‘The simple and effective ways I shed 5kg in four weeks’

I indulged far too much over the Christmas and New Year period and once the festivities were over and life started to ‘return to normal’, I was on a mission to lose the weight I gained. I’d made myself a New Year’s resolution and I was determined to stick to it.

I embarked on my weight loss journey with the goal of losing 10 kilograms. I wanted to do it slowly and set myself small goals along the way. Truth be told, I’d have been happy just shifting the 5kg I’d gained with all the festive celebrations.

For me, there is no point joining the gym. I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep it up. I hate exercising and hate it even more when it becomes a chore. When I started my journey I knew there would have been nothing worse for me that paying entry to a gym just to walk on a treadmill while staring at the television. Walking in the big outdoors is free! There were other, little things, I also did which has helped me lose the weight.

First, I have to start my day with coffee. I’ve never been a breakfast eater, which I discovered was a mistake because by 10am I would be eating unhealthy. Now I have cereal (my choice is Weet-Bix) with banana and honey and found I was full. I didn’t go looking for food again until lunchtime. It was definitely much easier walking past all those junk food shops when my tummy was full.

When I looked at my diet I also noticed I ate quite a lot of rice dishes. I’d always eaten white rice, probably because that’s what my mum did. I thought changing from white rice to brown rice would be a good idea. I’m not going to lie, I hated the taste at first, but it didn’t take me long to get used to it.

In addition to switching from white to brown rice, I also decided it was time to say goodbye to bread and I replaced it with rice cakes. I enjoy the rice cakes with avocado and Vegemite, but they go well with a lot of things.

Before I started my journey I’d never really considered my water intake. I know the daily recommendation is eight glasses, but I’d struggle to do it and would feel ‘waterlogged’. It’s taken some time, and I’m not quite there yet, but I’ve definitely drinking more water than I used to.

Like most people I know, there was a real slump in the afternoon. My old self would have reached for a biscuit, some cake, chips or another carb-heavy food, but now I have a couple of pieces of fruit and an ice coffee (homemade), or some rice cakes with a thin spread of butter and ginger marmalade.

Perhaps my most drastic decision was the cut down on dairy products. During January, I completely avoided eating any ice cream. It was a ‘no go’. I really struggled without it and I had serious reservations about going into the second month ice cream free, so I’ve compromised; I bought cones and a 2-litre tub of ice cream, but I only allow myself to have one every second day. It has helped satisfy my craving and it has also allowed me to stay on track.

I was 5kg down after the first four weeks and, having weighed myself recently, I’ve dropped another kilogram. I’m definitely on my way to achieving my major weight loss goal. Slow and steady is winning the race for me!

What health goals have you set yourself this year? How are you going with them?

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