10 Favorite Healthy Tips and Tricks Link Up

Crafty Healthy Mommy gave a couple of great tips for weight loss HERE and HERE. I guess her posts were so popular that she decided to have a Link Up! To check out other's posts, click on the image below and you can see links to others' tips and tricks a well.

I thought I'd participate, so here we go, in no particular order...

MY 10 FAVORITE HEALTHY TIPS AND TRICKS

1. WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN.
When I don't write what I eat, I lose my mind. And by "lose my mind" I mean I probably lost it in the empty cereal box I just threw away after eating the whole thing in one sitting. You quickly realize how much your eating when you write it down. I write down my plan for the week and then I enter it into My Fitness Pall daily (username: Kimakazie). I try to enter it even when I've gone over my calories for the day. It's hard, but worth it. Sometimes my plan changes from what I write down for the day to what I actually end up eating, but it helps to have a plan and make substitutions as I go.

2. FIND A WAY TO KEEP YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE. 

For some people, it's having just a friend to keep you going. For me, I need more than that. So what is it might you ask? I've got a Tumblr account where I try to post my daily food intake. I am on My Fitness Pal with an open diary. I have this blog. I have a running buddy. I have gym buddies. We are doing The Biggest Loser at work. I've got a DietBet going on right now. For some people it might seem like over kill, but it works for ME. Find what works for YOU. (Links below)

Tumblr 

MyFitnessPal

DietBet

3. MAKE EXERCISE A PRIORITY.
Making it a priority means you have no excuse. My friends might want to hang out on the week nights or might want to go to dinner after work. That's all fine and dandy as long as it's after 6:30pm. I work from 8am-5pm and go to the gym on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5:30pm-6:30pm. I run after work on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I'm flexible on the weekends. I've got LifeTeam (small church group) that meets on Wednesday nights at 6:30 but they just know I'm going to be 10 minutes late. Can't workout after work? Go early in the morning or use your lunch break. LADIES: Not wanting to mess up your hair is not a valid reason. That is what dry shampoo and bobby pins are for. Deal with it.

4. TAKE PICTURES.
When you look in the mirror everyday, it's hard to notice changes. One day I stepped on the scale and was higher than I had ever been. I took pictures that day and I'm so glad I did. Now when I'm feeling gross or defeated, I look back at those pictures and my progress pictures I've taken along the way and it is a real motivator. BONUS TIP: Download an app that will password protect your pictures. I put all of my progress pictures in my app and then delete them off my photo roll on my phone. Never know when people are going to start scrolling through those pics and the last thing people probably want to see is me in all my glorious underwear and whiteness and paleness and rolliness and all of that blah.

5. FAIL TO PLAN AND YOU PLAN TO FAIL.
I make a plan at the beginning of the week and try to stick to it. If I don't stick to it, I make healthy substitutions or make changes to make it work. I am the worst at trying to figure out what to eat when I'm hungry so if I can go home and look at my list and see what I planned for lunch or dinner that day, that works for me. I make a plan and then shop accordingly.

6. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE WILLPOWER, DON'T BUY IT.
I can't have oreos in my house. I also can't have cereal in my house. When I get married, my husband will just have to understand that. You wouldn't have alcohol in your house if you were married to an alcoholic, and it's the same for me with some foods. When I go to the store with my plan and buy accordingly, that doesn't leave room for crap food. If you can limit yourself to 2 cookies, by then all means, buy them. I'm happy for you. I on the other hand, can't. And I recognize that.

7. PORTION CONTROL.
I used to just focus on using me measuring cups and spoons and all that jazz, but I can't stress to you how important a food scale is. "3 oz. of chicken is the size of your palm." BULL SHIT. Shaq's hand is is probably more like the whole dang chicken. I got my scale from Walmart for $10. Get a scale.

8. FIND OTHER MOTIVATION.
I have found that my motivation to get healthy will fade real quick if all I'm focused on is the number on the scale and the size of my pants. I needed to find another source of motivation to workout, so I signed up for a half marathon. I started off with the Couch to 5K program and before it was even over with, I signed up for a half marathon with my cousins and friends. That's coming up in two weeks now and I can't believe it. I ran 5 miles on Sunday (ran/walked but mostly ran) and when I was done, I couldn't believe how easy it was. Once this is done, I'm already signed up for a Warrior Dash in August and then another half marathon in October. Do I love running? No. Do I love the feeling after I've ran further or faster than I did before? Yes.

9. DON'T CARE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK.
Have you ever NOT gone to a class at the gym because you're scared of what people will think of you? or that you'll look dumb? Have you ever NOT gone to the gym because you feel guilty for saying no to the friend that asked you out to dinner? Have you ever had friends or family over for dinner and cooked things you normally wouldn't because you don't want to subject them to your "diet food"? GET OVER IT! GET OVER ALL OF IT! The only person you're hurting is yourself. First, no one at the gym is paying attention to you. They were all newbies too. Second, if your friend wants to go to dinner, tell them to have a snack and wait an hour and you'll be happy to join. Or wait for the weekend. Just because you're having company over for dinner doesn't mean you have to cook with lard and fry everything. Grill some chicken, make a salad, and serve some fruit. BAM. Everyone is happy as a clam. Do what works for YOU and everyone else can just go away.

10. MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING MORE TO IT THAN JUST A LACK OF WILL POWER.
I'm not going to lie. There were times when I would be sitting at home and a rush would come over me and that rush was telling me to go get 3 Dunkin Donuts Boston Cremes. And I would. I'd be sitting in the drive thru telling myself not to do it. But I couldn't help it. Other times, I'd go get a pint of Ben and Jerry's and eat the whole thing. The whole time, wondering what the heck I'm doing. Finally, I went to the doctor. I told her how I would have these carb and sweet cravings and I literally felt out of control. This was my first time seeing this doctor and she decided to do some blood work. Turns out that my cortisol levels, b12, and vitamin D were all ridiculously low. Apparently having low cortisol levels can make you crave carbs and sweets because you are looking for energy. I HAD NO IDEA. Let me tell you, ever since getting on a regiment to get those numbers up to normal levels, I haven't had any of those out of control feelings. Yes, I still crave chocolate every now and then, but nothing like they used to be. I'm not saying that medicine is the fix of all things. Nor am I promoting dietary supplements or diet pills, but maybe there is something going on behind the scenes you don't know.

So there they are. If you're still reading this, then congrats. You deserve a gold star. Thanks to Amber at Crafty Healthy Mommy for doing this link up. Can't wait to see everyone else's posts!