"How did you do it?"

Earlier this month my sister asked me how I lost the weight. It’s that time of year when most people are feeling extra motivated to lose weight, my sister included. Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling it, so I wasn’t currently following a healthy lifestyle and had forgotten what I had done to lose all the weight. So when I answered, I wasn’t much help.

“…Ummm…I chose healthy whenever possible, but if I really feel like eating something than eat it…Ummm…When eating desserts I eat about this amount (form small dome with hands)…ummm…(long pause).”

Cousin chimes in to be helpful: “Do you eat small meals throughout the day?”

“…Uh…no… I eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and sometimes snack.”

Sister says: “Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and sometimes snack? Eat whatever you want? So basically, I should keep on doing what I’ve been doing.”

“…uh…ummm…(shrugs).”

I’ve been waiting for the window to help my sister and I totally blew it! So, I’ve thought it over. This is what I ACTUALLY did to lose the weight…

1. Record food intake
2. Plan/schedule exercise
3. Reward myself
4. Find support
5. Try new things

Now, that’s the bare bones of it all of what I did, but I also know that what worked for me may not work for someone else. Heck, it may not work for me currently. What I should have done was help her make her own plan. I should have asked her what she was currently doing and helped come up with her next (or first) step. THAT’S what I’ll do if ever another window opens.