How I lost 16.6 pounds in 7 weeks:
1. I stopped listening to what everyone told me I should be eating and tapped into what I know to be true for my body specifically. I decreased my processed food intake (even the “healthier-for-you” ones) and increased my fiber and lean protein.

2. I increased my water intake. I simply had not been drinking enough water. I now average between 1/2 gallon and a gallon a day.

3. I off-loaded stress. Some of it is unavoidable but over the last couple months I’ve done what I can to minimize stressful situations and increase things that calm my nervous system.

4. I started going to bed early again. I like to fall back into my old patterns of staying up reading, or binge watching shows till midnight, while snacking on “healthier-for-you” chips. It’s a comfort that isn’t serving me in my current goals so it needed to go. I try to be asleep by no later than 10:30pm.

5. I try to hit between 7,000 and 10,000 steps a day.

6. Recently I incorporated fasting in order to facilitate autophagy and hopefully help my body heal a few things I’ve been struggling with on a cellular/internal level. It is changing my life. I highly suggest reading Fast Like A Girl by Dr. Mindy Pelz.

7. I have not cut out everything that brings me joy. I’ve still had ice cream cones, chips, wine, cocktails, French fries, and pizza! I just limit those things to sometimes foods instead of all the time foods. I’m mindful to limit myself to a portion when I consume them and I pick the “healthier-for-you” option over the traditional, because my autoimmune disease flares so easily when I don’t.

My book Instant Loss on a Budget is 83% off on Amazon, making it only $4.34!! It has over 125 recipes, meal plans, grocery lists, and a lot of advice. Let me know if you have any questions!