Just because you’re traveling, socializing or out with friends doesn’t mean you can’t stick to your priorities: your health goals and your way of eating.
Assuming your health & weight loss goals ARE a high priority to you. 😉
It took me a long time to realize that, to change my mindset, and to actually start enjoying LIFE instead of always focusing on the FOOD.
It started with becoming mindful of my choices (and being deliberate about them), and also being realistic about “treating myself” -vs how BAD I was treating myself.
I finally realized that choosing to indulge meant choosing to feel bloated, guilty, and down on myself. It meant choosing to be back in chronic pain, and miserable with inflammation and swollen ankles.
Now… going out is an opportunity to have FUN. While I still enjoy beautiful foods (low carb, of course) the food is no longer the focus – it’s simply the fuel.
Although the food is still delicious! 😉
I had amazingly delicious meals while traveling last week AND tons of fun!
Including a HUGE ribeye steak I shared with my friend Alice in the bustling San Diego Gaslamp Quarter ~ where we also shared a grilled artichoke, sautéed spinach and grilled asparagus.
My lunch the next day was a beautiful salad of butter lettuce, seared scallops & prawns. Saturday in San Diego I ate a delicious low carb meal of “real foods” at IHOP, then an easy low carb dinner in the Phoenix airport.
Sunday was low carb take-out (bacon & eggs) from the Cracker Barrel by my hotel, a fabulous low carb restaurant lunch with my siblings, then low carb dinner at Ruby Tuesday in Clarksville that night with my son.
Not ONCE did I feel the least bit deprived. 😉
Life is busy and full and go-go-go. There are tons of options and choices every single day. But… if you have to eat anyway, why not eat healthy?
It’s as simple as choosing what you want to put in your body – and ALWAYS knowing (and honoring) your priorities.
It’s not JUST good for the body, it’s good for the heart the mind and the soul, knowing you’re on your right path. You’re always happiest when your choices align with your goals & priorities – right? So keep it simple and: choose HAPPY!
I want to be healthy, happy, lean, more self confident, have a better self image, feel good about my choices (instead of feeling guilty, disgusted or defeated)…
I want to SMILE more, second guess myself LESS, and make every day the best day it can be. I want to keep improving, keep moving, and ENJOY life, while I still have the opportunity – and have a “today” to live.
Today is a good place to be.
It’s only 24 hours.
Today I can be mindful of my goals, today I can make all the best choices for myself, today is easy. Then I’ll wake up tomorrow and do “today” all over again.
Why?
Because I am worth it!
And so are you. 🙂
I like the way I look now, and I like the way I feel.
Mostly I really LOVE being in total control of that. There’s a HUGE sense of accomplishment that feels amazing: I did that!! And with that came an inner strength and improved self confidence that flows through every other part of my life.
While my body is not perfect, and reaching my goal weight hasn’t meant it’s the end of my journey or that I’m done improving (because I have a lot of toning to do still!) it feels GOOD to be able to say: I like the way I look.
There has never, not once, been a donut that made me feel as GREAT as that cute little dress. 😉
It seems like such a simple thing that should come so easy: “I like myself.” It wasn’t easy for me to get to that point though. There’s so much more to the transformation than can be captured in a photo, or even seen by the human eye.
Again: You are worth it!
Never stop working toward what you want, or how you want to feel. Never give up, no matter how many times you trip up. Get serious with yourself, and get committed to discovering what it FEELS LIKE to reach your goals.
I’ll tell you a secret… 🙂
When you do reach your goal, you’ll have more confidence and more strength to set and reach new (bigger!) goals. And it will be easier, for what you gained – through what you lost.;)
This low carb journey started out as just about weight loss for me, but it has resulted in SO much more than just pounds or a number on the scale.
I like the new me.
My next goal: to LOVE how I look and feel.
And to be able to look in the mirror and say “I like the way I look” … without Spanx on. 🙂 haha!
Every single choice you’ve made in your life has brought you where you are today. And every single choice you make from today forward, will take you exactly where you want to go.
The choices stack up!
Earlier on in my journey, with many more pounds on and much farther away from my goal (or from even liking myself), I had plenty of days where I figured a binge here and there or “taking the day off” wasn’t going to make that big of a difference anyway.
That’s exactly why it took me so long to get where I am now.
It is EVERY choice, EVERY day, that matters.
Every single minute one after the other stacks up to your “Today” – and why it is what it is, or is NOT. Keep that in mind as you make your way through your busy life, your social outings, the mundane work week, your usual routine, etc.
Every choice you make (or do not make) is shaping your next “Today.”
Here’s to making better choices, making deliberate choices, always keeping our goals in mind, and to continuing this journey together – on the path to becoming the happiest, healthiest version of ourselves. 🙂 *cheers*
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. This journey is not easy. Changing your entire lifestyle is a major undertaking. But it’s SO worth it! Practice loving yourself (or at least liking yourself) as you are, today – every day. I’m still practicing that myself… 😉
Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER
I so needed this today! I am in that spot now, I KNOW low carb eating works because I lost 50 pounds doing it, but I fell off the wagon and just can’t seem to get back on 100%. π Oh just one cheat won’t hurt and then another and another till I’m right back where I started.
Starting today I’m going to remember your pep talk. Thank you Lynn.
I’m so glad it hit the mark for you, Sherry! I went round and round like that for SO long, which is exactly why it took me so long to lose MY weight. π
It was maddening, a constant mental battle, and frustrating. I finally got tired of feeling that way and just STOPPED.
Getting OFF the dieting roller coaster and just relaxing into an active, healthy low carb lifestyle was the BEST thing I ever did for myself. π
All it takes is deciding you’re tired of the on/off good/bad – and just go for the GOOD and stick it out. Within 90 days I no longer even craved off plan foods, and had NO desire to cheat or binge – and haven’t since! π
Oh, Terry, thank you so much for this pep talk. It is right on time for me. I have enjoyed following your journey for years. You are such an inspiration for me. May I ask you how many pounds that you have lost in your journey? So glad that I get your posts in my email.
So sorry Lynn. I have a name with a last name that also could easily be a first name (for a guy anyway). What a silly mistake. I realized it when I shared your post with my weight loss group. π
Thank you for the share, Cyndi – and no worries! I get called by my last name all the time, lol… the curse of having two first names. π
I am not exactly sure how much weight I have lost. Around 63 pounds. I didn’t own scales when I was at my highest weight, and stopped buying jeans at size 16/18 (and XXL in tops) in favor of flowy dresses and drawstring skirts. π
In addition to losing body fat, I started exercising / toning over a year ago, so I started gaining muscle weight – so a total of 63 pounds is a small slice of the overall picture of how my body composition has changed.
I’m also only 5′ 4.5″ tall (under 5’5″) AND very short waisted – all legs, lol. So even just a 20 pound fat loss made a HUGE difference on me.
Thank you so much!!! <3
Lynn, I have been following you for over a year now. Recently I came across (which isnβt new news) that red meat can lead to certain cancers. I am now getting nervous that eating lots of meats and fats will harm me in the long run. Please help in setting this straight. I would hate to have to give up keto wof.
Hi Becky,
I’ve come to the conclusion that with enough research it would be found that just BREATHING on our planet at this point will eventually cause cancer. π
The concept of “clean eating” has become such a hot topic and big trend lately, but I have to wonder… is there anything clean left on Earth? I think – probably not. LOL, but that’s just me!
I don’t actually eat a lot of red meat, to the point that sometimes I’ll stop and make it a point to have a steak. I eat quite a bit of salmon and chicken and shrimp – or even meatless meals. All of which probably have their own scares from one source or another. π
You can go vegetarian or even pescatarian and still do keto / low carb if that REALLY bothers you, because Aaron doesn’t eat pork or beef at all – and most of our meals together are pescatarian (vegetarian + seafood), plus chicken.
So it’s up to you, but doesn’t mean you can’t do a ketogenic low carb diet. π Red meat is only ONE low carb food on a very long list of great foods & meats to enjoy!
I was in tears as I read your email, Lynn, as this couldnβt have come at a better time. I know how much betterβok great- I feel when I eat low carb, not to mention how my joint pain, bloating, and extreme fatigue goes away! And yet, I decide that βIβll start tomorrowβ, or βone little treat wonβt hurtβ….and on and on the cycle goes. Iβve gained 15 lbs from eating carbs again, and I feel awful, both physically and mentally. And I couldnβt be farther from liking myself. Im tired of this viscous cycle and Iβm ready to make the necessary changes, thanks to you!β€οΈ
*hugs* Patty – I totally get it. Like I was saying above, I’ve been there SO many times myself.
I always felt awful too, until I got TIRED of feeling awful.
Let that go – completely. It’s so liberating, and you’ll feel this HUGE sense of relief, when you stop making it hard… and just start loving yourself and your low carb lifestyle. π
That’s how it was for me. I look back at the constant mental battle I was in and all the frustration, self sabotage, guilt, etc – I was all wrapped up in it, all the time. And it was NOT fun. Dieting is not fun. My life now, since letting it all go… is FUN. π
Lynn, I NEEDED this pep talk. With my husbands cancer this past year I gained all 60 lbs back and feel miserable and the inflammation and pain is unbearable. I woke up this morning and decided to get back on track and this article is perfect for today. Thank you!!!!
I’m so glad, Connie – kudos! Feeling THAT bad is the last thing you need while dealing with such a tough thing. You’ll do so much better feeling your best, and feeling your strongest (both mentally and physically).
You need that right now: inner strength, energy, physical strength, lack of pain, etc – to better get through everything.
You know what they say when you board a flight: put your mask on first before assisting someone else. π
Welcome back to feeling your BEST! And *hugs* ~ I can only imagine how tough this past year as been…
I LOVE the dress! You look great!
Thank you, Kim! π
This is where I got that AMAZING dress: http://amzn.to/2Fw8EQr Such a great deal! I got mine in a Large (I’m a size 8 right now, and it fits *perfect*). Such a flattering cut/fit…
It comes in a variety of styles/colors, so I’m going to order another one! It’s very fitted, bodycon style, and I wore Spanx under mine. I think I can get away with a Large in a size 6 or 10 as well as I did as a size 8 ~ to help you with sizing.
You look great! Thank you for this blog post I really needed it today…
Thank you, Temeka! π And you’re most welcome – I’m so glad it came at a time you need it most. I’m always here if you have any questions or need a little motivation! π *cheers*
Thanks Lynn, for the motivational article today. I went to my docs office and spoke with an NP on Tuesday, because I was so frustrated with my diet. I have been almost obsessively Keto since May of last year, I track every bite, and I lost 1 lb in the last 6 weeks! I am so frustrated. Not interested in giving up this WOE, but have started doing the intermittent fasting along with KETO, and using Bulletproof coffee as my breakfast on days that I work, so I am only having it, and then a meal in the evening. I’m still meeting my macros pretty well, but I’m not having the snack attacks all day that I was having before. That skinny “never skimped on meals my whole life, but I look like a model anyway” NP told me that I “was looking pretty good for my age, and sometimes the body just says ‘thats it, I’m not losing any more’.” To which I say BS! She thought I should just be satisfied with the weight I am now, put my big girl panties on and deal with it. And again, I say BS!
I WILL lose this weight, I WILL get to MY goal weight, and I WILL keep on keeping on until I am satisfied with my body! I may be 60 years old, but I WILL NOT be satisfied with 154 lbs, I WILL get to MY goal weight of 135, or whatever weight I feel best at, and will not let some skinny NP tell me to “Deal with not losing any more weight”!
Don’t feel bad, Susanne – I’ve gained and lost around 5 pounds in the last NINE weeks lol. I was talking about that before my trip here: http://www.travelinglowcarb.com/20619/ketone-testing/ and now that I am home I am buckling down and doing the “clean testing” I discussed in that post.
I am SO happy to be back to losing weight, and back in ketosis too of course. I know how frustrating those long periods can be. Not to mention discussions with certain professionals. π
My advice: we know our bodies best. We know how and when we feel our best. Join me, let’s buckle down and figure out the culprits, and get things moving in the right direction again!
In addition to getting myself back in ketosis (yay!) and eliminating & discovering any culprits or sensitivities, I am going to start back on my toning and exercising – both for my health and sanity, and also to firm up “the parts that show” (my arms and legs, lol) – because it’s almost summer again!! π *cheers*
Hi Lynn,
I was a little behind in reading your posts, but I am so glad i found this today! So lately I have been having that cheat day or cheat weekend.. and when i cheated,,, i made sure it counted and got everything i could possibly think of from savory, to sweet and the amount i would eat was the WHOLE thing of what i was indulging in… kinda like before we Ever started low carb eating years ago. But your article helped tremendously,, your pic reminds me where i was just 30 lbs ago,,, not 100 lbs,,, just 30.. so i say be kind to myself and just start where i am today, and keep going.
I also thought about going back to basics so I looked up atkins.com and found interviews with Larry King and found that very encouraging. I mean it is so easy to press on, once we get started.
/What i realized was, i eat too many home made LC deserts, I dont eat enough, So just this whirlwind of thoughts was able to cease, by your post, and dr atkins words!!
as you say… Keep It Super Simple.
thanks
I’ve done that myself so many times, Traci – I remember those days well. A couple of years ago I was doing that at least once a month if not twice a month… which is when I was struggling so much with the mental side of things, and of course why I couldn’t lose my last 20’ish pounds.
I agree with you. It IS easy once you get started. π Even starting is easy! I have NO idea why we make it harder on ourselves than that – but it must just be human nature. π
Simple is GOOD. Meat & greens + healthy fats. Find FUN things to do that don’t involve food. I really got into testing my speed on downtown walks with my dane, and then hiking & exploring. Neither of which allow much room for a spoon. π haha
As always Lynn, you are such an inspiration. Your words couldn’t be more true. I had let myself slip when my life went crazy back in August. I started feeling swollen, had no energy, and just basically “gross”.
For me, this last couple of months where I have been really focusing on getting back on my eating plan, and ultimate goal of becoming a healthy and fit Grandma at the age of 50 REGARDLESS of my current situations is a life lesson that I continue to learn.
You are right, WE ARE WORTH IT!!! <3
YES we ARE! π
It’s funny to me in hindsight (not really funny at all) that I always used to backslide when my life NEEDED me to be at my best – most alert, most energy, most focused, most grounded, most self confident, the most self control and focus, etc.
Instead, like we all do (human nature?) I let myself go during periods of stress, grief, loss, anxiety, etc – just making the situation WORSE every.single.time. And making me FEEL worse (than whatever already did) and LESS able to handle it with confidence & control.
It’s like when life spins out of control, you just let yourself spin with it. Instead of taking the reigns and powering through it.
It wasn’t until Molly died in my arms, and I realized no amount of food was going to fill that void, and not a single donut under the sun would bring her back, that I stopped “reeling” WITH life, and started forcing myself to stay grounded and at my best.
I handle situations and circumstances with ease and with control now, instead of spiraling down with them. π THAT is one helluva “NSV” (non scale victory) and was a HUGE hump for me to get over in my own weight loss journey. π