Last week, I talked about how I approach weight loss and invited readers to share ideas on what has worked well. For Louise from MomStart, “it took a lot of work,” which is something many women identify with. I really liked what she had to say about “focusing on the simple things” and “accepting that any movement is better than no movement.” What struck me about her journey was the motivation she received from her community and how she vowed to enjoy herself along the way. Ellen from Confessions of An Overworked Mom focuses on “eating smarter” rather than eating less. For her, maintaining a healthy weight “is a lifestyle choice” rather than a temporary solution. It’s the simple things like eating healthy and exercising daily that help keep weight in check. Aracely Worley from Daytripping Mom focuses on the smaller daily goals and successes, rather than the overall amount of weight she would like to lose so that she doesn’t get overwhelmed. Approaching weight loss in this way, helps her feel like it’s an attainable goal.
One week ago, I headed to The Grove in Los Angeles for stop 3 in Special K’s Gain Tour. I was retained by the company to report back on the event. Locals gathered at the luxury outdoor shopping venue to go through the Challenge which consisted of a “weigh in,” the opportunity to write the word that describes what is hoped to be gained from achieving weight loss goals, and the option of signing up and personalizing a weight loss plan.
Fortunately for many of us, stepping on the largest scale I’ve ever seen only revealed a word…for me it was oomph! Other women weighed in at pizzazz, presence, and resolve. Just the physical act of stepping on a scale in public, only to reveal an inspirational word as opposed to a number, was moving. Many in attendance did not know their weight wasn’t about to be revealed to shoppers and on-lookers…and they stepped on the scale anyway. Some were hesitant…some determined.
After stepping on the scale, I wrote down the one word that describes what I hope to gain this year by losing the last ten pounds…Confidence. I’ve been wearing Spanx since my son was born…that’s over 3 years. For me, it would be wonderful to regain that confidence in my body that I had before my son was born. One of the things I learned in college was that there is a strong connection between weight loss and emotion…and perhaps that is the most powerful aspect of this campaign. It’s about re-framing your approach to weight loss…it’s about focusing on the positive…
The Special K Challenge is a 2 week program designed to kick start weight loss. According to one of the brand representatives in attendance, it’s not designed to be a long-term plan. So how does it work? I had the same question! Here is a brief summary:
Meal 1
Start your day with Cereal, 2/3 cup skim milk and your choice of fruit, or have a Protein Shake or Protein Meal Bar.Meal 2
Replace a second meal with either a serving of cereal, a Protein Meal Bar, or a Protein ShakeMeal 3
Eat your third meal as you normally do.Snacks
Enjoy two snacks every day (at any time): Protein Snack Bars, Cereal, Fruit Crisps, Crackers or Cracker Chips, Protein Water MixesEnjoy fruits & vegetables as additional snacks.
Drink beverages as you normally do.
So what do I think of the plan? I’m not a nutritionist, but there are aspects I do like….the plan has structure…the plan encourages normal drinking of beverages and encourages eating as many fruits and vegetables as one would like…the plan is results oriented…and the plan incorporates community and support (via Facebook, emails, and a mobile application called myPlan) which are key components to the success of any weight loss program. However, I would like to do some research on the amount of protein I would get if I were to participate in the plan. I also wonder if some may tire or get bored with eating the same thing every day, since I’m one that likes to change up what I eat. If anyone has tried the plan, I’d love to hear your experience. How much did you lose? Was it difficult to stick to the plan?
If you’d like more information on the Special K Challenge, I encourage you to visit the site.
This is a compensated campaign via The Motherhood. However, all opinions expressed remain my own.
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
I’ve been doing something similar to this over the last couple of weeks. I actually have a small donut some mornings with my cereal (I LOVE the chocolate Special K) along with a full glass of orange juice (per doctor’s orders) because my potassium is low. I also eat a protein at lunch (usually tuna or salmon) with some crackers or potato bread. I also have to have toast or a bagel thin when I take my afternoon meds because I need the carbs or I’ll get a migraine. I have cut my portions of my dinner down a lot because I am eating much better now and not eating junk food and I allow myself a small dessert after dinner and my snack after my midnight pills is 10 M&Ms. 🙂
I am limited in what exercise I can do because of my spinal disability and have been having some trouble walking the last few weeks so have had to cut that back a little, but I have managed to lose 4 pounds in 2 weeks. But these are the last 20 to go… I lost 30 over the summer.