Many people have encountered this problem. When you start a strict diet program, determined to succeed. But soon realize that you are back to square one. The whole process feels like a constant battle.
Sometimes you even want to scream about how hard it is. Many people buy special shakes or strict diet plans hoping for quick results. Extreme methods can often hurt you in the long run, which can cause the weight to bounce back.
A balanced approach to eating is incredibly appealing to many people. It’s a way of living that feels sustainable and perhaps even happy. Instead of striving for perfection, this approach strives for progress. Finding a healthy rhythm to your life keeps your mind and body healthy for years to come. It’s not just for special holidays like New Year’s.
Now the simple and pithy 80/20 rule enters the conversation. This concept does work in real life.
For example, consider a remarkable woman named Debby Rose. Her path to health proves that she possesses amazing resilience. She went through a pregnancy, severe deafness, and surgery. A traumatic event kept her home for five years. She also required two knee replacements. Life sometimes brings you unexpected difficulties.
Debby weighed 345 pounds at one point. She struggled for many years and then a carjacking happened. It made her afraid to leave her home afterward. She gained weight because she felt so depressed, and Debby used food to cope with her fears and insecurities.
Debby, now 70, lost 112 pounds in two years. That’s actually two years plus seven months, which is a truly amazing weight loss for her. Her general health was significantly better. She is also getting six or seven hours of sleep a night, and she no longer needs to take blood pressure medication.
Debby now feels stronger and stands up taller. This shows a big improvement in her health and confidence. Success starts with addressing health issues, she says. Getting a cochlear implant for her hearing loss has given her confidence. A doctor also gave her blunt advice about her knee, saying that her quality of life depended on losing weight. This advice motivated her to finally make the necessary changes.
Debbie believes that her weight loss is actually slow. She believes that how you lose weight is something you must always stick to. Otherwise, you will gain the weight back later. It has to become your entire lifestyle. She focuses on small, achievable goals, like losing ten pounds.
This patient, steady progress has paid off for her. She calls this day “Onederland,” where the weight starts at “1.” That special day was August 24, 2021. She still remembers that day clearly. As of today, she weighs 186 pounds. Next, she would like to weigh 170 pounds. Her ultimate goal weight is 155 to 160 pounds.
Every strict diet simply doesn’t work for her, and she’s now switching to the simple and straightforward 80/20 rule. She eats very healthy 80 percent of the time, and then 20 percent of the time she eats what she really wants to eat. This approach has brought a good balance to her life now.
Debby also added intermittent fasting to her program. She started doing this back in January of 2020. Her lunch is a protein salad around 11am. Her goal is to consume 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day. She focuses on getting plenty of nutrients every day. She focuses on macros to avoid stress.
Exercise is also a very important key for Debby, especially after replacing her knee. She started exercising first with her own doctor. After her second replacement, her walking increased dramatically. Now, she walks six to nine thousand steps a day. When the weather is bad outside, she walks at the mall. She also does deep squats and band work to build strength.
Debby’s story is compelling for a number of possible reasons. It shows how health issues can have a big impact on weight. But a steady approach made a profound difference for her. This approach combines diet and exercise strategies. She has also found great support in online groups, and connecting with others keeps her motivated.
This balanced approach requires patience and self-compassion. It allows you to pursue health without always working against yourself. You won’t be fighting the realities of life, and it allows you to make mindful food choices. Enjoy the food you eat and stay energized in a way you truly enjoy. Develop a healthy relationship with your body that lasts forever.
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