How I lost 10 Pounds (without Trying Too Hard)

Who else gains that fun “winter 10.” I’ve always gained 5-10 pounds in winter and it “used” to be fairly easy to take them off….BUT, then something happened: I got older and pounds don’t come off nearly as easy as they used to.

Last year, after not really losing any of the previous year’s “winter 10,” I was determined to A) lose it, and B) make sure there was no additional “winter 10.” I’m happy to report, mission accomplished! And guess what, I didn’t go through any crazy diet or workout program to do so.

What I Ate to Lose 10 Pounds

We all know we need to limit our calories, but if you’re like me, that’s easier said than done. Especially because I’ve never really eaten that bad. I cook almost all of my meals, and don’t eat out a ton, but I do have a sweet tooth.

The biggest change? I cut out synthetic additives and preservatives almost entirely. I am a full-fledged believer in keeping these artificial ingredients chemicals out of our bodies. With a little digging, it’s easy to see why - they’re terrible for you, some even related to bigger health concerns such as cancer and Alzheimer’s, among other things. While I thought I was cutting these ingredients for those specific purposes, I think eliminating them all together helped in other areas, including weight loss.

Again, I already didn’t consume a ton of preservatives or additives, but by becoming conscious of some of the foods I previously enjoyed that contained them, I was able to cut out even more processed foods that were doing nothing for me, other than keeping me unhealthy.

The biggest ones I’ve avoided: trans-fats, high-fructose corn syrup, MSG (monosodium glutamate), nitrates/nitrites, any artificial anything and BHT. There are others, such as aspartame, I already didn’t eat, but would recommend to anyone reading this to get rid of.

You can read a bit more about some of the above in this article.

And remember I said I eliminated them “ALMOST” entirely. I’m a firm believer in the occasional “something” unhealthy, like a Chick-Filet Chicken Sandwich. But having that once every 6 or 8 weeks is a lot different than eating fast food regularly. When I get a sweet tooth, I bake versus buy, and substitute ingredients when I can, avocado oil for vegetable oil, honey for sugar, etc. I also NEVER eat margarine (just butter), or “diet” anything, such as pop. I’m not trying to tell you sugar or avocado oil is particularly healthy for you, I’m just saying choose natural versus synthetic. Real sugar versus aspartame.

Did I Work Out Like Crazy?

Nope, not at all. But I was determined to get outside daily and move. Whether it was a walk, jog or combination of the two, I made sure I did. While in spring, summer and early fall, that’s relatively easy to do in the Midwest, I would always cut myself some slack, and, if I had a busy day, I’d forgo my walk. If it was raining, I took a day off. This past year, regardless, I didn’t skip. If it was raining in the morning, I’d plan on going out in the afternoon. Busy day? Get up earlier.

And, being a little on the competitive side, I LOVED seeing all the days in a row of 10,000 steps or more. If you don’t have a Fitbit or fitness tracker, I highly recommend getting one! I remember the first time I got one several years back, at how few steps I took on some days. Something about seeing a smaller number is 100% motivation to move a bit!

During the past year, I did opt for more intense periods of time as well, where I did free workout programs from Chloe Ting, in addition to my normal activities. I’m not going to lie, those times were hard. I just made sure I did them the weeks I didn’t have too much else going on in my life.

There were other changes I made, such as specific supplements (more on that in a separate post), but for the most part, the above changes were it. And the best part, I very rarely felt like I was “trying to lose weight.” I think we often get in that mindset and if we mess up - such as one chicken sandwich, we give up. I never feel like I deprived myself of anything because I don’t feel like I did. Maybe once or twice I wanted to eat something I didn’t, but once you start to eat healthier, your cravings for the unhealthy kind of go away.

Oh, and definitely make your grocery list and stick to it. Decide what you’re going to eat/make for the week (include snacks) and don’t buy anything that isn’t on that list!