Losing weight is not an easy task, but if you apply these lessons that I learned from my weight loss journey, you’ll see results in not just the number on the scale, but your level of health and vitality too.

Like a lot of people, I went through a period of time where I let my fitness and health take a back seat to the demands of my job and my young family. I convinced myself that it was all a temporary development and that I’d get back to my fitness goals soon. Yeah, right. Years went by and finally one day I woke up, looked in the mirror and made up my mind that I simply could not continue to neglect my health in this way.

I resolved to get fit, but kept running into road blocks, seemingly everywhere I turned. Finally, I decided to write it all down in a journal and see if I could figure why I’d experience success for a week or two at a time and then completely fall of the healthy eating and exercise wagon. Eventually I did succeed in getting back to where I wanted to be, and I’m sharing my story now in hopes that I can inspire a few people and help them avoid the mistakes that I made along the way. Here are some of the lessons I learned:

Key Weight Loss Lessons

Set Realistic Goals.

I set goals in the beginning, but I found they would just discourage me. The problem was that I was setting targets that were way out of reach and I underestimated the amount of work it would take to get there.

I got so frustrated with failing to meet my goals that I decided to set a ridiculously easy goal of exercising for 10 minutes one day, just so that I could finally achieve a goal, any goal. And, wouldn’t you know, I did meet that goal. So I decided to set a goal of getting that 10 minutes of exercise in every other day for a week. And lo and behold, I met that goal, too. Even though I wasn’t setting earth shattering goals, I began to enjoy the feeling of succeeding and gained more confidence that I could meet the challenges I set for myself. This was a whole new mindset for me and turned me from someone who didn’t believe in herself to a stronger, more confident person. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part.

Develop Healthy Habits and Weight Loss Will Follow.

Another part of learning how to set goals was learning that, regardless of the immediate results, sustainable weight loss is the result of establishing healthy habits. I got away from looking at the scale every day and simply resolved to follow my exercise program and do my best to eat healthy foods. This took some of the pressure off and gave me new reasons to feel good about myself and the changes I was making in my life.

Day to day weight loss can be a fickle thing and it’s important not to get caught up in the short-term numbers game. As time went on, I came to the realization that what I was really after with this weight loss program was to be healthier and happier, and that the changes I was making were accomplishing that goal even regardless of the weight loss. It was extremely liberating to let go of the weight loss goal and then after a brief time begin to see progress on the scales even though my main focus remained overall health and fitness.

Exercise is Key.

There are really only two ways you can lose weight. Take in fewer calories or burn more. The two work best in concert. Exercise is particularly helpful because in addition to burning extra calories, it also speeds up your metabolism so that you burn more calories throughout the day, even while you’re reading or watching television.

You should choose a form of cardiovascular exercise that appeals to you, in my case it was walking and then eventually jogging. I even entered a local 5k race to give me a motivational boost. The other thing that really helped in terms of motivation was my Garmin Forerunner 405. The nicest thing about the Forerunner was that it kept track of the calories I burned with each session. This really helped me see tangible progress with my walking and jogging program and made me look forward to getting out there each day and burning more calories. I was able to upload the data to my online training log and chart my progress over time. It’s amazing what you can accomplish by doing just a little bit each day.

Applying these lessons over time helped me get to where I am today. It wasn’t an easy journey, it never is, no matter how many “lose weight overnight” gurus tell you otherwise. By making genuine lifestyle changes and applying them consistently, I was able to lose the weight and feel better than I did 20 years ago.

About Guest Blogger: As a devoted runner, Jacquie is driven to stay healthy through healthy eating and exercise. Jacquie loves writing about healthy living on her blog – OnlineRunningGear.com. Always looking for what’s new in the running community, Jacquie researches and writes detailed, informative reviews on products she recommends such as the P90X Program. Jacquie lives in the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia with her husband and daughter.

Well.ca is Canada’s largest online health, beauty, and baby products store.

One of the fastest growing e-commerce companies in Canada, Well.ca’s goal is to offer the best e-commerce experience possible. Their secret is that they hire the kindest, friendliest, and innovative people. You can learn more about them here.

What is Well.ca?

Well.ca is Canada’s largest online health and beauty store. At Well.ca, they aim to be a friendly, compassionate, and responsible company that makes every effort to best serve their customers’ health and beauty needs.

Growing Fast
Well.ca is both one of Canada’s fastest growing technology startups as well as one of Canada’s fastest growing e-commerce companies.

Exceptional Service
Free shipping (both ways)… hand written notes on your orders… putting their phone number on every page… they want to do whatever it takes to make their customers smile.

Well.ca Product Categories

• Green & Natural
• Personal
• Skin Care
• Medicine Cabinet
• House
• Baby & Kids
• Home Medical
• Sexual Wellness
• Beauty
• Food
• Clearance
• Sales
• Brands

Well.ca Reviews

We thought we’d put together some reviews for you of what others have said about Well.ca. This company definitely provides a lot of great products, and we were quite pleased with the feedback behind them. Check out some of the reviews we’ve seen…

Well.ca Coupons

With us being people that love Well.ca… we thought we’d take the time to list out all the available coupons and deals that Well.ca has going. It seems they are continuously updating their sales and Well.ca Coupons, so we couldn’t resist telling you what they are too. To view the available Well.ca Coupons you can click here now to see what coupons and sales are going on over at Well.ca

Welcome to the Blogger Giveaway!

This giveaway is dedicated to you, our followers! We interact with many bloggers throughout the world and thought many of you would love to have the chance to win a prize. You do not have to be a blogger for the chance to win. This giveaway is open to anyone in the world that has an active Paypal account.

The giveaway will go live on February 3rd at 12:01am EST and end on February 10th at 12:01am EST. Winners will be announced approximately 24 hours after giveaway ends. If winners do not respond in 48 hours new winners will be chosen.

Now, how can you join in on this giveaway?! Easily! Complete the following Rafflecopter form for your chance at winning one of 3 $25 PayPal Cash prizes.

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To join in on our next giveaway, we are asking only $5 per blog. We will be incorporating Facebook & Twitter into our blogger giveaways! We are limiting ourselves at 100 bloggers to join in on these giveaway, and the more people that join, the higher the value goes. We will start off at $50 for initial start up, but the more bloggers we have, the more it goes up! If anyone is interested in being apart of our next giveaway, please contact us for details on how to join.

On February 1, 2012 TOMS officially released their TOMS Ballet Flats. This has been a huge excitement in the TOMS community and a great addition to their TOMS Shoes collection. The TOMS Women’s Ballet Flats come in a variety of colors so every female can find that perfect addition to their shoe collections.

TOMS Ballet Flats

When it comes to TOMS Shoes, you are guaranteed comfort and style. The ballet flats for women from TOMS definitely hold up their end of the bargain and bring you stylish, modern flats that are to die for. These are a pair of ballet flats that every women must own!

Product Details

• Hidden wedge for added height and support
• Padded heel cushion
• Two-layer insert with EVA foam and latex for plush comfort
• One-piece outsole for flexibility and durability

Available TOMS Ballet Flats 

• Gisele Brown Suede Ballet Flats - $79
• Gisele Grey Suede Ballet Flats - $79
• Camila Black Leather Ballet Flats - $84
• Alessandra Burlap Ballet Flats - $79
• Alessandra Black Canvas Ballet Flats - $79
• Alessandra Natural Leather Ballet Flats - $79
• Isabel Burlap Ballet Flats - $79
• Eliana Blue Suede Ballet Flats - $79
• Eliana Pink Suede Ballet Flats - $79
• Natalia Grey Linen Ballet Flats - $74
• Natural Natalia Linen Ballet Flats - $74
• Natalia Rose Linen Ballet Flats - $74
• Katia Chambray Ballet Flats - $79
• Lina Woven Ballet Flats - $79

The TOMS Ballet Flats are high quality shoes perfect for the woman on the go. Made of sturdy, quality materials, they will be perfect for casual pairings with denim as well as chic ensembles with skirts, dresses and cropped pants. There are a variety of materials used including the classic canvas, suede, leather, burlap and many others. As always, TOMS shoes will stand out in the crowd because of their creativity and individuality. They are classy little shoes and made with real TOMS quality and features.

How Much Will TOMS Ballet Flats Cost?

Like all other TOMS Shoes, the TOMS Ballet Flat Shoes will be priced at a reasonable cost for the quality you’ll receive. The TOMS Ballet Flats are priced between $74 to $84 per pair, and come in a wide variety of choices. By incorporating one of our TOMS Shoes coupons, you have the opportunity to lower the cost of the Ballet Flats and receive the same exceptionally comfortable shoes at a lower price. While this is a slightly higher price than that of the popular TOMS canvas shoes, the subdued elegance of the shoe and its comfortable design are well worth the extra money.

With the release of the TOMS Ballet Flats, you will be able to purchase a stylish pair of shoes and still give back to someone in need. The Ballet Flats are continuing on the One for One movement that TOMS is known for, but don’t worry the kids won’t receive a pair of TOMS Ballet Flats, they’ll still receive a proper pair of shoes for their environment.

So what are you waiting for? Go use one of our TOMS Coupons and buy a pair of the TOMS Ballet Flats for Women!

Welcome to the February edition of the Fan Appreciation Cash Giveaway!

We want you to know how much we appreciate you. As a thank you to all our loyal fans Frugal Experiments has teamed up with a great group of bloggers to thank you all with a chance to win some cash!

Prize: $80.00 Cash in your Paypal account

How to Enter: To make this giveaway a huge success enter on the Rafflecopter form below and then share it with your friends and families! This Giveaway will run from February 1st at midnight EST and will end at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 11th . This giveaway is open to anyone 18 or older with a valid Paypal account. Entries are only accepted through the Rafflecopter form and all entries will be verified. The winner will be emailed once we verify they are a fan and have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.

We couldn’t do these giveaways without teaming up with other great bloggers who help contribute to the prize so please take the time to stop by all the wonderful blogs and look around – most are hosting other giveaways that you can enter. The following blogs are all participating in this Fan Appreciation Cash Giveaway:

Good luck!

Be sure to put MommyMatter as the blog you are entering on.

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If you’re a blogger and are interested in joining us next month in another Fan Appreciation Cash Giveaway, feel free to fill out the form here. Cost: $5 per entry link this will be pooled together with all participants payments to provide the cash prize for our fans, administration and advertising fees, plus blogger prize!

Several bloggers have teamed up to bring you a $100 Amazon Code contest where you the reader can win! This is as easy as you can get. Fill out the Rafflecopter form. Follow the Facebook pages, and take two weeks to do it if you need to. If you are a blogger and want to join in the next event, sign up here.


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Welcome to the February Frenzy iPad 2 & Cash giveaway!

Bay Area Mommy and Swagbucks has teamed up with 60 wonderful bloggers, including MommyMatter, to give you a chance to win the following prizes!

• 1st prize: 16g Wifi iPad2 with smartcover (1 winner; US/CAN)
• 2nd prize: $50 cash (3 winners; WorldWide)

Like all Facebook pages here.
Follow all Twitter profiles here.

Remember, you can’t win if you don’t enter! And the more entries you “send”, the more chances of winning!

Swagbucks is the online rewards community that works, rewarding people for all of the things they’re already doing online – search, games, watching videos, shopping, surveys and more! The Swag Bucks earned by users have helped purchase everything from diapers to video games – it’s easy, it’s rewarding, and it’s 100% free!

Giveaway is open for entries from February 1, 12AM EST until February 21, 11:59PM EST.

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About Woman Within®

Who’s the Woman Within®?

Any woman you want her to be…beautiful, confident, important and comfortable…impeccably dressed without spending a fortune. The 110 year old brand that recently became Woman Within has the expertise to make all this happen for women who wear sizes 12W & up. What began in 1901 as a humble dress shop called Lane Bryant® has grown into the world’s leader in plus size apparel, sensitive to your comfort, style and budget.

Their mission has always been to satisfy the fashion needs of the full-figure woman…from casual sportswear to dressy separates…lingerie to outerwear…even shoes and plus-calf boots. And they are famous for providing a fit that’s as comfortable as it is becoming. They travel the world to find the latest and most wearable styles and provide them to you in more sizes and fashionable colors than any other brand.

What’s more, their comfort innovation team is at work daily coming up with fit solutions—in everything from lingerie to sportswear—that will keep you happy in whatever you wear. Their ultra-convenient online shop, womanwithin.com, offers speed, privacy, security and over 1,500 styles (with new looks added every week), so you can get whatever you need, whenever you’re in the mood to shop.

Woman Within 365® affords customers unique all-season internet access to boots, swimwear, coats and more. They even have boutiques for fabulous costumes, handbags, luggage, fragrances, jewelry and beauty products…so all your fashion needs are just a click away.

Woman Within® is not just an apparel brand, but an easy and smart way to ensure that you love what you wear. Do you hear that voice, it’s your woman within telling you “Make me happy, comfy & attractive affordably!”

Timeline

• 1900 Lena Bryant is widowed and left to fend for herself in New York City as a seamstress
• 1901 Opens bridal business
• 1904 Invents expandable maternity dress 70 years before the wrap dress of Diane von Furstenberg
• 1917 World’s first plus-size clothing offered
• 1938 Company expands all over America
• 1951 Lena (Lane) Bryant dies at 72
• 1982 Business sold to Limited Brands
• 1982 Catalog business and retail stores are split
• 1990 First Woman Within lingerie catalogs mailed for Lane Bryant
• 1999 Company acquired by PPR and becomes part of the Redcats Group
• 2007 Lane Bryant Catalog becomes Woman Within

Satisfation is Guaranteed

No sale is ever final. Woman Within unconditionally guarantee all merchandise. If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, return it within 90 days of receipt to make an exchange or receive a refund (excluding shipping and handling charges). After 90 days, they will be happy to send a merchandise credit certificate to you, good towards a future purchase.

Woman Within Product Categories

• Dresses
• Pants
• Knit Tops & Tees
• Intimate Apparel
• Suits
• Jackets & Blazers
• Uniforms
• Shirts & Blouses
• Outerwear
• Shoes
• Swimwear
• Talls
• Petites
• Sweaters
• Intimates & Sleepwear
• Clearance

Woman Within Coupons

Are you on the hunt for Woman Within savings? Why not save on your order by using one of our Woman Within coupons? We are constantly updating our Woman Within coupon codes and discounts to help you save on your Woman Within products. All available Woman Within coupons are listed at the top of this page, so don’t hesitate to view them and use them now.

Click here to go to Woman Within Coupons

Let’s just say, we are SeaWorld addicts, and after experiencing SeaWorld Orlando ourselves we have become even bigger SeaWorld addicts. We love what they do and how they are doing everything they can to save the lives of many of our sea creatures. This spring they are opening a new part to their SeaWorld Orlando location called, TurtleTrek.

We love turtles, and can’t wait to experience this addition to SeaWorld. Upon searching around today for more information on this new attraction, we came across one of their webisodes for TurtleTrek and thought we’d share it with you!

We’re excited to share the first of many “webisodes” about the different aspects of TurtleTrek, opening this spring at SeaWorld Orlando. From this overview to dome construction to animation and the animals you’ll find here, these videos will give you an insider’s look into how this amazing attraction will come to life.

Remember, TurtleTrek is going to be the world’s first 3D, 360-degree domed theater experience that takes you on a sea turtle’s incredible journey and invites you to become an everyday hero.

Take a look…

If you are planning a vacation to SeaWorld any time soon, don’t forget to use one of our SeaWorld Coupons to save instantly on your SeaWorld tickets!

Acadiana’s Thrifty Mom has joined up with MommyMatter and a great group of family friendly bloggers to bring you this great giveaway for a Keurig Mini PLUS 18 cappuccino K-cups.

This giveaway is an exciting one, especially since Keurig is becoming a very popular item in many homes across the US & Canada. We thought we’d provide some details on the Keurig Mini Plus that is being given away!

The MINI Plus Brewing System brews a perfect cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverage in under two minutes at the touch of a button. With the choice of three cup sizes, the MINI Plus brewer offers a removable drip tray to accommodate short travel mugs.

How to Enter Giveaway? 

All you have to do is like a few Facebook pages and G+ pages. Yep, that’s it, then you’re entered to win! There will be 1 winner chosen for this giveaway. Don’t have a G+ account? That’s okay too, simply like all of the Facebook pages and click that you did it and you will get 25 entries into the contest for that task; just leave the G+ alone If you have G+, go get in those circles, this will mean 25 extra entries for you! Good luck and HAVE FUN ♥

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