“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” ~John Wooden

I guess you could say I’m an optimist. I always try to look on the bright side of things. I suppose that’s why on most “Weight Loss Wednesdays” I try to see weight loss as a wonderful process of transformation, which of course, I believe it is! I focus on the fact that garden fresh salads are nourishing, ripe raspberries and blueberries are more delicious than a bowl of jelly beans, walking 10,000 steps for exercise is energizing and enjoyable!

And while all these things are true for me NOW, that was NOT the way things used to be.  Weight maintenance has become a ‘lifestyle’ for me. Eating healthy and enjoying it seems like a ‘piece of (gluten free!) cake’ for me these days, but that was NOT always the case.

So for today’s Weight Loss Wednesday, I want to “keep it real” and talk about the tough side of weight loss.

The media will tell you that weight loss is easy, that it can be done in a few days, that it’s as simple as eating more of this and less of that. Try this new plan or that easy new program! They tell you that if you cut out grains, nix sugar or simply ‘go vegan’ you’ll drop pounds and you’ll never have to worry about your weight again. Sounds nice, right?

I’m here to tell you, that healthy weight loss does NOT happen overnight. It happens ‘slowly but surely’ in the daily walks and the simple choices of skipping some dessert, ordering a salad with dinner and limiting some of those delicious (but calorie dense) snacks. Losing 35lbs took me a year and a half… and I wouldn’t have it any other way. To quote Mireille Guiliano, author of French Woman Don’t Get Fat (my favorite health/ nutrition book EVER) “There’s no lasting glory in rapid weight loss.”

Going from ‘cinnamon buns to salads’ does NOT happen over night. You don’t automatically wake up craving fresh fruit and veggies, but over time with baby steps, hard work, commitment, effort and motivation, eventually you’ve created a lifestyle!

So for today, get up and go for a little walk! Do some yoga in the living room, drink more H2O from your favorite fancy cup, stop by the local farmer’s market for a few colorful veggies, and be sure to skip the soda. Make the hard daily choices and don’t get discouraged while you wait for results. Remember that the effort will soon be worth it!

To read my Top 3 Tips on transitioning to a healthier lifestyle, checkout http://pattyj.com

What about you? Have you been on a weight loss journey of your own? Care to share some tips?