2018 Instant Loss New Year Challenge!
Welcome to the 2018 Instant Loss New Year Challenge!
In December of 2016, I knew that something needed to change. I was massively overweight, I suffered from chronic back pain, and I had an autoimmune disease. In February 2016, my 4 year old was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was burdened with an intense desire to change our diets. I realized that my poor food choices were not just affecting my health but the health of those around me.
My first experience with dieting started when I was 15 years old. I was overweight in my midteens and obese by my late teens. For thirteen years, I tried everything. Slimfast, metabolife, medifast, juice diets, Weight Watchers, MyFitnessPal, Paleo, Whole30, personal trainers, gym memberships, accountability meetings and groups. Sometimes with little success and other times with tremendous success but I never made it out of the obesity range before I gained it all back again. This time, I wanted something that was sustainable long-term for my family. I knew that I needed to change the way I viewed food.
Armed with resolve, I issued myself a personal challenge.
I decided that for all of 2017 I was going to make dinner from scratch, at home. No more processed food, no more prepackaged frozen dinners, no more calling my husband to pick up a pizza on his way home, no more cereal, and no more take-out. We were going to JERF (Just Eat Real Food) for a change and see what happened.
Click here to read about how the Instant Pot helped me succeed with my goal!
I cleaned out the pantry, got rid of the Christmas cookies and the candy, and filled our cupboards with clean food, lots of lean protein, vegetables, and fruit.
By month four, I had lost 50 pounds by then, it wasn’t a struggle to maintain the way that I was eating. It felt normal, like I’d been eating this way all along!
Click here to read the specifics of my diet!
The Challenge!
This challenge is for everyone! No matter what clean eating diet your family ascribes to, you are included in this! This challenge is a push to get rid of processed foods and fill our cupboards with REAL food to follow the JERF principal. Just eat real food.
The Instant Loss 10 Step 2018 Challenge!
For recipes, click here!
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i need to make the changes you did..please help
I really would love to do this but I have a 6 year old that’s super picky. She won’t eat any vegtables and is addicted to sugar and junk food. I have tried everything to change her diet but nothing works. She is so thin but the doctors say she is healthy…….If I take everything away, She won’t try any of the new foods I have and would rather stave and eat nothing. I have made many of your meals but she refuses to eat them because they have vegtables in them. Do you have any ideas?
I am a foster mom and the children that come to me have this same attitude. The rule is if you won’t eat the good foods (veggies) then no sugar or candy. It is a slow process to change their eating and taste buds but it does happen. One of my proudest moments was when our little girl turned her nose up at the poptart her mom brought her for a visit. This had been her favorite treat and now she wont even consider it. She has however learned that she can put the peas in her mouth and wash them down with milk and not even have to bite them.
Take a look at the book “Deceptively Delicious” You make purees and hide them in spaghetti, mac and cheese or pizza, for example and kids can’t tell there are veggies or fruit inside.
Eventually she will greet hungry enough to eat what you are serving her. My pediatrician told me a child can live on a single piece of bread per week as long as they are drinking fluids. It’s sooo important for you to change her eating habits now while you can. It’s going to be tough, but it will be worth it in the end. You got this momma!!!!
Hi Kimberly,
I know what you mean about picky eaters. My 7 year old also can be a picky eater, but I just make the food and tell her if she is hungry she has to eat what I have prepared. She is also stubborn, but eventually she will wind up eating something. Also you could try the old bribery method. A sugary treat but only after she eats her other food. I am starting this plan in the new year, and I know both my daughter and my husband won’t be a fan, but I am not going to tell them it is a special diet, just going to make sure the dinners I make follow the rules. I made the vegan instant pot dish from this site last night and they loved it. Just think she may be resistant at first, but it will be much better for her health.
Good luck
I share the same habit as your 6 year old. I hate veggies. I only eat a select few. It’s hard to want to lose weight and dislike veggies.
Seems like she has you trained to react. When she is hungry, she will eat. Just don’t give in because once you do, you have to start the process all over. No sweet treat if you eat these veggies. Treat can be a game time with you, special book, anything. You are teaching her lifetime habits. Who wouldn’t rather have a Litle Debbie Snack Cake? But the effects are not good. My little ones love zucchini slices dipped in milk and then breadcrumbs and baked in the oven. Dipping sauces like marinara sauce, BBQ sauce are fun for them as well. Just put small amts on her small plate and have her ask for more. You will have a grumpy child for awhile, but so worth it.
@ Kimberly: I agree with all of the comments above. I know it’s hard — and very tempting — but DON’T give in. Your daughter won’t starve to death. She will eat when she gets hungry enough.
As a mom of 5 (3 biological sons; 1 step-son; 1 step-daughter ~~ 4 of which are now teenagers and the other is 11) and as a child care provider for 8 years, I’m speaking from experience, not just general opinion. 😊
Good luck to you. 😁 Stay strong and you will see success before long.
I have to say I’ve tried different things as well. Every time I do try something, my boyfriend rolls his eyes, like, again?? But since I’ve had my instapot, I love cooking in it! I went off for awhile and got off track when the Super Bowl hit but I’m looking to get back in track with it and looking forward to getting my bundle books.
Brittany, you’ve really inspired me to eat real food I didn’t know existed much. I enjoy reading about your journey and hoping that can be me. I’m currently around 138 and my goal is 135 and once I hit that, hopefully I can knock down more and see the 120’s!
Keep going, girl!! I know you got this!! 🏃🏼♀️💪🏻
~ Erin
Erin,
Thank you so much for your note! You’ve got this! I’m currently carrying a little excess Christmas weight but I’m determined to get it off within the next month. I recently implemented some interval running and I’m hoping that helps. <3 <3 Thank you for sharing with me.
I have a kiddo like this who also has autism. He would not eat veggies cooked but loved salad so i added spinach to the iceberg lettuce he was used to. For the sweet tooth I add raisins or grapes and grilled chicken for protein. These are things I keep on hand and fix when he wont eat what I make this is something he can have every day.