I came across a website that the government put together called www.health.gov.  At first glance, it doesn’t look like there’s much there, but after exploring a bit, they actually have some useful information.  One of the most helpful pages I came across was called “Aim…Build…Choose… for Good Health.” Aim for fitness, build a healthy base, and choose sensibly. 

The first one is aim for fitness, and it’s broken down into two different components. Aim for a healthy weight, and be physically active each day.  I think aiming for a healthy weight is probably one of the most important aspects when you decide that you want to lose weight.  For example, if you’re aiming to look like one of the girls on America’s Next Top Model, it’s not very healthy or realistic! Aiming for a “healthy” weight will be much easier to attain than aiming to be a size 0.

So, how do you evaluate your weight? There are two main things you’ll want to take into consideration. First is your BMI which stands for body mass index. There are several websites that will calculate your BMI for you. All it asks for is your weight in pounds, and your height in feet and inches. You can find the calculator here.

Off I went to calculate my BMI. With a height of 5’4”, and a weight of 138 pounds, I found that my BMI is 23.7. But now what does that mean? A BMI from 18.5 up to 25 indicates a healthy weight. A BMI from 25 to 30 refers to being overweight, and if your BMI is over 30, it refers to those who are considered obese. Just a year ago my body mass index was 31.8, which just shows what a differences a year can make!

The next component involves measuring around your waist, just above your hip bones. Yes, you need to get out a measuring tape! I know, it’s scary. If your waist is greater than 35 inches if you’re a woman, or 40 inches if you’re a man, you’re at greater health risks. I wish I had the measurement of my waist just a year ago, but I don’t. I was too afraid of the measuring tape to even bother getting a measurement. Of course after I lost weight, it’s a different story! The measuring tape is now my friend Now my waist measures 30 inches right above my hip bones, and with that number, I know that chances are, I’m pretty healthy.

Aiming to be healthy is a much better goal than aiming to be skinny, and will be much easier to attain, especially when you know what a healthy weight is. I know that it’s all easier said than done, but when you know what is considered a healthy weight, you can aim for it, and you’ll probably have a better chance of getting there.

A year ago at this time, the pounds started dropping off.  It almost became an obsession once I was on a roll.  There was so much counting involved; counting calories I ate, fat grams consumed, sit-ups, calories I burned, and the list goes on. For whatever reason, all of the counting kept me engaged and focused on my ultimate goal. I wanted to get back to the size I was in high school, right before my senior prom. I was a size 7 then, and at the time, it wasn’t good enough, but looking back, I should have been happy with how great I actually did look.

Each pound was a milestone, and a huge amount of work. But as each pound came off, the smile on my face started getting bigger.  I was so happy that I was actually working towards accomplishing a goal, and each pound brought me one step closer.

When people started noticing I was dropping pounds, my motivation to continue was always fueled.  When my belt could no longer hold up my sagging pants, and it was time to buy new pants, I knew I’d be able to eventually reach my goal.

Many months later, I reached my goal of a size 7, and then some.  Currently, I’m buying size 5/6, and I’m happy with that. Most importantly, I’m healthy and I feel good. One thing I haven’t been able to do is get rid of my clothes that no longer fit.  I’ve maintained this weight for months now, and I’m committed to keeping myself healthy.

One of the biggest changes I have made in my life ever since I chose to live a healthy life style is the portion of food that I eat. Until I actually started to pay attention to how much food was going in my mouth, I really didn’t think twice about how big my portion actually was. I love the saying “everything in moderation” because it’s true.  The key word though is moderation, and actually defining moderation.

What exactly is moderation? It’s so hard to determine what the proper portion is, when you don’t have a visualization of what a portion of something actually is.  For example, one serving (three ounces) of meat, poultry or fish is about the size of a deck of playing cards. Go on, go get a deck of playing cards. Take a look, the steak you eat is probably twice the size, if not more, of the deck of cards!

Now, make a fist, and take a good look at it. Your serving of rice or pasta shouldn’t be any larger than that.Think about your latest trip to Olive Garden or the last pot of spaghetti you made. The portion you get at the restaurant, or what you dish up on your plate is actually several portions!

When you take the time to keep track of portion control, and choose your foods wisely, it makes a huge difference in the progress of your weight loss. When I go out to restaurants to eat, I select a meal that I’d like, but I cut everything in half and take the rest home. This is something that I do every single time, it has become a habit. A healthy habit, and one I plan on keeping for life.

Once I made this change, the weight started coming off like it never had before.  45 pounds, and several dress sizes later, I’ve learned to take charge of portion control. Every single restaurant that you go to is sure to give you more than one portion of food. Remember, you can enjoy everything in life, but everything in moderation.