First, I cant emphasize this adequate: Everything Im about to lay out worked for me, and if any of it helps you or motivates you, thats terrific. Do not take it as gospel, and definitely talk to your physician prior to starting anything brand-new. You know your bod and yourself better than anyone!

Second, “slim” has actually not been my main goal. Though I had actually gotten significant weight over the past three years and I certainly wished to slim down for Alexs wedding in May, what encouraged me the most was simply wishing to feel much better and have more energy. In January, prior to I sucked it up and took the leap, I was worn out, puffy, and desperate (I will blog about my rock bottom sometime; its quite a story)– and I knew I should not be feeling that method. While the eighties kid in me does not necessarily bristle if somebody periodically says an encouraging “You look thinner!” or “Youve lost weight!” I mostly simply believe about just how much better I feel every day and feel grateful that Ive made it over the hump.

What I did not do.

I have actually gotten a few questions recently about how I have actually slimmed down over the previous few months, so I believed I d compose a post! Im composing this not as a self-celebration (given that its still very recent, and since Im still dealing with it), however (ideally) as inspiration– due to the fact that as a 52-year-old lover of food and avoider of exercise, I simply actually wish to share what worked for me.

To begin, heres what I did NOT do to drop weight. Im not criticizing any of the following, simply noting the approaches I didnt employ because they are often utilized:

Ree with her sibling, Betsy, and BFF, Hyacinth in Vail, Colorado in June 2021.

What I did.

I did not utilize a trainer. (Unless you count Ladd! More on this listed below.).

So heres how I did it, and this list is in no particular order. I simply wished to number the products so you d see that I really tackled this from a lot of various instructions. I understood I had to strike it from all sides, due to the fact that I didnt wish to put all my eggs (egg whites?) in one basket, and I wished to get this show on the road.

Ree Drummond.

Ree Drummond.

I did not purchase specialized diet plan foods. I wished to eat genuine food, the food I consume in my household, the food I cook for my family. Packaged foods can truly be excellent in numerous cases; I felt in ones bones it wasnt right for me.

I did refrain from doing Intermittent Fasting. Ive tried it before, and it triggered me to canyon throughout my eating window. Since calories matter, this didnt work for me.

I did not join a weight reduction program. Now, I do have pals for whom Weight Watchers, Noom, and other programs have worked amazingly well, with great results– so they are certainly worth looking into! I feel in ones bones myself and my history, and I understand I am bad with programs, logging, signing in, etc. I resist meetings as a guideline. Ha. (Dont be like me.).

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I did refrain from doing Keto. Ive attempted it previously, and it never ever worked after the preliminary 10-15 pounds. Plus, it made me fear avocados, which I constantly liked.

1. I ate fewer calories.

” Calories in, calories out.” Weve all heard it preached, but I have absolutely seen that science play out in real time throughout the past couple of months. I tried to attain a calorie deficit most days, which means I expended more calories (through exercise and just standard daily activity) than my body required to keep my then-weight. I used online calculators to get a rough idea of what that weight upkeep calorie count might be, (though its just a basic guideline), then I attempted to undershoot that number on the majority of days. I counted the calories of the things I consumed every day (utilizing websites like FatSecret.com or CalorieKing.com) and wrote each item down to get a day-to-day overall.

Counting my calories was nothing except eye opening, and for me it was essential. I d entirely misplaced the calories I was consuming on a daily basis, so it was really useful to get a handle on what I was taking a look at. I could tell if it was working by whether I was reducing weight over time, and changed up or down naturally as I went.

2. I weighed my food.

In order to be as precise as possible with the calories I was eating, I utilized a digital food scale to weigh my food. Determining food in grams was much more reliable and eye opening to me than just determining a pound or a cup.

Note: I still consumed good food. I just ate less of it, and I valued the calories more and ensured I ate things that provided more dietary bang for the dollar. And today, while I still weigh food sometimes if Im not sure or curious, Im not as meticulous as I was because I now have an overall sense of part sizes and matching (basic) calorie count.

3. I exercised.

Ree and the pet dogs, May 2021.

I found out that making time each day to work out simply had to be done– due to the fact that, just like having an infant, theres never a great time. I d gotten so accustomed to excusing myself from working out because of my work schedule or travel schedule … but throughout the past few months, I just chose to be late on a deadline or put off work up until the next day so that exercise might occur.

As for what exercise I did: I strolled 2 to 3 miles, or did the rowing maker, or did Pilates– but not with standard Pilates machines! Whatever workout I do has to take place on the cattle ranch, since I do not like to go places. I worked out 6 days a week, in some cases two times a day (early morning walk, evening rowing machine), sometimes simply when.

Ree Drummond.

Ree Drummond.

4. I built muscle.

Today, a few months later on, I am just now able to do a genuine lunge all the method to the ground. (And Im not talking lots of weight, either. I normally use either 5 pound or 8 pound hand weights.

I struck a significant weight reduction plateau about 6 weeks in, simply after Ladds accident. For a straight week-plus, even though I hadnt altered a thing, I abruptly stopped losing weight. Instead of get disappointed (fine, I was a little annoyed. Okay, I was mad), I Googled and researched and ultimately figured out that I required to develop more muscle mass considering that muscle burns more calories than fat. Till that time, I had not done much other than some measly bicep curls with 5 pound hand weights.

Actually, I do not think hes tired of it.

Also, I had no concept how to build muscle in my legs and my butt! So Ladd, while stuck in his neck brace, by the way, revealed me how to do lunges, crouches, straight-leg deadlifts, and calf raises. And guess what? I was absolutely pitiful when I began. I am a previous ballerina but literally could not do a proper lunge without falling over. I had no strength in my lower body and my legs trembled and provided out. However I still did it, about four days a week to start, and made fun of my uncoordinated clumsiness each time. And I couldnt stroll for the very first few days! I complained and wailed, however considering that I had a spouse with a broken neck, I mainly kept it to myself.

I presumed it was just a matter of doing more repetitions with my hand weights to make my triceps and biceps stronger. It made ideal sense.

5. I ate more protein.

Long story brief: Between the muscle structure and the protein increase, I pressed through my plateau simply a couple of days later on (and another plateau a few weeks later) … and those 2 aspects alone actually altered the video game for me going forward. Consuming more protein likewise made me feel more satisfied (and provided me more energy), so it was an excellent move for many factors.

Another piece of info I obtained during my weight reduction plateau research was that many people effectively push through by upping the day-to-day portion of protein they take in. It made sense, though undoubtedly, I d never ever believed to track my protein intake before. Given that I was currently tracking my calories, it wasnt a stretch to also make note of the protein of the things I was eating every day. Ends up that on a normal day, I had actually been landing at around 15% to 20% of my calories from protein … so I rotated and guided my eating so that I was around 30% to 40% protein. It worked!

My favorite high-protein foods that got me through: Low fat plain Greek yogurt (add a little sugar free vanilla syrup for a sweet snack, or use it as the basis for vegetable dips), low fat home cheese, lean beef, chicken, turkey, salmon, cod, egg whites (Im consumed), raw almonds, 1% milk, Swiss cheese, homemade protein balls (recipe coming soon) … I like all of it! To fill in the blanks, lots of spinach (raw or cooked), an apple a day, kale, carrots … the excellent things!

6. I consumed less sugar.

Ree Drummond.

This is a no-brainer, however all of it boiled down to the everlasting calorie-counting concern: “If I am consuming X calories today, do I wish to blow 300 of those calories on a doughnut? Or do I instead desire to spend 50 of them on a piece of excellent dark chocolate to get my fix, then keep consuming things with more nutritious content?” (This is basically how Weight Watchers works, however in a points system.) So most days, I chose that didnt include a lot of sugar. Gradually, it truly resulted in quite a reduction of squandered calories.

All of that said, were there days I gave in and had a piece of cake? Im The Pioneer Woman and I like food!

7. I consumed no alcohol.

Im back to having an occasional developed drink again, however rather of 2 glasses of really caloric red white wine or a sugary frozen cocktail, Im going with a Ranch Water, which my buddy Eddie Jackson taught me about: A little clear Casamigos tequila, fresh squeezed lime (I do like half a lime!), and cold Topo Chico shimmering mineral water, which is incredibly carbonated. All over ice! Tequila has the least quantity of calories of any booze, and the mineral water allows me to inform myself Im hydrating. Ha.

Ralph Smith.

This was multi-faceted. First, alcohol has calories. Second, I wished to give my body a rest from booze as I moved into integrating more exercise in my every day life. Third (this came in handy!), Lent occurred to fall throughout this time period, and since alcohol is usually the thing I offer up, I got to have actually an added inspiration there. Bottom line, I didnt consume a sip of alcohol for over four months.

8. I utilized an app called Happy Scale.

But what it does, after simply a few days of everyday weight logs, is keep you published on your progress: your existing rate of weight-loss, your overall rate of weight loss, and how that pattern will play out over time. It is incredible in its simplicity, however it was the magic bullet for me due to the fact that it removes the periodic disappointment of natural flows and ebbs of weight-loss by giving you your moving typical weight in addition to your literal weight. So if I had a day where I was up half a pound or had a couple of days where the scale didnt budge, it helped me imagine that the general pattern was still moving in the ideal instructions.

Im a substantial Happy Scale fan! Its not ideal if you just wish to lose five or ten pounds, however considering that I had a bigger target to strike, it was the right sort of tool for me. And guess what? The weight Happy Scale informed me I d weigh on the wedding date of May 1 (back in January when it started determining my daily weights) was precisely– exactly– what I weighed on May 1. Not magic, due to the fact that it included dedication and work on my part … however a celebration of what occurs when you adhere to a good, constant, reasonable plan. And again– it wasnt about the exact number. Considering that my weight loss was a reflection of my body feeling much better and much better, it was one of the assesses I used.

As I stated above, I am not into logging things and having to participate excessive in programs. I spend adequate time texting with my kids and publishing on social networks (and writing on my computer) to have to spend much more time tracking my eating and working out. But I in some way came across the Happy Scale app, and let me tell you that it was a GAME CHANGER in regards to encouraging me to keep going. I will write a whole post about Happy Scale soon, but all it is a weight-loss tracker. It does not tell you how to lose weight, and it doesnt track calories, exercise, or anything other than your everyday weigh-in.

9. I changed to a standing desk.

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Ree and her sister, Betsy, in Vail, Colorado in June 2021.

Ree Drummond.

If I d been standing and working awhile and I felt like moving around, I d just leave my desk and go outside, go get water, go take a brief walk. It assisted shave off the cumulative inactive nature of a desk task, and simply helped my general motivation and motion. (Just tell your employer youre on a wellness journey!

Ree Drummond.

( Note: You do not have to buy a standing desk. There are tutorials online for changing a regular desk or table, or you can always utilize the cooking area counter!

10. Im still dealing with it!

I still enjoy food, I still cook the exact same food for my household and me, and Im a real individual who realizes Im constantly going to be vulnerable to weigh-in ups and downs. But my experiences over the past couple of months have equipped me with genuine, workable tools that I feel like Ill be able to take out whenever things get off track in the coming months and years.

Ree, April 2020.

I think twice to even state that number, because for me, the method I feel today, it isnt about the weight loss. I certainly needed to lose weight for my own preference based on where I thought I ought to be, however its more about how I feel after a few months of regular workout, more moving, and more mindful consuming.

Ree Drummond.

Ashley Alexander.

Ree Drummond.

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It just took me 52 years to figure it out, however thats okay!

I had gotten considerable weight over the previous three years and I absolutely desired to slim down for Alexs wedding in May, what motivated me the most was simply wanting to feel much better and have more energy. I assumed it was just a matter of doing more repetitions with my hand weights to make my triceps muscles and biceps stronger. What it does, after simply a few days of everyday weight logs, is keep you published on your development: your current rate of weight loss, your general rate of weight loss, and how that pattern will play out over time. It is incredible in its simpleness, but it was the magic bullet for me because it takes away the periodic disappointment of natural lessens and flows of weight loss by giving you your moving average weight along with your literal weight. The weight Happy Scale informed me I d weigh on the wedding event date of May 1 (back in January when it started determining my day-to-day weights) was precisely– exactly– what I weighed on May 1.

Wunder Under High-Rise Tight.

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I hope this assists you, whether in big methods or small. Bear in mind that feeling excellent, practical objectives, being healthy, and having enjoyable is the way to go!