People ususally feel much better when losing weight, it’s true! Some experience periods of fatigue, as well, however. When you take in fewer calories than you burn, you force your body to turn to the energy it has stored as fat. This is a good thing! However, falling short on calories can make you feel tired and rundown.. and yes, even grumpy (ask me, I know!). As a result – some people get tired of dieting, but you don’t have to let an energy drain get in the way of your weight loss goals.

If you’re feeling fatigue every day, talk to your doctor. But if you simply have occasional slumps and less energy than yo uused to, try eating smaller meals adn then snack more frequentyly during the day. Save the piece of fruit from breakfast to eat in the middle of the morning, or hold off on the sliced veggies you brought for lunch and have them later in the afternoon. Eating more frequently can steady your blood sugar levels so you won’t feel a slump when your energy supplies run low.

Another good way to combat fatigue is to fit extra physical activity into your day. It seems irnoic to be more active when you’re feeling an energy low, but research shows that physical activity can actually make people feel more energetic, rather than less. It provides a psychological boost that can banish the blues. Getting up and moving also increases your self-confidence. AND regular exercise increases stamina, so you’ll build reserves of energy for more activity!

Experts say a healthy weight loss plan should average 1 to 3 pounds a week. If you’ve lost 5-8 pounds after 8 weeks.. don’t be dissapointed! Within 8 weeks, you can expect to have lost anywhere from 8-24 pounds. Losing weight more quickly than that means losing muscle tissue along with fat, which could slow your metabolism adn make it harder to maintain your weight loss further on down the road.

The most important thing now is not to get discouraged! Make a pact with yourself to use a little extra time and effort in the coming month to reach your goal and make sure the number is realistic!

I happily slipped on my size 16 jeans today and didn’t even need to unbuckle and unzip them in order to take them off. I happily slipped on my size 14 jeans today and found them extremely comfortable! I even slipped on my size 12 jeans today and I think a maybe 5 more lbs and I can totally ditch my 16’s and 14’s and give them away to a woman’s shelter, or something.

I love when I get into a real mindset of diet and excercise – - it’s a real high for me, quite honestly. I find that on the days that I have a really super workout – I feel TONS better about myself, compared to days that I don’t work out at all. And it doesn’t take much for me, really – - 20-30 mins on the treadmill followed by a 15-20 min workout on my Bowflex working either my upper body, abs or lower body. After that, I’m walking on air. Compare that to days that I skip workouts completely… those days I don’t feel so hot at all.

Today I woke up and told myself that I needed an excellent work out – - if I keep going the way I have been, I might hit the 15lb mark by the time my kids start school (Sept. 5) which means I have hit my HALFWAY mark toward the total goal of a 30lb loss.

I find it is much easier to keep up the motivation and mindset that I need if I keep working at it every single day. I find that when I miss a day, or two, my motivation starts to slip. It’s just a matter of reminding myself how incredible I feel with a 12lbs weight loss in 3 weeks. When you feel that FANTASTIC – why stop? Why not feel that fantastic every day?

Thought I’d would join in the Thursday Thirteen fun this week.

This week’s Thirteen covers some various exercise tips that I’ve found through my travels, readings and researching – some of them are pretty helpful too!

Have a good one to share? Leave it in the comments

1. See your doctor before you start any exercise program. Get a full physical to make sure everything’s in working order, then find a personal trainer in your neighborhood and make an appointment with him or her for a consultation. Most trainers will give you a free consultation and help you figure out what your fitness level is, your body fat and circumference measurements, and the right way to start a program.
2. Start Slow! Many beginners make the mistake of doing too much when they first start out. If you haven’t worked out in a while (or ever) start with a walking program of about 20 to 30 minutes, 3 days a week. Each session, add a few minutes to your workout to progress each week.
3. Write down your workouts every day, making notes about what you did, how you felt and how you improved since your last workout. Schedule your workouts each week, just like you would a doctor’s appointment.
4. Harass your best friend, spouse or significant other into working out with you!
5. Every day, ask yourself how you will make your life healthier. It can be as simple as drinking more water or parking farther away from the front door.
6. Reward yourself! Give yourself a massage when you reach your goals, or maybe some new workout clothes.
7. Set daily or weekly goals. Long term goals are great, but are so far away we often forget why we’re working so hard. To stay motivated, write down a daily or weekly goal and then follow number 7 (rewarding yourself) if you reach it.
8. Prepare for your workout the night before by packing your gym bag or, if you work out at home, laying out your workout clothes so when you get home, you’re ready to go.
9. Strike a balance between strength training, cardio, and stretching. You’ll improve range of motion faster, prevent injuries, and burn more calories when you address all aspects of fitness especially the ones you find more challenging.
10. Eat regularly throughout the day so you don’t bonk during your workout.
11. Take before and after pictures…. and DURING pictures! You’d be surprised how motivating those can be!
12. Water, water, water and more water. Did I say water??
13. Incorporate physical activity into your day (walk to the office or store, take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk or jog at lunch time, etc.). Pay attention to the things you do – and add them onto your minutes of exercise for the day. You’d be amazed how things you don’t even think of add up!

My weight loss and dieting goals prior to the wedding really paid off and my pictures from the wedding are just wonderful. I’m SO glad I hit the dieting thing hard prior to the wedding – dropping those extra 25lbs really made a difference.

We honeymooned in Bonaire, South America and both of us went through the 4-day course to become certified as an open water scuba diver. That was so much fun and very exciting to go down 100 feet beneath the surface of the sea and see how the other half lives.

It’s great exercise, too! I lost a total of 11lbs on my honeymoon because we really spent about 75% of our time under the sea, scuba diving. And in the Caribbean, because of the heat – you drink just tons and tons of water – - I’m beginning to understand why Caribbean women look so good all the time!

It took awhile for my body to adjust to the extreme heat down there. My body reacts to heat extremes in a weird way – - it retains water.. LOTS of it. Within 5 hours of being there – my feet swelled up like little sausages, to the point where I could not even wear my shoes and had to invest in a lose fitting pair of flip flops until my feet went back to normal. It took about a day and a half until they returned to their normal size. I drank about a gallon of water to assure my body that I wasn’t going to deprive it of liquids – and tell it that it’s ok to let go of the water it’s retaining in my feet, because there is more coming!!

Strange that, eh?

Now that the honeymoon and celebrations are over – - I’m still on a quest to drop another 20-30lbs and will continue to write about that journey, those struggles and successes here.