Today I’d like to touch upon another important aspect: sacrifice.

Losing weight the proper way—no surgeries or pills—absolutely demands sacrificing something. Well, you shouldn’t really look at it as being a sacrifice but more of a trade-off since the results will definitely be worth the effort.

What have I sacrificed, cut back on or given up altogether? Let’s see.

Milk: I’m not going to go on my tangent about my lactose intolerant self but it’s important to know that I really enjoyed milk up until the point I gave it up [cold turkey] in exchange for rice- or almond-based alternatives. Those alternatives to milk are not only delicious but they are also enriched with as much calcium and vitamins as milk so I’m not missing out on much, including flavor. In fact, I’ve gotten so used to these drinks that the times I’ve tried to drink a cup of regular milk, it didn’t even taste the way I remembered it so I doubt I’ll ever go back.

Diet sodas: Perhaps the biggest moment of my lifestyle change was when I turned to Ann and said, “I’m going to stop drinking sodas.” She laughed hysterically for what seemed like an eternity. But when I realized I was literally looking for a “fix” when it came to sodas, I knew I had to stop and I did it cold turkey. That’s coming from a guy that used to drink at least six cans a day—seriously, I did. (I was also known to fill my 64-oz. tankard with diet soda from the local convenience store and enjoy it with a bag of Funyuns when I got to work–after eating breakfast at home.) So that night I dumped what I had left and began drinking bottled water and green tea (or bottled water with green tea mixes) the next day. While I still enjoy an occasional soda now and then while dining out, I no longer buy it.

Red meat: Simply put, I began to eat less red meat when I started to change my eating habits. There isn’t a whole lot that you can’t do with chicken that can’t be done with red meat, so that’s more or less a trade-off as well. But if you eat at fast food places serving chicken, be sure to get grilled not crispy chicken which is breaded and much, much more fattening. And replace the (fattening) mayo in your chicken sandwich with (zero fat) mustard and ketchup. I know it sounds weird but I’d rather have two no-fat condiments than one fat-laden glop.

Chinese food: Like the whole diet soda thing, I gave up going to our favorite Chinese restaurant. I went there at least twice a week and get “the usual”: a two-item combo with mandarin chicken, barbecued pork, chow mein, and a side of deep fried cream cheese won tons. Twice a week, people. And they piled it high, too. Today we might go to Panda Express where I’ll get a chicken dish ala carte but it’s nowhere near what I used to get. For dinner these days, a 6″ Veggie Delite from Subway does me fine.

Time: It’s not easy working, being a father and husband, writing for two blogs, finding time to exercise, etc. I knew all of this going into my plan. But thankfully, I have managed to handle all tasks by creating a routine. I work, go home and spend time with the family, then quiet time with Ann, then exercise in the evening, then whatever else. I get to bed late most of the time but because I’m a night owl, it’s okay. It’s worth noting that Ann is in full support of my program and allows me to do these things, to which I thank her from the bottom of my heart. She knows I’m committed to my cause and that I am not only doing it for me, but for her and Anthony as well.

Remember, folks, that none of this was easy and can be a struggle on some days, but I remain committed to reaching my goal and then some.

Also take into consideration that I was nearly 300 lbs. when I decided to make most if not all all of these sacrifices. At my current weight of about 214 lbs., it’s safe to say that the results have definitely paid off in spades

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There’s an adage that goes something like, “Everybody wants to go to Heaven but nobody wants to die.” Religious beliefs aside, that rings true for just about anything—and especially weight loss. You can’t get where you want to be without giving up something in return.

So today’s tip is simple: Don’t be lazy. I know it sounds obvious and laziness is a habit that’s terribly easy to fall into. But hopefully, by the end of this post, I will have kicked your butt out of it.

Think about it. Why do you wake up and go to work each morning? Why do you do laundry? Why do you do anything? Chances are you do those things because you either a) choose to do them or b) have to do them.

And what happens if you don’t? Bills go unpaid, clothes get dirty, things fall apart. That’s not exactly Heaven if you ask me.

When it comes to weight loss, I’ve learned that there’s no amount of carrot sticks or low-fat foods that by themselves will help you reach your goal. To realize maximum benefits, a proper diet—eating right, not following a magazine’s weight loss fad—must work in conjunction with a daily exercise routine which, if you think about it, can be of anything you choose.

Who likes to exercise? Lord knows I don’t, and there are days when I simply don’t feel like walking during lunch. If I don’t, what would I do? I’d sit at my desk for 50 minutes and not burn a single calorie. Talk about a waste of time!

But if you want to lose the weight and keep it off, you have to shift your thinking. You have to look at any kind of physical activity as forms of exercise: laundry, yard work, walking, etc. You should never think of them as being dreadful because you’ll never get them done. If you think of them as being ways to move, stretch and sweat, they instantly become alternate ways of exercising as opposed to going to the gym or whatnot. Not only that, you need to start thinking that with each move you make, whether you’re mowing the lawn or painting the walls of your bedroom, you are burning calories and are getting closer to your goal.

I’m in no way preaching that cutting the grass should replace normal exercises; I’m just offering an alternate view of what some consider arduous tasks. The reality is that you need to make daily exercise a part of your routine for life. Sure, a day off is fine now and then but in order to keep the weight off, nothing’s better than sweating off those calories on a regular basis.

To summarize today’s tip: eat less, move more. It just doesn’t get any easier than that!

By the way, I’m taking a blog break for the weekend. Hope you have a good one and keep things under control

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