“Oh no! I can’t fit into my jeans!!” I yelled to my husband. This happened to me about a month ago. During my pregnancy I gained over 35 pounds. The good news was that I lost 25 pounds right after delivering my baby. The bad news? The last 10 pounds enjoyed my cozy belly so much that they were determined to stick around for as long as they possibly could.
Devastated at the thought of having to replace all my favorite jeans and pants, I came to the clear realization that I needed to shed that last 10 pounds from my midriff.
But it wouldn’t be easy!
The problem was that I’d developed a strong sugar craving during my pregnancy. Since it was probably the only time in my life that I could eat as many chocolates and cookies as I wanted – and totally guilt free – I took full advantage of that opportunity.
However, now that I’d given birth to my baby, I no longer had that guilt-free excuse to keep reaching for those sinfully delightful chocolate bars. But my sugar craving remained pretty strong. Especially when I felt tired and sleep-deprived while caring for my little girl – which was most of the time, by the way. I needed that extra sugar boost more than ever!
So I was going nowhere on my plan to lose that last 10 pounds.
Then one day I ran into my neighbor Casey, mother of two young boys. She looked fantastic in her skinny jeans, wearing a big smile on her face.
“You lost some weight, Casey! It must be hard raising two boys,” I said.
“Oh, no. My husband and I just finished a 40-day detox. I used to eat lots of sugar and I felt tired and lousy. But now I have so much more energy and I feel great!” she grinned.
Our brief exchange inspired me to stop my insatiable sugar cravings and get back on track with the healthy diet I had before my pregnancy – whole foods with a minimum of sugar.
I knew I had to take it slow and be gentle with my body after what it’d gone through. So I decided to start with drinking the Yogi Detox tea I had in my cabinet.
Every time I felt like grabbing a chocolate bar, I drank some tea. The tea’s a bit sweet and has a rich flavor. I found it quite calming and satisfying. With this newfound comfort as a substitute, my sugar cravings gradually subsided.
In the following weeks, I lost another 5 pounds. And at last I was able to wear my jeans, even though they still felt a little tight.
I’m happy with my progress. And I feel better – with more energy to care for my little one and to write to you girls.
My lesson from this experience? If you want to change an unhealthy habit, first find some inspiration, then replace it with a healthier choice. And choose something you enjoy. For me it’s the Yogi Detox tea. Because I love herbal tea, it works or me, pleasantly and almost effortlessly.
What about you? Is there a habit you’d like to change? If so, what would be your healthier alternative? I’d love to hear about it!
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