Friday, June 9, 2017

Here We Go (Again)

A few months ago, I had the dreaded weight loss discussion with my doctor. I found out I had a very fatty liver, so she gave me the option to either diet and exercise or take medication. After gaining almost all of the weight back that I lost in 2014, I decided it was time to make a huge change.

I was not motivated, and I was glued to the couch more than ever. I found my love for fast food again, but the most disappointing thing of all, is that I found hate for myself again.

After losing 100 pounds three years ago, I thought was safe from the unhealthy cycle of yo-yo dieting. I was wrong. Yes, I lost a great amount of weight, but I never got down to the root of the problem, which was emotional eating.

My doctor knew I could lose the weight. She just thought I needed a little boost, and I agreed. We discussed different weight loss medications, and after a lot of thought, I decided to start taking Contrave.

Contrave is a prescription-only medication that affects two areas of the brain- the hunger center and the reward system. Not only does the pill reduce hunger, but it also reduces cravings, and let me tell you, I was craving everything but the kitchen sink!

I knew going into it that this "miracle" pill  was in fact, not that at all. I knew I was going to have to work harder than ever both physically and mentally. Trust me, I wish I could just take a pill and stick with my old, lazy routine, but that's not realistic.

I have definitely seen a reduction in my cravings, and I am happy to say that after 3 weeks of taking the medication, I am down 22 pounds. I have started using MyFitnessPal again to count calories, and I try to exercise for at least thirty minutes 5-6 days per week.

This time around, I plan on finding myself again. I have started to reward myself with things other than food and have started incorporating more fresh food into my diet. I know I won't be on Contrave forever, but I do know that this time, I will take the knowledge I've gained from my past mistakes to become healthier than ever.

Check out the five ways I have been keeping my mind off of food:


    1. Call a friend. No, don't text a friend, actually call them. It's a great way to catch up, and after an hour, your mind is more on the gossip as opposed to food.
    2. Read a book, listen to music, or watch TV. Some people probably would not agree with me on the watching TV part, but I love a good reality show!
    3. Go for a walk or jog. When I exercise, I never want to ruin my progress with bad food after!
    4. Do housework, laundry, or yard work. It's more physical activity, plus you'll have a beautiful home afterwards!
    5. Write a blog post. Even if it's for your eyes only, writing is a great way to take your mind of off food, get creative, and de-stress!






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