Feet to my words

OK, so I've been writing about what I want, how I've been doing, etc.  That's great, but I thought this week, I'd share a few practical things I have done/do/etc and hope this helps out. 

1 -- I live in MS where there is no such thing as tea that is too sweet. Drink it unsweet (no, you won't go to hell for it, I checked) or drink half sweet/half unsweet.  You'll probably not notice much of a difference and will save half the calories.  Or better yet, rather than drink tea, drink water.   
2 -- Cook with olive oil, it tastes great and is actually good for you.
3 -- This one just hurts... Eat salads, at least occasionally.  Yea, I know, I don't like them either and don't eat them often, but try to get them in here and there.  I still remember the trip to O'Charleys when I got a salad and got home and realized my salad (Black-N-Bleu Caesar with oil and vinegar rather than Caesar dressing) had roughly the same number of calories as the cheeseburger i wanted.  Yes, I was mad, very very mad.  Now, however, I've cooled down a little, I can realize that the salad had more veggies and nutrients to keep me full longer.  It really is better for me.  The salad,  I'm sure, kept me full longer than the cheeseburger would have.  This cut down on the amount of food I would have eaten later in the day.
4 -- Don't go on a diet.  Commit to changing the way you eat for good or don't do it.  I've learned through the years that if I cut out calories, carbs, fats or whatever "the thing" is to cut, once I get a few pounds off, I put them back into my diet and my weight goes up.  This just messes your whole metabolism thing-a-ma-jig up. 
5 -- Exercise really isn't a four letter word.  Some folks like it, some folks don't.  Find something that you like to do that gets you active... Work in the yard (or work in mine), walk, run, lift weights, chase kids, what ever, just do something you like to do.  When I first started, I wanted to run.   I was in such bad shape, I didn't think I'd ever get to, so I settled for the elliptical machine.  After a little while of it, I was actually running.  This is important, once you find something you like, stick to it. Later, add in something different.  I now run and lift weights and enjoy both of them.
6 -- Set some realistic goals.  Be honest and firm, but don't be too hard on yourself.  I started around 265-270 lbs in Feb.  I couldn't have set my goal at 150 by May.  I didn't even set long term goals for a while.  I would set goals sometimes daily, but definitely weekly.  3 lbs here, 4 lbs there, before you know it my weight was down and I was in the losing weight groove.  There were setbacks along the way.  They have to be taken in stride.  We are human, we will screw up.
7 -- Find someone to be accountable and honest to.  I am gullible when I talk to myself, I'll believe anything I tell myself and I WILL lie to myself... "No, you're not THAT big", "The scale is wrong", "That guy is much bigger than you are", etc.  Yea, riiiigggghhhht.

These are things that helped me, hope they help you. 

May He increase and i decrease,

Shane