The secrets of my success

I posted recently about my recent weight loss. As I said then I have lost just over 20 pounds in the last six months. I thought I would share what I am doing that is making the difference. In whole I made a big life change 6 months ago. I moved to a new city, in a new house, and got a new job, so it broke me out of my habits and it was easier to make some other changes too.

This is what I am doing differently than I was before that I think has made the difference:

1- I eat a bowl of whole grain cereal for breakfast every day.

I got out of this habit a couple of months ago and my weight loss stopped, I started again, and started losing again. And that's one bowl, not more.

2- I am simply more active.

I still walk my dogs every day and try to jog a couple of times a week. But in addition to that I am just on my feet more. I do housework, I run errands, I spend way more time pushing a cart around Walmart than I should. I look for excuses to be moving.

3- I eat smaller portions, and fewer snacks.

I never feel guilty eating fruit and I keep it around always, so when I feel peckish I pick up an apple, or orange, or grapefruit. I only eat 6" of my Subway now and save the other half for lunch tomorrow. I almost never have second helpings at dinner. (Unless Chris makes me Cajun Chicken Penne, then I definitely have seconds -and don't feel guilty about it).

4- I try to stop eating by 7 or 8:00 pm.

I only started this about a month ago, but I think it's making a difference.

5- I have pretty much completely given up fast food.

If you get it in a drive through, I don't get it. 2 Exceptions: I snitch about 6 of Chris' fries when he goes to McDs (the only thing worth eating there at all, even if you aren't trying to lose weight). And once every couple weeks I'll get a small Wendy's frosty. (Ooh, Frosty).

I don't count Subway as fast food. And at Subway I only get subs from the 7 grams of fat or less list, and I don't get mayo anymore.

Hey, if I can do this, anybody can. -Della