This, I’m sure, is a big thing in clients’ minds and a very valid concern too. Who hasn’t lost weight and then stacked it back on again?
I posed this very question to a nutritionist I was seeing over 20 years ago, because, up until then, my only experience had been to lose weight and then re-gain it, usually more than I had lost. Sometimes it was as much as 25+ kilos. This time around I had done The Body for Life Challenge, with the support and guidance of a nutritionist and I was amazed at how easy and effective it was. But I had no belief that I could keep the weight off.
My nutritionist’s response was ‘of course you can keep the weight off’. And I have, for over 20 years now. It was a case of learning what to eat, how much and what the options were. It was different from anything I had tried before – and it worked.
A client I saw on Saturday, Deborah, has lost over 19 kilos since January and our goal is now to help her feel confident that she can keep those kilos from coming back on. The big thing to keep in mind when you reach maintenance is – there is no end to living the healthy lifestyle you formed in the weight loss phase.
It is super important to get into a routine, repeating good habits until they become your baseline. Then when you want to maintain your weight loss, you have some flexibility, but it simply won’t work if you revert to your previous way of eating. If it didn’t work before, it isn’t going to work now. The 80/20 rule applies for maintenance, eat ‘right’ most (80%) of the time, then you have 20% to play with. The bottom line is, the work doesn’t end when you reach your goal.
Louise's testimonial
One client who has really embraced the changes to her diet and lifestyle is Louise. I saw Louise a few years ago and she came back a couple of months ago, just to fine tune what she was doing and to lose a few kilos. Louise is in her 50’s, keeps herself very fit with regular exercise, but she just needed a bit of guidance to get her back on track with her food. She sent me this lovely testimonial.
“I found Lynda’s website just after a house move and double knee replacement 5 years ago. I wanted to lose some weight to ensure my knees will last many years into the future. Having struggled with my weight for most of my life, including visits to other nutrition specialists, I liked Lynda and her nutrition approach immediately and have been enjoying a much better quality of life.
Recently I decided to leave work and start early retirement and after reading up on the importance of nutrition, particularly protein requirements for women in their late fifties, I rang Lynda for some help. It was just like seeing an old friend and it was yet again a relief to be able to sit and, after a chat, watch Lynda write up another fabulous food plan. I have lost 4.5kg of body fat after 7 weeks which surprised us both and I am thrilled with the results.
The best part is my food plan satisfies my nagging inner food voice and I really look forward to each and every meal. It is truly liberating."
Eat your veg
The price of vegetables has been a bit of a shock lately, especially salad type veggies, but, it is winter and it is normal for prices to rise. The types of veggies we use in casseroles, etc., have stayed fairly stable so load up on carrots, onions, garlic, celery - and of course tinned tomatoes are very affordable at $1 per can. Pumpkins have been a great price too and can be used in soups, frittatas, baked veggie dishes, etc.
Quick recipes to try
Pea and spinach soup. Getting your greens in is very easy with this quick soup. It’s always handy to have a bag of peas in the freezer. They are cheap and always available.
Kumara stuffed with cottage cheese. Cottage cheese is such an underrated, easy protein to have on hand. Kumara and potatoes are so quick and easy to jacket cook in the microwave that it is literally lunch in 5 minutes.
A new stylish you?
Do you need some help with what to wear and how to make the most of the clothes that you already have? Or maybe you’d like some help clothes shopping so that you don’t make so many mistakes when buying (like me!)
Rayma is such a stylish lady, but very down to earth and not pushy at all. She has come up with this package for my clients.
Style Counsel
Are you part-way through your weight loss journey and your old clothes are hanging off you, but because you’re not quite at your goal yet you don’t want to buy anything new? Often that can make you feel less happy about your progress. Rewarding yourself along the way can give you extra motivation to keep going.
You may already have pieces that have been forgotten because you thought they didn’t work for you, or just didn’t know how to put the look together. I will show you new outfits you didn’t realise you had by mixing and matching them in new combinations you’d never imagined possible.
A personal consultation is up to 2 hours long, including a body shape and colour analysis, educating you on how to flatter, enhance or conceal certain features. Taking into consideration your lifestyle and personal preferences, I will assist you in organising your existing wardrobe and accessories so that it works better for you. By identifying any gaps you may have and adding in some inexpensive current trends I will show you how easy it is to update your look without breaking the bank so you can continue on that journey in great style and with confidence.
Let’s get you looking and feeling your best everyday, regardless of budget constraints or body shape.
Personal Consultation $200.00 for up to 2 hours (includes follow-up notes and photos)
Shopping Trip $80.00 per hour. Package available for Men and Women.
Call Rayma Stirling 027 44 33 035.
Email: raymas@xtra.co.nz
Spring is almost on the horizon, the days are starting to stretch a little at each end and the spring bulbs are flowering. Winter is the toughest time of the year to maintain a good eating regime, but we are nearly there!
Please get in touch if you would like help with your weight loss journey.
