Have you ever wondered how some people are able to maintain amazing bodies while you struggle with your weight?They make it seem so easy to achieve and maintain results. What do they know that you donít?The missing link between you and your ideal body is your go-to list of excuses.Start with an excuse and expect to be excused from losing weight. Here are seven excuses that have ensured dieters will fail in their weight-loss attempts before they ever get started.Excuse No. 1: Iíve always been overweight.Feeling sorry for yourself will not help you lose weight. Quite the contrary: Crying about never being thin can actually work against you, as you start to see yourself stuck being overweight. If youíre going to really cut your weight, youíve got to be able to envision a lighter you.Excuse No. 2: I worked out, so I can eat whatever.Working out often makes you hungry. Thatís a good thing. You just burned a bunch of calories, and your body is looking to make up for them. However, just because you burned a few hundred calories doesnít mean you get to indulge in any and every food you see. And you certainly canít eat as much as you want.Excuse No. 3: I donít have time to exercise.Spend a few days documenting how you use your time. Write down each and every thing you do and how long you do it. Youíll soon notice how much time you throw in the trash by mindlessly surfing your favorite social media sites and watching television. Transform those times into workout opportunities and toss the time excuse in the trash.Excuse No. 4: Exercise hurts.Some folks are in pain the day after they work out. If this is you and you find yourself feeling like you just rode a horse for three days straight after a workout, the reason is likely that you only hit the gym once a week or every two or three weeks. To get over that uncomfortable soreness after every workout, youíre going to have to go at it at least three times a week. Yes, youíll still get sore on occasion, but itíll be an accomplished sore.Excuse No. 5: I love junk food.This may seem a hurdle too large to overcome, but if youíre willing to fight for your weight loss, it can be done. To convince yourself that healthy food doesnít have to be disgusting, spend more time with health-conscious friends who cook and live healthily. Eat what they eat. Youíll be amazed at the wide range of flavors to savor on a healthy diet.Excuse No. 6: Itís no fun doing it alone.Then stop trying to diet alone! Grab your healthiest friends and surround yourself with them. When youíre tempted to go off track with your diet or want to skip a workout, call or text your friends for immediate support. Theyíll prop you up, remind you of your goals, and encourage you to stay the course.Excuse No. 7: My body is delicate.First, before you start an exercise routine, itís a good idea to run the idea by your physician. However, unless you have an incredibly rare condition, exercises done with proper technique and eating healthy will not put you at risk for anything but improved health. As soon as you accept the fact that your body can handle much more than youíve put it through, the sooner youíll begin enjoying the gym and make better use of your body.Exercise is a huge part of the equation when it comes to achieving weight loss.You snooze, you lose (inches)Sleep matters when it comes to losing weight.Your body requires a certain number of hours for rest and recovery, especially when attempting to slim down. Seven to eight hours per night seems to be the right amount.A study that followed nearly 70,000 women for 16 years showed that those sleeping less than five hours a night weighed more than those sleeping seven to eight.Hearty Chicken CasseroleCasseroles like this are a lifesaver on busy weeknights; unlike most casserole recipes, this one is dairy, grain and gluten free. The tender, hearty veggies and chicken are mixed with tomatoes and basil, then topped with a sprinkle of toasted ground nuts and nutritional yeast. You get to enjoy delicious flavor while filling up on protein, veggies and fiber that powers your body and energizes your day.Servings: 8Hereís what you need …
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 3 Tablespoons pine nuts
- 3 Tablespoons pecans, chopped
- 3 Tablespoons nutritional yeast
- dash of sea salt
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 2 eggplants, chopped
- 2 cups roasted chicken, cubed
- 1 (28oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 3 Tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
- 1/4 cup white wine
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a casserole dish with coconut oil.
- In a small skillet, place the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and pecans. SautÈ until golden brown. Remove from heat and pulse in a food processor with the nutritional yeast and dash of salt. Set the nut mixture aside.
- In a large skillet, place the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and onions and cook for 5 minutes. Add the pepper and eggplant and continue to cook for 5 minutes.
- Mix in the chicken, tomatoes, basil and wine. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.
- Spread the chicken and veggie mixture into the prepared casserole pan. Evenly sprinkle the nut mixture over the top of the casserole. Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes. Enjoy!
