How I Lost 20 Pounds in a Month ...

1. I Found a Work out That I Actually Enjoyed

Let’s be real, for some of us, exercise is never the most fun thing to do, but the trick to sticking to it and actually starting to see results is by discovering a workout that you truthfully enjoy. For me, that exercise was solo jogging, because I was able to switch off from the world, throw on my headphones and commit to the task. For others, it might be a group related activity or team sport; it’s really worth exploring your options.

2. I Worked out at the Same Time Every Day

This was really important in getting the healthy routine cemented in to my brain. If I knew that I was going to go for a job every single day at 3:30pm, then my entire day would start to revolve around exercise, and when you are in this kind of mind-set, it can filter through to the rest of your actions like making consciously healthier food choices in anticipation of your workout.

3. I Kept an Honest Food Diary

You would be amazed at just how much food you can eat in a normal day without actually realizing it! I made the effort to log and write down every single meal and snack I ate through the day, and outside of the three main meals that I kept pretty healthy, I found that I was snacking and grazing on things like cookies and chips way more than I thought I was. I also found I wasn’t drinking enough. When you identify the problem, you can start to work at cutting it out!

4. I Created a Vision Board for My Goals

I utilized the amazing online space that is Pinterest to create a vision board for how areas of my life might look once I had reached my goal weight. I would pin outfits that I would hoping to fit back into. I realized that it’s not good sitting around in yoga pants and baggy t-shirts every day. This extra boost of visual inspiration really helped on the days when I didn’t feel like going for a run! And I now dress more for work even if I’m not actually going to an office. I seem to be motivated when I look and feel good.

5. I Added Meditation to My Daily Routine

It might sound silly, but I got in to the habit of sitting down for a period of self-focus and meditation at the time of the day when I was feeling the most cravings for unhealthy food (around 11am and 9pm). A lot of hunger during the day can come from boredom rather than actual need for nourishment, so giving my mind something else to focus on at the hardest point was a really effective way to curb giving in to the cravings.

6. I Surrounded Myself with Helpful and Supportive People

I made the conscious effort to only socialize with friends and family who were dedicated to supporting me in my weight loss. At my weakest moments, a friend who might have suggested ordering take out or cancelling my jog for the day would not have been helpful at all, so it was important to surround myself only with people who were as committed to my weight loss journey as I was.

7. I Saw It as a Life Change Rather than a Diet

If looked at my new healthy eating and exercise regime not as a temporary diet but rather as a complete lifestyle overhaul. I knew that it I only treated this as a month long experiment, the 20lbs would go straight back to my hips the next month. It really is all about making a lifelong commitment instead of treating your body like something that can be fixed forever with only a temporary solution.

I hope my success inspires your own weight loss journey. You don’t have to commit to losing 20 pounds in a month. Set a goal you feel is achievable as long as it also pushes you.

Why? Because you’re worth it!