How I lost 35 lbs in 6 months / Ep.1: The First Changes I Made

This first episode is about the habits I started building in month one. Here’s a little more detail about what that looked like in my everyday life.

I started having breakfast around two to three hours after waking. It was a filling meal, usually including two eggs alongside other foods. For me, that felt more satisfying than the breakfasts I used to have, which were mostly carbs.

Walking was my only exercise that first month. I’ve never been sporty, and running or complicated workouts have never been my thing. So I started looking for more opportunities to walk.

I was already going outside with my daughter and our dog, so I made those walks longer. If I could walk to the playground or a nearby store, I left the car at home.

I also focused on eating satisfying meals earlier in the day, when I was busy with housework, errands, and walks. Lunch included vegetables, carbs, and protein, and I ate enough so I wouldn’t be too hungry by dinner. In the evening, when things slowed down, I preferred something lighter, like soup or salad, and aimed to have dinner by 7 p.m. That schedule fit my routine.

Another big change was cutting back on refined sugar. I had strong cravings for sugary foods, and I’d estimate that I reduced my refined sugar intake by about 80% that first month.

I started making more of my sweet snacks at home, using a little honey or pure maple syrup. They still count as added sugar, so I paid attention to the amount. Many of my recipes use around ¼ cup of sweetener for the whole batch, although some recipes need more.

And yes, I still drink one coffee each morning with about ½ teaspoon of brown sugar. I don’t enjoy it unsweetened, and artificial sweeteners don’t agree with me. That’s something I kept.

My first month still included pizza out on Sundays, the occasional weekend ice cream, and days when I wanted more sweets—especially before my period. Some days were harder than others. Overall, though, I kept coming back to the habits I was building.

New habits take time to feel natural, and that timeline is different for everyone. I was still learning and adjusting in that first month.

I wasn’t reducing my portions in that first month. That came later. I also wasn’t weighing myself daily or even weekly. During those first few months, I focused on my habits rather than the number on the scale.

I hoped to lose weight, but this time my main priority was looking after my health. I wanted to learn habits I could keep, rather than follow a temporary diet, lose weight quickly, and gain it back later. The changes developed gradually over six months.

Even now, I listen to my body and make room for foods I enjoy.

This is my personal experience. What worked for me may look different for someone else, but I hope sharing it gives you something useful to take into your own life.

In the next episodes, I’ll share the changes I made along the way and go into more detail about my eating habits, how I adjusted my portions, and when I started adding other exercise. #mom #momlife #sahm #motherhood #parents #weightlossjourney

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