Linda Hegedus, Weight Loss and Life Motivator: Change for the Better, and It Only Gets Better!

Linda Hegedus, Weight Loss and Life Motivator: Change for the Better, and It Only Gets Better!:   The other day I attended a picnic, which had many different food options to choose from, and the majority of food choices were surpri...

Change for the Better, and It Only Gets Better!

The other day I attended a picnic, which had many different food options to choose from, and the majority of food choices were surprisingly healthy ones.  More and more people, who are hosting parties, are offering healthier foods when entertaining since the majority of people are becoming more aware of the environment in which we live in.  GMO foods have been exploited for the negative effects they have on our health; and many people are growing their own food as the summer season has arrived.  People are becoming aware of which seeds to buy and re-producing their own produce by keeping the seeds from their own crops as opposed to buying seeds each season.

Change is all around us with food, and how we’re viewing the value of its content for long-term wellness.  Many people who’ve been afflicted with illness and disease have turned to modifying their diets to a non-hormonal, organic, and plant-based diet as opposed to consuming red meat, pork, or chicken which has been injected with hormones for larger growth and faster production.  I see a slow, but steady change due to this new awareness.  People are educating themselves with the insight to be healthier vital human beings and reaping the benefits of eating organic, non-hormonal lean protein, and plant-based foods.

If we encourage others to learn about their food choices and how they can improve their well-being just by what they’re eating on a daily basis, we can change an entire generation, who’s been raised on foods that were quick and easy to make and eat.  Change is on the horizon, and it’s moving in a positive direction.  Weight loss can be achieved by making these small but impactful changes towards a healthier and productive lifestyle.  As we also incorporate various exercise routines to our daily lives, it’s a winning combination!  Interval training with strength training has given me endurance, flexibility, and a wider range of motion, and I find that if I challenge myself to go an extra mile, or a higher level of intensity, or push my body to the limit, it’s almost euphoric! 

I’m also learning breathing techniques, which keep my cortisol levels in balance, along with a good night’s sleep, and a better frame of mind and outlook on life and the people around me.  The toxic habits I’ve once partaken in have changed dramatically.  It didn’t happen overnight, but as I overcame one of my habits, I began to work on removing the next bad habit, and then the next until I became completely clean and free from any and all toxic negative addictions.  I’m an all or nothing type of person, so I’m quite happy and proud of overcoming all of my bad habits and have replaced them with healthy, positive, productive, and spiritually evolving habits.  I’m a lot stronger and stable more than I’ve ever known and never needed the coping mechanisms I thought I needed. 

All I need is me and that’s enough.  If there are other like-minded people, I could certainly share the wealth with them as well.  Be well my conscience friends, and remember change is not only good for the soul, but it’s essential!

Linda Hegedus ©

Exercise and Healing

Exercise is a great healer to the body.  It oxygenates your blood, while building muscle and burning unwanted fat at the same time.  Each time I exercise, I feel stronger, more alive, focused at work, and relaxed before bedtime.  When I was not exercising as much, my body became tense, my attitude became shorter with others, and I felt a lot more physical pain as a result.

As many of us know, in the beginning of our weight-loss journey, we were not accustomed to exercising since that was one of the major factors that had led us where we were at, and that was being morbidly obese.  Exercise was foreign to many of us and it was not going to be easy to add this new activity into our journey.  We had to introduce or reintroduce this activity slowly into our lives.  Eating healthy foods that are comprised of low calories, but physically beneficial to our well-beings takes a front seat first and foremost on this path, but when exercise is incorporated as well, the results become not only beneficial to our entire well-being, but also something wonderful begins to happen to us.  Our bodies begin to transform and reshape into a firm, toned, and fit appearance, which we can take much pride with as we are able to endure longer workouts as a result of following through every day with an exercise routine.

If you’ve worried about having loose skin, or you’re feeling tired, and not satisfied with your appearance after weight loss, I would highly recommend that immediately after you’re able to begin an exercise routine, begin slowly and begin to challenge yourself each week on increasing the intensity of your workouts.  You will see that your skin will tone up nicely as well as the contours of your body will be in proportion with the rest of your physique.  Beginnings are not always easy, but they are essential for long-term success on this journey.  One day, one week, one month, and one year; it will make all of the difference in your new life ahead.  Eat well, sleep well, and be well.  I feel good most of the time and I attribute it to these factors.  Organic clean eating, and one hour of exercise per day.  I will rest when my body tells me to take it easy, but overall, I feel good, and when people ask me my age and I tell them, they’re surprised. 

Exercise is the key to slow the aging process down, and revitalize, refresh, and rejuvenate your entire being!  Get up and get moving!  You’ll begin to enjoy this activity and look forward to doing more as you progress! 

Linda Hegedus ©

Never Give Up!



I met with a friend of mine, who had weight-loss surgery eight years' ago, and had gained all of their weight back just to become larger than they've ever been before.  I had advised my friend to find out about having a revised surgical procedure done.  They had taken heed to my advice since they've seen how far I've come, and had another weight-loss procedure performed.

Six months had gone by and they were doing great!  They had lost 100 lbs. and went down quite a few sizes as well.  I had mentioned to them how wonderful they looked, and a broad smile would come across their face filled with pride and joy.  I  was so happy for them for taking control of their weight and staying true to their journey.  After their eighth month on the journey, a mutual friend came by to see me and told me that our friend was losing hope and had become discouraged.  He had asked me to check up on our friend, for he feared our friend was beginning to gain weight once again.

I thought to myself why???? They have come this far, why are they setting themselves up to fail again?  Every chance I had a to interact with them, I would ask how are you feeling?  What are you eating and drinking?  In the beginning of their journey, they had been extremely strict to the point of starvation.  They were eating only jello and tuna fish.  My belief is that they went to the other extreme, and when their hunger began to creep up on them, so began the cycle of "insanity".   The old patterns and attitudes were brought to the surface once again.  I've tried to contact my friend, and reach out to them before it's too late.  Once is a mistake, but twice is a habit.

The lessons were not learned the first time, and unfortunately being repeated for a second time.  They will not have another chance if they don't wake up.  I'm very concerned for their health and well-being.  They are too young to have a life filled with no hope, no future, no life.  I realize that I cannot save them, they can only save themselves.   I feel helpless to just sit back and watch this person destroy what they worked so hard to become up to this point.

Perhaps they have reached a plateau and feel it's not working.  I remember during the first quarter of my journey, the weight was coming off at a rapid rate.  The joy and anticipation of standing on the scale and seeing the numbers keep moving downward, was absolutely a natural high to feel!  Then about the same time at approximately eight months, the scale didn't budge....I was puzzled?  Why haven't I've lost more weight?  Was I taking in enough protein to meet my daily requirement?  Hydrating...did I hydrate enough to flush the excess fluids out of my body?  Did I need to rev up my exercise routine and make it more challenging?

One week passed by and still the scale wouldn't budge.  The second week passed by, and there still was no change on the scale.  By the third week, the scale began to move once again, but slower than it had in the past.  At least it was beginning to move in the downward direction again.  I pushed myself harder with my workout routine, focused on my caloric and protein intake to the exact number, and hydrated more than I had been just to trick my body and get it functioning again as a fat-burning machine!  If I had given up during that period, I would have never reached my goal, which was clear in sight.  I made sure I would follow-through for once in my life to finish what I've started.

The moral of this story is to NEVER GIVE UP!  Yesterday is gone and we've learned from our mistakes, tomorrow gives us another chance to begin once again, and today we can reach our personal goal that we set out to do.  I am going to contact my friend and share my experience with them as I just did with all of you.

May your journey remain a successful path that gives you the best quality of life that you truly deserve!

Linda Hegedus ©

 

Tis the Season to Be Tempted

How is everyone coping with the delicious treats that surround us during the Christmas Season?  At my workplace many high-calorie treats are within my reach.  A lot of my co-workers bring in baked assorted Christmas cookies, Christmas fudge with nuts, the largest box of chocolates I've ever seen in my life, peppermints, and the list goes on and on.  Tomorrow morning our Supervisors are catering a staff breakfast for everyone, which will include many healthy and not so healthy items.

I have made a mindful decision to continue to drink my shake in the morning, a hard-boiled egg for a snack, and a small salad for lunch.  Even though the temptation is right under my nose, (literally right next to me), I have not touched a cookie, a candy, or the fudge!  I'm very happy with my decision not to indulge!!!! Tomorrow morning at the staff breakfast, I will be too busy to step into the room filled with many different varieties of food, which is a blessing in disguise!  I have a pack of gum inside my desk and chew it whenever I feel the need to chew.  I always keep a pack of gum in my purse, and wherever I go I always have gum handy.  It helps me get through the day!  I also have been drinking a lot of water since there are many people around me with bronchitis, colds, and other contagious ailments that I don't want to become infected with  as a result of not sleeping and eating poorly.

It's not easy to be around all of these treats, and many people eat a lot during the Christmas celebrations, but I'm choosing to remain faithful since my addiction to food will always be with me throughout my life.  I know that if I have a candy, I will not be able to control myself.  It will signal me to have another and another and another until the box is empty!  I know if I begin to eat a cookie, I will not be able to stop at one.  I'll have to have at least five or six.  Why torture myself and my body?  I cannot afford to hurt myself anymore.  I feel proud of my decision to turn away from the temptations, and as a result, I'll be better off in the long run.  My self-awareness is very strong right now, and I'm grateful that it's keeping me honest.

Stay true to your journey and you'll be happy you did!

Linda Hegedus, ©

Feeling Grateful

Thanksgiving will be here soon.  It's a day to be grateful and thankful for all of our blessings bestowed upon us.  Many people in our lives are saddened when the holidays come since their loved ones may no longer be with them in celebration.  There are many poor and homeless people who are alone and hungry.  As most of us are blessed and remain very thankful and grateful, we can lend a helping hand to those who are in need of love, kindness, comfort, or a good home-cooked meal and a warm place to sit at the table.

Let our hearts be open, and pray for those who require assistance at this time.  Let our souls give unconditional love and support to others as we celebrate this day of harmony and togetherness with one another.  On this special day we remember that we were given support, love, and caring when we needed it the most during our personal journey.  As we sit with our family and friends, we enjoy and cherish the time spent with the people who mean the most to us.   We cannot focus on all of the food that's prepared, but only eat enough to satisfy our hunger.  There's many foods that we can enjoy that are healthy and nutritious.  Turkey is high in protein and very filling.  Sweet potatoes contain many nutrients and vitamins.  Green beans, peas and carrots, or broccoli also are rich in calcium and rich in vitamins.  How about dessert?  Make or bring your dessert.  Prepare a low-calorie gelatin dessert, which is good with low calorie cool whip on top. A fruit salad is also tasty with pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, and some mango to give it great color.

It's a challenge to celebrate this day as it's known to be quite a feast.   We should plan ahead on what we're going to eat; here are some suggestions.  If you're at home, or bringing a dish, prepare an appetizer filled with raw carrots, celery, raw mushrooms, cauliflower, and peppers.  For the dip you can bring three different types of hummus.  There's a great roasted pepper flavor, or garlic flavor, or a spicy flavor for variety.  We can enjoy the celebration and remain true to our journey.  If you're a guest, request a smaller dinner plate to eat on so you don't pile on too much food.  Also drink water instead of soda, wine, or any other beverage that will contain a lot of calories.  Once we begin to feel full, stop!  Continuing to eat may ruin your day and the feeling of being uncomfortable will remain with you for hours to come.

May all of you have a happy, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving.  Peace and Love to all.

Linda Hegedus, ©

 

A Lot Can Change In A Day!

 

As Esther Phillips sang, “What a Difference a Day Makes” 24 little hours ….Yes one day can make all of the difference!  Did you ever eat a food item that contained too much sugar, and consumed a larger than normal amount, that you ended up craving more sugar?  It’s a vicious cycle of wanting, needing, and feeding that old addiction to what we used to crave the most.  It's what satisfied our inner-being, or so we thought.  I found myself wanting and craving something sweet.  Although, I must confess that I did indulge in a temporary moment of weakness and enjoyed the moment.  As I began to eat something sweet and savoring the taste and the feeling it gave me; it was as if I was taking a drug that made me feel comfortably numb.

Comfortably numb on food, that is…. The high didn’t last long, and like any addict, all I wanted to do was sleep it off.  It felt like I was buzzed on sugar.  It began with the first piece of candy, which led to another piece, and yet another piece of delicious candy.  I felt the old me coming out for a while, and in the moment of this feeling, I was aware that my old behavior was beginning to emerge.  If just for that moment…. I felt free and naughty at the same time.  I knew what the consequences were going to be if I continued, but it didn’t stop me from doing this to myself.  I justified this behavior as I was good for so long, and always stayed true to my routine, but just having that sugar led to becoming out of control until I felt like vomiting.  I was intoxicated with sugar.  My pants began to tighten up, and my feet and hands began to swell.  I was so doped up on sugar that when I walked upstairs to my bedroom, my head was pulsating very hard as if I was going to have a stroke.

I know what I’ve done and was afraid, but as a drug addict or an alcoholic reacts to their demise, they sleep it off.  That’s exactly what I did was sleep it off.  When I woke up the next morning, I felt a little off, disconnected, and physically very tired.  It was as if I had a hangover from the indulgence of partaking to the sweets and treats.  I realized that old part of me which I thought was buried for good, came out and will always be silently sitting within me.  Just like a drug addict that takes that drug for the first time after being clean for so long, they want more and more, or the alcoholic who’s been sober for years and slips into having a drink, and realizes they can’t stop.  I felt that way as well with eating high carbs, which led me to wanting sugar!!!!

 

After taking a long and hard look at myself, and what this habit would do to me long-term, I said to myself I cannot do this anymore.  I was mortified that I explored that area, and thought that aspect of my being was long gone, but when it resurfaced, I knew it would always be a part of who I was but not who I am now.  It’s almost 5.5 years out from my RNY Gastric Bypass surgery, and the dumping syndrome was apparent, but it seems as the years pass by, it’s not nearly as prominent.  This week I’ve been back to my healthy lifestyle, which includes my supplements, and eating an all organic plant-based diet, in addition to drinking 74 ounces of water; and walking for ½ hour of five laps around the track, which is one mile and a quarter.  Since this weekend was mild outdoors, I rode my bike on the trails as well. 

 

“What a Difference a Day Makes”, 24 little hours came to my mind when I seen my pants are already loose, and the excess fluids were flushed out from my inflamed body caused by the extreme sugar intake.  My mind is clear once again, and I feel energized!  My hands and feet are not swollen, and my head is not pounding.  Thankfully I got back on track immediately and realized in one day you can turn it all around for the better!

Linda Hegedus, ©