The flu, by far it has been the worst thing I have ever felt in my life. The fever, aches and pains, the coughing, it was quite unpleasant. 
However, those three days at home did lead to some blinged out, henna inspired iPhone cases using metallic markers, nail polish, and rhinestones from Michaels. I now have four different cases to use, its like giving my iPhone a choice of what it wants to wear for the day!

We have all seen the ads. “Lose weight fast”; “Take this pill and you will lose weight”; “Lose 20 pounds in one month.” Etc etc

Upon seeing these ads, some specifically targeting young women, I become very upset. There is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING, that will make one lose weight without having to change his/her life in some capacity, without one having to do some difficult work and reassessment of his/her life. It is not simple enough for one to take a pill and drop 20 pounds in a month; I cannot believe that people buy into these gimmicks and that companies specifically target those who may not know any better.

We are accountable for our own health and well being. It is a constant, never-ending struggle. However, if one knows how/what to eat, it becomes easier. Programs like weight watchers have excelled for that reason; they have taught people how to eat without feeling like one has sacrificed something.

I lost 50 pounds in 2 years. It was through a mix of working out and eating right, with more of an emphasis on tracking what I ate. One of the best tools out there are apps like “My Fitness Pal” which help you track calorie intake per day. However here some other ways that helped me;

1. Consult with a doctor/nutritionist.

2. Do not drink anything but water (2 liters a day or more) and unsweetened tea,
preferably green (3 times a day- breakfast, lunch, dinner). Throw away all your
soda- that stuff is poison. Why bother getting sugar from a drink when I would
really enjoy it in chocolate or a cupcake?

3. Substitute brown for white. Brown rice, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta. It’s a healthier option and it keeps you full longer.

4. Eat a good breakfast and lunch to keep you going through the day (oatmeal, boiled eggs, bread with peanut butter). Have a light dinner- veggies and protein. Do not eat a lot of meat- there are many great substitutions for meat- tofu, beans, lentils, etc.

5. Track EVERYTHING you eat. Use an app, use the internet, write it down. Keep an excel spreadsheet of your weight and measurements, record it once every week.

6. SLEEP. Get into a proper sleep routine, 8 hours a night.

7. MOVE. Seriously, get up off your butts and move. Human beings have joints and muscles for a reason- we have been engineered to move around and do things- not sit in front of tv all day. Get out and walk, jog, do some karate,
yoga, take classes at a gym, do not just sit there and feel bad for yourself.
Believe me- that gets you nowhere fast.

8. Keep at it and don’t give up. It takes several months to see serious results. Be patient. Talk to people about it, keep motivating yourself.