK…so like I said, this is a very simple plan (simplicity is one of the best business ideas — why shouldn’t it be just as effective with our diet?). The plan has three steps:

Step 1 – The Food.

No baked goods.
No sweets.

That’s it.

So I cut out bread and all other baked goods. I also cut out goodies. To you, this might seem like a no-brainer, but this simple approach was what I needed.

I can’t go on a diet where I have to think about it all the time. In fact, I needed something I didn’t have to think about at all. I eat whenever I want to and I eat whatever I want – as long as it’s not a baked good or a goodie.

Please don’t tell me this is just a low-carb diet. If you do, then I’ll look for low-carb goodies and baked goods because I love to eat eat eat them all day long. If I open that door, I’ll be in trouble in a snap. Before you know it I’ll be down at the Dunkin’ Donuts chasing my blues away with a bear claw with a cinnamon bun chaser. In my particular case, I have to stop eating these things for good – one day at a time.

This was tough at first – but several weeks into this plan, I can tell you that it’s no big deal. For the first time in years, I’m actually optimistic that this is a plan I’ll stick with.

Disclaimer – I do allow myself a cup of hot chocolate.  I just love chocolate and can’t see myself living without it forever. For me, it’s safer to drink it than eat it.  If you’re like me, you might look for some kind of safe way to indulge.  I’ve heard about diet cookies and that might be an alternative, but I’ve never tried them so I can’t say.

Step 2 – Be accountable when I blow it.

I have a buddy who is also trying to lose a few pounds. We text each other when we make a mistake – even a small one. I have written many times how important it is to have an accountability partner – at least for me.

By telling him when I’ve fallen off the wagon – which hasn’t been too often – it forces me to get back on the wagon rather than give up. I’m doing this one day at a time. I don’t care if I blew yesterday; today is all that counts.

Step 3 – Exercise.

I don’t know about you, but I actually love to exercise, so this isn’t tough at all. I do some cardio and weight training four times a week. I haven’t really changed anything in that area of my life. So there you have it.

If you are tying to lose weight, find your own plan. I think the second and third steps are critical, but you can come up with your own food plan. I personally needed something extremely simple and easy. This fits the bill so far.

I promise to keep you up-to-date with my progress in this area.  If you find something that works, share it.  It’s a very inexpensive (and valuable) homemade Christmas gift.

What have you done to successfully lose weight? Do you think that elements of this plan would work for you?

On to the weekend links:

This week, David at MoneyUnder30.com is awarded the Pilgrim Pick of the Pack Award for his fine piece on why recessions are a good thing. He’s got moxy…and certainly worth the read.

On to the other picks of the week:

Let It Breathe – a great post on being patient. Cash Money Life.

How to Re-Gift – a favorite topic around the Pilgrim Palace.  Moolanomy.

10 Quick Eco-Friendly Things You Can Do Right Now.  Bargaineering.

Show someone you love them without buying them a gift.

Wishing you a terrific holiday…

Neal