In his book, Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment, George Leonard makes the point that over a lifetime of certain habits, we’ve created homeostatis in our lives. When we change, even for the better, we’re going to feel a natural tug back to how things were.

Here are some tips from Leonard on how to deal with the inevitable tug when we attempt to change things:

1. “Be aware of the way homeostasis works… don’t panic or give up at the first sign of trouble. Be willing to negotiate with your resistance to change… The fine art of playing the edge in this case involves a willingness to take one step back for every two forward, sometimes vice versa.”
2. “Follow a regular practice.”
3. “Develop a support system.”
4. “Dedicate yourself to lifelong learning.”

When you are attempting to lose weight keep these re-calibrating points in mind.

One good way to lose pounds is to breastfeed. Breastfeeding burns 200-500 extra calories a day. This is nature’s way of helping you return to your pre-baby weight.

You need to eat healthy food so as to lose weight and to provide your baby with sufficient breast milk. Your metabolism will be increased and you will not be hungry if you consume 4-5 small meals during the day rather than 3 large meals.

Drinking a lot of water (8-10 glasses per day) is very important, even more so in women who are breastfeeding. This way, you can get rid of the toxins accumulated on your body during pregnancy. You will most likely eat less when more water is consumed.

Exercising after giving birth is important. It won’t interfere with breastfeeding, unlike dieting. It will also help prevent postpartum depression because exercise boosts endorphins, which in turn give your mood a boost as well.

Source: http://www.isulongseophil.net/articles/pregnancy-and-weight-loss-how-to-lose-baby-weight.html

Pregnancy Without Pounds will show you that you don’t need to go through your pregnancy feeling overweight and unattractive.  If you’re wondering whether you can safely control your weight gain while pregnant, calm your cravings, and stay in shape then Pregnancy Without Pounds can show you how.

1. Don’t Skip Meals - One of the worst things you can do when trying to lose weight is to skip meals. By skipping meals, you could force your body into “starvation mode”, causing it to hang on to the weight you’re trying lose.

2. Practice Portion Control - The key to a healthy diet and weight management is portion control. Being aware of how much we eat is just as important as knowing what we eat.

3. Read Food Labels - Without reading and understanding food labels, you can’t count calories, figure out serving sizes, or compare labels, making informed food choices virtually impossible.

4. Consume More Whole Grains - Adding more whole grains and produce to your diet is essential for healthy weight loss. Grains, fruits, and vegetables are nutrient rich, low in calories and fat, and high in fiber, allowing you to eat more of them, more often, without gaining weight.

5. Snack Between Meals - Snacks help you maintain proper blood sugar levels and prevent you from getting too hungry between meals, helping you control your portions and avoid overeating at mealtime.

6. Drink More Water - Try to drink eight glasses a day, as commonly suggested. Spread your water consumption throughout the day, replacing the sugary drinks you normally have with meals with a couple of glasses of water.

7. Get Some Exercise - The important thing is to get your heart rate up. Riding a bike or taking a brisk walk will get your heart pumping faster, boosting your metabolism.

Source: http://www.weightlosslib.com/2008/06/21/7-steps-to-healthy-weight-loss/

When Mark was in his 20’s he kept a training diary each day for all the running, weight lifting, hill running and hurdling experiences of those young adult years spent as an athlete. Years later he can still look at many of the entries and vividly recall what he was doing, who he was with, how much it hurt (sometimes). Source: http://markmccluretoday.com/update-on-the-october-happiness-list-exercise.

From a weight loss perspective, recording a list of daily events in the form of a weight loss journal can be extremely motivating and make you accountable for your actions.

Each day you can record things pertaining to your weight loss endeavor such as food eaten, exercise performed and your feelings and emotions. You can also monitor your progress by occasionally documenting your weight (along with other data) and providing successive personal photos. With time you should have a better understanding of your strengths and what you need to do to improve.

The Journal is excellent software for maintaining a weight loss journal. It has comprehensive word processing functions and allows incorporation of images. A screenshot of The Journal is shown as follows: