This article is so great! So many people try fad diets and get discouraged when they aren’t losing weight. Instead of quitting, figure out what you are doing wrong! These are some great tips on how to do that.

http://www.gettingfittogether.com/understand-why-you-may-be-gaining-weight-while-on-a-low-fat-diet/#!74

Understand Why You May Be Gaining Weight While on a Low Fat Diet

When it comes to losing weight, most people turn to a low fat diet thinking that is the best route to go. However there really is no reason to go on a low fat diet, or an all meat diet, or any other fad diet that is out there. Losing weight is about eating balanced nutrition. Fad diets will only create weight loss for a short period of time if at all. It typically just leads to yo-yoing, and most gain all their weight back or more.

First thing you want to be doing is paying attention to your nutrition and portion sizes even when you don’t have weight to lose. This helps you maintain your weight and prevention is always better than having to lose the weight. Ultimately you are here because you do have some weight to lose. Here are a few tips that will help you make sure that you have an understanding why you may have put on weight but also information about putting the right nutrition into your body.

Understand Why You May Be Gaining Weight While on a Low Fat Diet

The first thing you want to figure out is exactly why you’re gaining weight. What have you been doing or not been doing that could have led to the weight gain? Are you exercising or exercising less? Are you taking any new medications? Did you start taking birth control? Do you suffer from hypothyroidism? These are all things that can lead to gaining weight. Understanding where you weight gain is coming from will help you establish a path of nutrition that will work best for you.

Dos and Don’ts of Balanced Nutrition

Don’ts

1. Fast Food. Everyone knows that eating fast food is bad for you. Most fast food meals contain more than a thousand calories, which would consist of half or more of your total calorie intake for a day.
2. Fried Foods and Desserts. You need to think about whether you’re the kind of person who tends to splurge on fried foods or sweets. Figure out your weaknesses and you’ll know what you need to avoid most of the time.
3. Late Night Snacking. A good recommendation is to not eat two hours prior to bedtime. Snacking late at night can pack on the pounds.

Dos

1. Keeping a journal. If you’re not entirely sure where you’re going wrong, you can figure this out by keeping a journal of everything you eat.
2. Eat 5-6 Smaller Meals Every 3-4 hours. This will keep your metabolism working properly and keep you from being very hungry, which can lead to unneeded snacking or choosing snacks that may not be healthy.
3. Sleep 7-8 Hours Every Night. This will help to keep your hormone ghrelin at optimal levels. Excess levels may result in weight gain.
4. Utilize a Total Nutrition Shake for a Snack or Meal Replacement. High quality total nutrition shakes can provide you all of your daily nutritional, and make a great snack or meal replacement when used in a recipe to meet your caloric needs. Shakeology is a high quality nutrition shake that has been known to increase your energy, make you feel healthier, as well as improve digestion and regularity. Plus Shakeology comes in six different flavors and tastes amazing.
5. Cut out the unhealthy foods. With that said find replacements for those foods that really do satisfy you. Check out some of these healthy meal and snack ideas.

So no fad diet is needed. You will stop gaining weight and lose weight by creating a healthy balanced nutrition plan that you enjoy.

Getting Fit

Getting Fit Together contributors are some of the brightest minds in the health, fitness, and wealth industry. Come back often to learn from our top contributors.

My Transformation Journey - so far...

As I approach my 2 year Beachbody anniversary, I find that a fire has been reignited! I am looking to expand my reach and find more people that will join me on my fitness journey! So I thought it would be appropriate that my first blog be about my journey so far. 

I have always struggled with weight. I thought I was fat when I was a size 6, and before I knew it, I was a size 14. When I graduated from undergrad in 2009, I was 155 and I felt amazing. Unfortunately, I took it for granted. I started working in a restaurant and I gained a lot of weight - FAST!! But then I got engaged, and I was determined to look great on my wedding day. I didn't know what I doing, and I was looking for a quick fix. I took random cardio classes, and cut out all carbs. I should mention - I was in my first year of law school, so I had to battle the extra stress and late nights. I fit in my wedding dress and felt great! I still wasn't "happy" with my body, but it was good enough.

My husband and I had a FABULOUS trip to St. Lucia for our honeymoon. and there was no holding me back from the all-you-can-eat NACHO BAR! WHAT?? I know. I ate my way through all 7 days. I noticed that the pants I wore on the flight there, did not even fit on the flight home. Oh well, it was just a binge right? Well 6 months later, I had gained 30 pounds without even noticing.  Honestly, I probably noticed, but I thought I still had control of it. I didn't know that it had gotten that bad. That nacho bar was just the beginning of very unhealthy eating habits. I also started a very, very unhealthy caffeine addiction. People would comment about how much I drank, but I needed that much. Whenever I started to crash, I just drank more. I would drink coffee until my assignments were done, then I would need a "real drink" to calm me back down so I could sleep! I knew it was bad, but I didn't know otherwise.

My first step was to try juicing and quit caffeine. I made it through the withdrawals, but juicing was getting REALLY expensive. I buying carrots and apples at wholesale stores! And when I started doing more research, it turns out you need to make sure you get the right kinds of nutrients, and not too many of others. It was getting confusing and some of them were kind of gross. I was talking to a friend, and recent law school graduate, and she introduced me to Beachbody. I was afraid of spending that much money on something, when I knew I could just lose the weight like I did last time. But let's think about that - if the weight didn't stay off last time, why would I try to do the same thing again??

"If you want something you've never had, you have to do something you've never done!"

So here it is - my starting picture! I was so upset. Every time I look at this picture, I feel the same pain in the pit in my stomach that I did that night. I cried. My husband was supportive and tried telling me it was ok, but I felt awful. At that point, it didn't matter how busy I was, or what sacrifices I needed to make, I needed to make a change. My coach added me to a challenge group. They were so supportive! No negative comments, daily check-ins, and there were prizes offered to people who worked out the most! I was determined. I decided to start with Insanity - I don't know why I picked such a hard program to start with but again, I was determined!

February 2013

I also started drinking Shakeology. You may have heard of it, but unless you have tried it, you don't know what you are missing! It has 9 servings of fruits and vegetables in each glass - WAIT WHAT!! You mean I don't have to drink beets and ginger anymore?? SCORE! Sign me up!
I started with the Shakeology. First impression - tastes amazing :)
I would mix the chocolate Shakeology with peanut butter and I could not get enough of it!
It didn't take very long before I start noticing some differences. My complexion started improving, my immune system got so much better, AND I had enough energy to get me through a WHOLE day - no crashes! I was sold. I decided then that I would drink Shakeology, even if I had to sacrifice something else.

***Let's talk about finances for a second. I was in my second year of law school. My husband was driving 2 hours each way to support us and was burning out. We brought our laundry to my parents house every weekend so we could do it for free and our grocery budget was about $50 a week. Can you imagine saying to your husband, "hey babe, can I invest in this shake? Oh by the way, it's every month."

Thankfully, I married an amazing man, who is incredibly supportive. He supported me and I kept drinking it. I lost about 10 pounds with Insanity and Shakeology but still wasn't happy - I needed to keep going!

May 2013 - after Insanity
Oct 2013 - after T25

In June 2013, I decided I was going to take my new passion for health/fitness and become a Beachbody "Coach." I didn't know what it meant at the time, but I heard I could make some money. I joined a business challenge group, where, again, there were daily check-ins. But this time it was about the business. I started personal development, setting goals, learned how to stay focused - all skills that were incredibly applicable to law school as well!  I started adding coaches to my team. Including my mom and my husband! We were all transforming our lives together - I wish I could talk about their journies, but I will save that for another day!

 I continued working the business (and school), which in turn, drove me to get better results. I hit my 20 pound weight loss that summer! But more importantly, I was healthier! I trained and ran in a Warrior Dash in Sept 2013 with my husband and I felt awesome!

I used my results to share my passion. I completed 2 rounds of T25, and started sharing my results. I was rewarded with bonuses, and advanced to Diamond rank! (That means my team was growing, and I was making more money! I was helping so many people!)










I graduated from law school in May 2014. During the crazy summer of studying for the bar, I gained back some of the weight. But that is the great thing about this company. I still have my team who supports me. I still have all the tools I need to get back on track. I still have my clients looking to me for guidance and to set an example. And I still have my good health! My blood pressure at my last check up was 117/76. WHAT? That is so great! And seasonal allergies... Oh man did they used to be bad! I was on 4 prescriptions before. After boosting my immune system, I don't take any of that any more. So I gained a few pounds back during an incredibly stressful time. That's ok. I'm still human! And everyday I am working on improving my health, turning unhealthy habits into healthy ones, and sharing my story!

 Beachbody has brought me so many things. Besides the obvious of fantastic programs like T25 and Shakeology; it has also brought me confidence. Just look at the picture below. 15 pounds isn't the only difference between those two photos! That is confidence people. I am starting to feel better about my body! The only way you can let go of your past and change your future, is to love yourself for who you are today! And even though my body is still under construction, I love who I am.

left - January 2013
right - December 2014

"The only way you can let go of your past and change your future is to love yourself for who you are today!"

So here is my goal - I want to share my journey with others, and help them achieve their goals. Life is a journey, you need to live it! Don't just wish it were different. Make the sacrifices to make it the life you want! Trust me, I know it can be hard. But that is why our team is amazing. Our "fitfam" has helped so many people through so many things! And now I am working my butt off (literally) with Insanity Max:30! I still drink Shakeology and still feel great!

I am still on my journey, and there is always room for improvement. I hope you join me on this amazing journey, and decide to help others along the way - it's an indescribable feeling.

Are you interested in joining a Challenge Group?