Diet tips from a weight loss success story

Q: Where are you from?
Milwaukee, WI

Q: Biggest accomplishment you achieved on your own?
I would have to say graduating college and being able to say that I paid for it all on my own. It was tough at times to tell my friends I could not do something with them because I had to pay off student loans. But, in the end it felt good to pay off the loans and say that I did it on my own.

Q: We understand that you are a Weight Watchers success story. How has the program helped you achieve your weight loss goals?
The plan helped me understand portion control. In today’s society I think it is hard to get a grasp on what your body needs and wants. When you go to a restaurant they serve you portions that could easily feed 4 or more people. We have been brought up to clear our dinner plate so when you get your meal at a restaurant, people feel like they have to eat everything. The program got me to understand what a serving of pasta looks like and to be specific when dining out. If you don’t want butter, tell them. If you want to substitute vegetables for pasta, tell them. The plan also helped me choose healthier options. Getting a grasp on point values is very important in the plan. Once you understand how many points any food item is, you really start to make healthy choices.

Q: Name three things every single should do to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
Exercise, eat healthy and spend time doing the things that you love.

Q: Favorite low Points snack or meal?
My favorite low point snack would have to be 94% fat free popcorn. I love to munch when I am watching a movie or my favorite TV show and popcorn is the best! As far as a meal, I would have to say breakfast food! I have found so many great low point breakfast options that it is my go-to meal when I am running low on points! 

Q: Tell us about a funny or frightening home-alone incident (i.e. mice, flooding toilet) and how you managed to survive it on your own.
Wow, there are so many incidents that happen to me on a daily basis that it's hard to pick just one. But, since I have to pick one it would have to be the time that I was boiling a pot of water and it started to overflow! If you know anything about boiling water and old coiled stove
tops you know that it is not pretty. It takes forever for the stove to cool down. Since the water hit the coils and the stove, it ended up getting burnt and stuck to the stove! So, I had to wait for it to cool down, go to the store, buy some cleaner and scrub for about an hour until it all came off the stove! It was a nightmare, but I managed to fix my mistake.

Q: You have your own blog. Can you tell us a little bit more about it and what inspired you to start writing about your life?
I actually got inspired by reading other blogs. Most of them focused on food and living a healthy lifestyle. I decided to start my own to share my experiences with other people and hopefully to inspire someone the same way I was inspired by someone else. My blog focuses on what I eat, which holds me accountable and keeps my diet in check.

Q: What do you love most about being single?
I would say the freedom to make my own decisions without having to worry about how my decision wiil affect someone else.

Q: Best spot to dine out alone in your area?
I think the best spot would have to be Alterra. It is this great local coffee shop that serves food. It is a nice way to sit down and have a cup of coffee or enjoy a nice wrap for lunch. Very private and a place I go to get work done!

Q: What advice would you give to singles that have put their lives on hold until “they lose the weight?”
Don't put your life on hold. I know it's easier said than done, but I've been there. There were so many times where I would say "When I lose the weight...." But, in all reality if you don't get up and move or do the things you want, you will never lose the weight. Finding something that motivates you or gets you going is key in losing weight. If you hold off on something you won't know if it's the thing that motivates you!

Q: Breaking up with friends is one of the hardest things to do. What’s the best way to handle it?
I have had this experience a time or two in my life. I think the best way to handle it is to go for a run! When I am upset about something, nothing is better than getting my anger or stress out at the gym. The gym has become an outlet to me for a lot of different things. But, when I didn't feel like going to the gym, I would just remember why I wasn't friends with that person anymore and remember that my life is probably better without that person in it. Be strong and keep truckin'!

Q: How does one bounce back when they fall off the wagon?
If you fall off the wagon, don't beat yourself up about it. Everyone has an off day or two and it is normal. My best advice is to put it in the past and move on. Don't let it ruin the rest of your week and if it was food that made you fall off the wagon do a little more exercise the next day. If it was something else take a look at what was off about it and learn from it. You won't get anywhere if you beat yourself up about everything!

Please visit Kristi's Blog at: Healthy Living One Day at a Time