Losing weight has never been easy for me. I noticed when I got older and my metabolism slowed down that gaining weight was easier. My weight-loss journey has been a roller coaster ride, full of ups and downs. And after having my mommy makeover and being on a pretty restrictive diet I believe that I have found some sustainable ways to not only lose weight but to keep it off.

Some of these tips might seem familiar and some might seem foreign but they work and they help. So lets jump in!

Tip 1: Eat low sodium during the week/weekend and have 1 day for your favorite meal.

Eating low sodium was so helpful on my weightloss journey. When I had my surgery, my doctor told me to strictly eat low sodium to ensure that I would not swell or bloat. While it’s very hard to eat low sodium it is possible.

I started to season my foods with Mrs. Dash, Flavor God, Kinders No Salt Seasoning, Marinate with White Vinegar, A tablespoon of olive oil or no salt butter then season your chicken, meat or fish, let it marinate for 30 minutes to an hour. Pan sear, bake or air-fry!

Tip 2: Meal Prep

I have a very busy life so meal prep is the only way I can ensure I am eating healthy! So I utilize a meal prep service in Houston called Fitness Snob! I just started requesting no salt seasoning on my food and she does it so well. This has been so helpful when losing weight!

But if you cannot afford a meal prep service the easiest thing to follow is your meal prep container should contain a form of protein, carb (sweet potatoes, quinoa, brown rice) and a vegetable (Greens, Spinach, Green Beans, Asparagus) I avoid broccoli because it can throw off your ph balance and make your kitty kat smell (iykyk).

The rations for food should be a palm size piece of meat (4oz, 1 cup of starch, 1-2 cups of veggies)

Now you can have fun with meal preps if you follow fit men cook, he always has really fun recipes to try. Or just get on pinterest. You can make a southwestern salad bowl with steak or chicken, lettuce, beans, corn, and a medley salsa (onions, tomatoes, green peppers) season with Mrs. Dash Southwestern seasoning and now you have a meal prep!

The ideas are endless.

Tip 3: Incorporate More Protein in Your Diet

When you have plastic surgery you are required to up your protein intake. But what I have also noticed is that incorporating more protein helps you feel fuller. Here is how I get my protein in throughout the day.

1. Start with a protein shake for breakfast and some fruit
2. Breakfast can be two eggs, a low sodium tortilla wrap with spinach and tomatoes
3. Or grab a protein bar if you are on the go and need a snack
4. Apples and Peanut butter are a great way to get fiber and protein in at the same time. (apples help you poop)
5. Peanut Butter on Caramel Rice Cakes (Peanut Butter is a good source of protein) try not to go over board 1 tbsp is all you need. If you want more don’t go over two tablespoons.

Tip 4: Drink at least 1 liter of water per day if you can do more try but 1 liter is good.

Drinking water is not easy. Trust me I know, but it is essential in weightloss, because it helps you pee out everything and poop out everything. But I have found that even if I start with 1 Liter and try to do more I am usually good. They say you’ve had a good day of drinking water when your pee is clear. So try to make your pee clear.

Tip 5: You need to poop! Like You need to get all that Sh!t out! So do a detox!

A 7-14 day detox will help you get rid of mounds of waste that are pilled into your colon. Now be prepared to be on the toilet, but sometimes getting rid of the waste will make you feel so much lighter.

My favorite detox to do is the Keisha Kaior Detox Tea! Wow this stuff is amazing and you will notice a huge difference in how you feel. But I recommend d speaking with a doctor before you do a detox to make sure it is safe!

I have tried the Keysha Kaior Tea and it will definitely make you lose like 4 pounds instantly from all the waste in your body.

Tip 6: Make your snacks low sodium and healthy!

My favorite snacks to go to are:

1. Unsalted Crackers w/ a bit of peanut butter
2. 1 apple and peanut butter
3. Chopped Melon (Cantaloupe, Melon, Watermelon) this is the best thing ever it fills you up, taste good and will make you pee!
4. Mandarin Oranges or Strawberries
5. Pistachios (No Salt)
6. Or no salt trail mix (no salt pretzels, dried cranberries, lily sweet dark chocolate chips)
7. Caramel Rice Cakes w/ Peanut Butter

Finding snacks that are healthy is so important when you’re trying to lose weight!

Tip 7: Go on Friend Workout Dates instead of Foodie Dates

We’ve all been there. We have friends that want to eat., but being on a weight loss journey makes that hard! So instead of going on Foodie Dates, Happy Hours or Dinners, try workout dates. Go to pilates, a cycle bar class, or walk, or try Class Pass!

Working out with friends can be fun and therapeutic. It can also provide you with a bit of balance from the every day cocktail. But to be honest, YOU have to get it together, YOU have to want to lose weight. You have to say no to lunch outings, dinner outings. Now I am only speaking to those whose willpower is Zero and you know you can’t resist the temptation or urge to eat unhealthy.

For those who are pretty smart about their eating habits, going out might be easy, because you know your limitations.

But if you are like me and don’t know your limitations heres what you can do!

1. When eating out immediately order a side salad and water with dressing on the side.
2. Opt for Baked, Grilled, Pan-seared, Broiled, Blackened when it comes to your Fish or Meats.
3. Opt for Fish (Salmon or Chilean Sea Bass is always a good idea) ask for them to cook it in light butter.
4. Always get veggies and skip the starches. Because if you are like me, you are probably going to eat the bread, they bring to the table. So if you eat the bread skip the potatoes or vice versa.
5. Instead of dessert, get a coffee (if you are still hungry) coffee kills your appetite and makes you full.
6. If you want alcohol, get Prosecco (190 cals) or Titos Vodka with Ginger Ale, and a splash or lime)

Tip 8: WORKOUT, YOU NEED TO MOVE YOUR BODY!

Working out is essential when it comes to weight loss. Whether you are walking outside, or going to a fitness class, or watching one on YouTube. You must workout for at least 1 hour a day. It takes the body 35 minutes/ 40 minutes to get into the Fat Burning Zone. So If you want to burn fat you need to workout past that time frame!

My favorite workouts include:

1. 30 minutes on the treadmill ( I use the app C25K or couch to 5k) it helps pace me.
2. Then follow it up with 30 minutes on the stair master at 4/5 speed you can go higher if you feel the need.
3. Then I follow it up with a weight training routine.

I workout with a trainer so a big portion of my weight training will be during my sessions with him. And then it will be up to me to get my cardio in!

Tip 9: Stop Eating after 8pm and Get Sleep!

Y’all this is so much harder than it appears but in a nutshell, you have to stop eating during the week after 8pm and go to bed by at least 10pm. WHEN you do this you WILL SEE the weight MELT OFF YOU!

That is it! By doing these things I have been able to lose 13 pounds and counting. My weight loss journey is still in progress and I am working on losing an additional 20 more, so I will keep you posted on my results.