Sacrifice. What does it mean to you? If you really want to make big changes to your life, whether it’s better health or inner happiness, something has to give. If you have been on every fad diet going and followed the preaching of every diet guru, it might be time to get to grips with the fact that no one can take responsibility for achieving your goals except you.
Making excuses about why you haven’t achieved your goals is easy. Usually though it comes down to the fact that you weren’t prepared to make the sacrifices you needed in order to achieve what you wanted. Harsh, but true.
The Biggest Loser Club took the opportunity to speak with a few former contestants to see exactly what they gave up to achieve their healthy weight.
Series 3 Biggest Loser Finalist Alison Braun was a self-confessed ‘people pleaser’. Like good mums everywhere, she put everyone else first and with three children and a husband, this took up most of her time. Alison weighed in at 121kg at the beginning of her Biggest Loser journey. Dropping more than 55kg and keeping it off has meant some serious sacrifices in her life.
Alison says, “Being in the White House and away from my family for months at a time was a huge sacrifice and difficult to do, but I knew that it was essential if I was going to be happier, healthier and be there for my family. I finally got it. You have to make active choices about what you want and what you’re prepared to do to get it. There’s no doubt that when you start to change your behaviour, behaviour that is set so deep inside of you, it’s tough, but you have to make your choices.”
Twenty-one-year-old Sam Rouen, winner of The Biggest Loser 2008, reveals that he had to give up beer and fast food, which came hand-in-hand with his outgoing lifestyle. “Although I still enjoy these occasionally when I’m out with my mates, they’re definitely not a daily indulgence!”
Even the winner of last year’s Biggest Loser Club’s Club 11 challenge Craig Smith made sacrifices. Coming from a big family Craig says, “One of the biggest sacrifices for me was the amount of time I spent away from my family. I spent a lot of time in the gym so I didn't see my nephews and nieces as much as I wanted to."
Winners make sacrifices. It’s that simple. If you’re ready to make the sacrifices required to achieve your goal weight and dream lifestyle, then read on.
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Learn to say no. ‘No’ to that extra food treat, ‘no’ to alcohol every day and ‘no’ to what you know is weighing you down physically and emotionally.
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Schedule in daily exercise. Write down your exercise for the week and stick to it. If you have to get up an hour earlier to fit everything in to your day, then that's what you have to do.
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Make yourself a priority. You need to make the choice to put yourself first and learn to say no to loved ones. You’ll reduce your stress level and have more time to take care of your health and fitness needs, essential if you're ever going to find the healthier you.
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Take control. Space and organise your eating throughout the day so you don’t get ravenously hungry and low on self-control, which can lead you to grab the first thing you can get your hands on. These quick sugar fixes are an absolute no, no.
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Remember: 'Nothing tastes as good as being slim feels'. It's an old cliched saying but still very true. The rewards of losing weight are so very worth it – how much you're prepared to 'pay' to get them depends on you.
The sacrifices you need to make depend on your ultimate goals. Only you can decide what is more important to you and whether you are ready and prepared to change!