My daughter was graduating in 3 weeks, and I had to fit into my dress. In 3 weeks, I was also due for my next annual medical review, and I was going to make sure the doctor gave me a clean bill. I was 10kgs overweight and I’d have been happy to just lose 3 for starters, so I lost 3kgs in 3 weeks.
I’m going to share what I did, but whatever your reasons for weight loss, consider 3 variables. Make weight loss fun, healthy and effortless, particularly in incorporating it into your daily routine. You should be consistent.
Weight loss should not be a standalone goal, but a part of an overall health and wellness objective. When you achieve your desired weight, work to maintain your healthy size throughout your life.
Fun
I’m a total gym whore, and one of the many gyms I breeze in at is the most fun, noisy, crazy places I could go to get lost in hours of mad cardio. They’re outdoors blasting Nigerian party jams and jives, dancing, kicking or working tyres like purple minions. That was my new love for days. I don’t know how many hours I’d do at a time, but I sure burned some.
Check with your doctor that it’s fine to get started on high intensity trainings. I am already quite active, and love jogging, dancing and walking. So sometimes if the music got boring, I got jogging.
If you’re in Abuja and you want to try the gym, they’re called Itosfitness, they’re at the old parade ground, and if the intensity is too high for you, you could try coach Sam’s badminton classes instead.
If you prefer to go solo but love dance, walking or running, try increasing the time you would normally spend in that activity. Increase it progressively from 5 to say 30 minutes. You might have more time, but if weight loss is your goal, an additional minimum of 30 minutes daily should help you get there.
If you are less active and really not up to all the movement, you could try SIIT routines. For these Slow Intense Interval Trainings, I recommend at least 3, 7-minute routines.
Healthy
This more or less was an easily achievable goal for me to set throughout the 3 weeks. Just because I shuttle between West Africa and Western Europe and food portions and options are generally healthy in these parts. They’re also highly organic and especially in West Africa, most proteins are lean. I also have a digestive condition with symptoms that worsen when I eat late, so I don’t normally eat after 6 pm.
As a rule of thumb, hydrate, hydrate and hydrate. Flavour your water with a healthy dilutant like pomegranate molasses or honey if you’re not allergic. Replace your heaviest meal of the day with a salad (no cream) and some fruit and try to have your last meal of the day by 6pm.
This automatically puts you in a healthy form of intermittent fasting, while ensuring you get in enough nutrients for the day. I love quinoa salad and bananas because they are packed with energy and keep me feeling full for hours. 1 banana is just fine for me. I also stuff face on smoothies.
Watermelon, pineapple, avocado and pomegranate was my favourite and heart friendly recipe.
Effortless
Almost. If I lost 3kgs in 3 weeks and so far, you’re thinking this is doable, great! But remember that staying on schedule is the biggest challenge. So, make these early days count. Determine to maintain discipline and consistency.
I have to be totally honest; it took lots of effort in discipline and determination. Whatever you choose, be sure it fits into your normal daily routines. This was where I had to make it most effortless because consistency is extremely key, and consistency is my biggest challenge. I made sure I fit fitness into my normal daily routine.
You shouldn’t have to reschedule too many activities to make it work. If you’re counting steps, incorporate activities like stair climbing or walking around the block. Dress prepared for physical activity, especially your shoes.
Take your kids with you to your fitness class if allowed. Mine had lots of fun and we do morning jogs and walks together. Other times we did Pilates, started jumping jack challenges or went crazy on tyre flips.
I lost 3kgs in 3 weeks and it was no easy feat. Mainly because I had to do the healthy way and keep it consistent with my normal routines. When I couldn’t get out or needed something different, I followed Jo on YouTube, and she made my day. She’s a mom, she’s fit and she’s fun.
There were the occasional sweet dessert cravings I had to fight. It takes the body a few weeks to wean itself off dessert if you’re used to them. But like building a habit, if you fight it successfully at least in those first few weeks, you should be able to succeed. After that, it’s all about maintaining a healthy consistent weight.
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