Weight Loss Lessons: What One Author Wishes She Knew at 23

Posted on Jun 6th 2011 10:00AM by Health.com

By Tina Haupert for Health.com

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Dear 23-year-old Me,

It's been a tough several months, huh? I know graduating college and working in the "real" world hasn't been an easy transition, but I promise you things will get better -- especially with regard to your recent weight gain. (I'm so sorry that you had to buy a whole new wardrobe because your clothing no longer fit.)

I know it's tough to wake up before your 9 to 5 job to exercise, but I promise that early morning workouts will be key to your weight loss. Your active social life always seems to get in the way of your workouts (and I know you don't want to miss out on any of the fun!), so exercising first thing in the morning will help you stick with it. The first few mornings of waking up early will be really hard, but the more you force yourself to do it, the easier it will become. Eventually, it'll be part of your morning routine and I promise that you'll never regret a workout!

Now, don't take this the wrong way, but you're eating too much. All of those happy hours, fancy dinners out and multiple trips a day to Dunkin' Donuts are starting to really show up on the scale. Maybe counting calories -- at least for a little while -- will get you back on track? I don't think you realize just how many calories you are consuming, so tracking what you eat will help make you more aware of what you are putting into your mouth. You won't have to count calories forever, but looking at your diet in a different way can keep you accountable. At least give it a try; you might be surprised!

Remember when you tried the Atkins diet to lose weight? That was a total disaster, wasn't it? Like with most restrictive diets, you eventually caved and binged on carbs. Do you know that not all carbs are bad for you? I think you're carb confused. The key to losing weight is figuring out which ones to eat. The unhealthy kind, like doughnuts, ginormous Dunkin' Donuts muffins and chips aren't nutritious and won't do anything for your hunger, but the good kind -- whole grains, beans and fibrous fruits and veggies -- will fill you up and satisfy you. Plus, when you eat good carbs, you'll be more fun to be around and I know your roommate will appreciate fewer mood swings from you!

You know those fat-free cookies and cinnamon pita chips that you love so much? Well, they're too good to be true. I know it seems like you should focus on eating low-calorie and low-fat foods, but they're typically made with artificial ingredients and they won't make you feel as good as eating "real" food does. For instance, an apple with lots of fiber and nutrients will satisfy you much more than an apple-cinnamon rice cake. Don't think this means that you can't eat your favorite foods anymore. I know you love cupcakes, nachos and beer -- and you can still enjoy them from time to time. OK, this might seem like a "duh" tip, but just eat smaller portions of those foods and it'll help you lose weight.

Losing weight (and then maintaining it) is all about balance. If you overindulge at a weekend barbecue or mindlessly munch throughout the afternoon at your desk, don't throw in the towel. Just make sure your next meal is healthy and move on. With these small lifestyle changes, I know you'll be back at your "feel great weight" before you know it!

Love,
The older and wiser 2011 Tina

More from Health.com:
Tina's Top 10 Weight Loss Tips
Best Superfoods for Weight Loss
How to Cheat On Your Diet and Still Lose Weight

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Tags: 23 years old, Atkins, Atkins Diet, dieting, life lessons, lose+weight, loseweight, overeating, weight loss, weight loss lessons, weight loss tips

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

realityspeaks10 6-06-2011 @ 10:31AM

OBESITY IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE OVERWEIGHT PERSON

In fact, it is almost impossible to lose weight in the USA due to Food Chemicals.

The food has been legally poisoned with chemicals and this is proven by a European filmmaker

A filmmaker has shown how to reverse weight gain with a diabetes diet for NON diabetics in 10 countries and the DRUG MAKERS HID THE STORY

The diet reverses the damage from Food chemicals and causes weight loss

If you cannot lose weight it is not your fault

just google SPIRIT HAPPY DIET

Tracy 6-11-2011 @ 4:46PM

I was overweight and I tried many types of products and I learned the hard way that there are literally thousands of weight loss systems, pills, and supplements sold on the internet that don't work and are just rip offs. Nothing was working for me until I discovered an extremely informative free video on this web site ( Http://bit.ly/RealSmartWeightLoss ) that reveals the simple proven science of weight loss that no one else will tell you about so that you will lose weight in a steady, healthy and permanent way. This proven system is the real deal and changes everything. Now I am at a healthy weight and have been so for more than a year.

Lisa 6-11-2011 @ 5:20PM

After years of trying every product and method you ever heard of to lose weight I read about something that was supposed to help people lose weight ( htTp://bit.ly/QwikWeightLoss ) and it also had anti-aging properties. That was kind of hard to believe but since it came with a free trial I took a shot. I was very skeptical because nothing I ever bought to help me lose weight worked, much less made me look younger. In any case, I took a shot and the results have been life changing. Now I look better and feel healthier than I have in over 15 years.

darlene 6-11-2011 @ 6:41PM

try eating real food!it is your fault, if all your so called food is processed, give up the crap and eat whole foods, fruits, vegetables, stay away from dairy and commercially raised meat and eggs. and get off the couch and go for a run .

Steve 6-11-2011 @ 7:07PM

I started getting up and walking 3 miles (just over an hour) at 6:30am about 16 weeks ago and at first it sucked. Now I wake up closer to 5:30am and bust it out and then ride the stationary bike for 30 minutes and I've added doing a P90X workout 4 times a week as well. At night I walk another 3 miles and just started to play basketball with my kids. Over the last 16 weeks I've lost 78 pounds and I feel great. The sad thing is I still have 81 pounds to go to get to my goal. Walking and eating right (plus skipping TV) has really changed my life. Anyone an skip TV and walk so try it. Walking is boring but it works!

Jess 6-11-2011 @ 7:30PM

You couldn't be more wrong. I was over weight as a child and the only thing that solved that was working out and cutting my calorie intake. it is an over weight persons fault. they choose not to put the food (or the remote) down and work out. it is a lack of ambition that gets in there way. If you don't like how you look DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!! and don't just pass the buck either. it is your fault. put the fries down and pick up apple slices instead.

E 6-11-2011 @ 7:48PM

It's common for people to blame their problems on everything but themselves. Obesity is NOT caused by food chemicals. It's caused from YOU eating more calories than what YOU are burning and YOU sitting on the sofa staring at the tube instead of exercising. Try eating healthy fruits and veggies, skip the processed food, and get off the sofa.

jle 6-11-2011 @ 6:11PM

Don't i wish i could talk to my 23 year old self! Great article. :-)

J V L 6-11-2011 @ 6:27PM

This article is a load of horse manure.

First of all, what college kid DIDN'T have early morning classes? If it was a choice between waking up early or having to add a semester to your graduation date, waking up early wasn't quite so bad, was it?

Then there's the Freshman fifteen that most coeds don't lose anyway. And, of course, let's not forget that your metabolism is slowing and your arse is stuck in a chair at a desk most of the day. Walking to the coffee maker in the break room is not at all like hoofing it across campus to make an 8 AM class on time.

I just love these "AOL Experts" who are little more than recent college grads pretending to know something.

Marie 6-11-2011 @ 6:50PM

Hi Older Self,
I'm 20 and non-functional for anything but paperwork before 8:30; I hope you speak Caveman, as I don't drink coffee. I've been drinking so much water and grape juice the last two years that I'm sick of it, and I've lost a lot of weight but those extra ten pounds just aren't leaving. I go for walks all the time, but all that's working for is my legs (nice legs, by the way) and Wii Fit told me that, while my weight is in the normal range, my age should be 69. There *is* no food that's good for you in stores that doesn't cost more than I'm making at work, so sorry, but you'll still be working off those extra pounds at age 40 if you want your bipolar medication so you don't have a psychotic break. Apologies, but you'll have to live with the pounds.
Sincerely,
20-year-old Me

jaeden 6-11-2011 @ 7:08PM

Most of you are just mad that your fat, and let yourselves get that way and lack motivation to fix it.

You place blame American fast food... Blame yourselves! You all want it to miraculously disappear with a pill, or one week on a 'diet' or any sourt means you've lost 6 inches and 20 lbs.

I admit that I binge ate and got fat while pregnant with my first. Not a little fat either, I mean 200 lbs fat. It took me 3 years to loose the weight, You know how I finally did it?

Eating McDonalds. Yeah, shove that in your pudgy faces. McDonalds grilled Caesar salads were my favorite! I noticed the weight loss within the first month of almost 10 lbs.

so before you go on to blame fast food, look in the mirror and stop going to the drive through, DUH.

smapplebee 6-11-2011 @ 9:32PM

Its amazing how you exude negativity. You could have been an inspiration to others, but chose to brag.

maya33 6-11-2011 @ 7:46PM

We are so privileged in this country that we have to be concerned over being fat. Think about that. Just eat when you're hungry, stop when you're satisfied and you'll slim and fit. Oh, and walk a lot, whenever you can.

AP 6-11-2011 @ 10:42PM

Let me ask a question to the parents that are complaining that their kids are overweight because of McDonald's...1) Do you cook at home? 2) If ten year old kids are eating that often at McDonald's, who's bringing them there? I didn't drive myself to the restaurant when I was ten...and I sure didn't eat breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day there. We ate there once every couple of weeks at the most.
The answer is the same one here as it is to the question: "What kind of role model is this or that rock star or sports figure to my kids?" The answer is, YOU'RE the parent. YOU be the role model instead of trying to put that job off onto Miley Cyrus, Shaquille O'Neal, Tom Brady or Lady Gaga. Role model is YOUR job, Mr. and/or Mrs. Parental Figure. Feed your kids what they need to stay healthy, and show them your best ability to be their mom and/or dad, and stop trying to put the respnsibility on everyone else.

LORI 6-11-2011 @ 11:23PM

REALLY!!!....Get a clue...I don't eat meat(or fastfood)..I LOVE veggies...I work out on a regular...3-4 times a wk..im 44..I still can't lose ..BUT my best friend is a size 2 eats and drinks whatever she wants and NEVER works out!!!...So PLEASE tell me how the H### do U explain that( we R 20 days apart in age)She eats twice what I eat..Did U ever ask if these people were eating enough??..It's in the luck of the draw..BOTTOM line!!!