10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds – Julia Cameron
The life lesson: There’s more than one way to lose 10 pounds – because we all have different weight loss personalities. The successful woman: Julia Cameron, author of The Writing Diet — in which she shares her best ways to lose ten pounds.
“I have learned, as a rule of thumb, never to ask whether you can do something,” says Cameron. “Say, instead, that you are doing it. Then fasten your seat belt. The most remarkable things follow.”
Whether you want to lose ten pounds or write a bestselling novel — you have to commit yourself by saying you’re doing it! Click on the cover for more info on her book, The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size. And, read on for Julia Cameron’s interesting weight loss tips and dieters’ stories.
10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds – Julia Cameron
1. Know when you eat to please others. Do you overeat at your mom’s or when you’re with your sister-in-law? Be aware of eating to make other people happy – especially your partner. Many women gain weight after getting married or moving in with their partners, because they tend to mimic their partner’s eating habits. According to Cameron in The Writing Diet, if you stop eating to please others, you’ll find it easier to lose weight.
2. Eat clean. “For optimum weight loss, it’s best to eat clean – that is, to shape your diet so that refined sugars, flours, and starches are kept to a minimum,” writes Cameron in The Writing Diet. “Three days off sugar, and you no longer lust after sweets. A piece of fruit will satisfy what used to be a candy-bar craving.” Eating clean is a newish way to lose ten pounds.
3. Open your “Pandora’s Box of Emotions” and express your forbidden feelings in healthy ways (not by binge eating). Write out your feelings to help you identify why you’re eating. Are you sad because of your brother? Are you stressed because of work? Writing – especially while you’re eating – can help you identify and deal with your feelings.
4. Let go of “quick weight loss” advertisements. “What we are after is the permanent shift in lifestyle, not the quick fix of an extreme diet,” says Cameron. “If we lower our consumption by 250 calories a day and raise our exercise by 250 calories a day, that’s a moderate shift that results in a pound’s loss weekly.” A pound a week may seem slow – it can lead to permanent weight loss.
5. Know your trigger foods. Do you love fat, salt, sugar, crunchy, soft, bitter, or warm? Some foods trigger an eating binge. Knowing what to avoid or control can lead to greater weight loss and increased self-confidence.
6. Live one day at a time. It’s not a sexy, glamorous way to lose ten pounds – but it works. Take one meal, one afternoon, one day at a time. Eat well for today. Exercise for today. Sweat a little and move your body – just for today.
7. Scale back on the scale. “Freed from the tyranny of numbers, we begin instead to focus on ourselves and our own perceptions,” says Cameron in The Writing Diet. “When we release ourselves from the daily use of the scale, we find ourselves able to embrace a more “easy does it” approach to weight loss. We begin to see that as long as we are moving in the right direction, the speed at which we reach our destination matters less.” One way to lose weight ten pounds is to let go of your obsession with the scale.
8. Drink 3 glasses of water to overcome temptation. When you’re tempted to tear into that bag of Lay’s or Oreo chocolate chip cookies, drink three glasses of water first. Don’t deny yourself the potato chips or cookies; just drink the water first. You may wash away the craving…this is my favorite way to lose ten pounds! Water fills you up and make you less likely to eat “bad” foods.
9. Look at your diet relapses. “For many of us, a diet is an exercise in futility and self-flagellation,” writes Cameron in The Writing Diet. “We set a plan in motion and then we sabotage it. We take a step toward our goal and then we relapse. We undo the good we’ve done.” Figure out why you sabotage your weight loss efforts. Do you relapse at night? What are you favorite relapse foods? Who are you with? Effective weight loss motivation involves canceling out your relapse with hobbies, exercise, writing, and self-awareness.
10. Learn to let yourself be pretty. “Many of us have to get over a “martyred” mode of dressing. Overweight and oversize, we tend to think of ourselves ad draft horses – good workers but little else,” writes Cameron. “It is a shock to find that we are still sexually appealing. Not all men are attracted to skinny women.” Wear lacy undies, and discard your “low self-worth” undies. That will create an upward spiral that’ll make it easy for you to lose that last ten pounds – and keep it off!
Do you have any thoughts or questions about these ten ways to lose ten pounds? Please comment below…
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I never thought about how my eating mimics my partner’s. Since our relationship got serious, I have gained 25 lbs. When our relationship was first starting he would finish his plate while I would still have 3/4 food left on mine. Now, my mother is always commenting on how fast I scarf my food down. So, I am glad I read this article because I will watch this behavior more now.
I think one of the problems I have with weight loss is motivation. Since I am not technically overweight, and haven’t any signs of ill-health because of it, I tend to be motivated by the thought of looking like the “ideal woman.”
I know weight loss and appearance takes work. I used to do both weight lifting and aerobics daily, and write down every calorie I ate, and I wore a size zero and had toned muscles and no cellulite. However, I wasn’t happy. And now I wonder how much work I want to put towards losing ten flipping pounds. I mean, really, I have so many things I could be doing other than exercising. I could be writing a novel, painting a picture, communing with nature, researching something interesting to me, reading my son a story, and so much more. But to bring myself to spend even an hour a day on exercise–just so I can feel like I look “how I should,” is like pulling nails. And so this is my biggest problem. I know that with sacrifice and hard work I could have zero cellulite and an ass that even an 80 year old blind man couldn’t ignore. But what’s the point?
That is why I like these articles and comments that emphasize weight loss tips that fit into my life, rather than take it over.
Dear Lgray,
Thanks for being here — I’m glad you found me! I lived in Kenya, Africa for three years, so I know how difficult it is to lose weight when you’re overseas. It can be more difficult to lose 10 pounds when you don’t live “at home” — where ever home may be — because food control and stress levels can be different.
The two things that helped me lose 20 pounds were my 10 Minute Solutions DVDs and following my husband’s eating habits. I can’t explain why here (there’s too much information!), but I’ve written about them in these articles:
The Best DVD Workouts
My 8 Tips for Weight Loss (Hints From a Skinny Husband!)
Also, I’ve learned that HOW MUCH you eat is SOOO important! In one of my articles — not the ones above — I quote a doctor who says that exercising to burn off 200 calories is much more difficult than not eating the 200 calories in the first place.
I think the first and most important thing you need to do is get control over your emotional eating, or eating while you’re stressed. That, I believe, would be more effective for weight loss than exercising. A Pilates session — and I love, love, LOVE Pilates — can only burn so many calories…..it’s eating that extra helping of whatever because you’re stressed that keeps you heavier than you want to be.
Read those articles, and let me know if anything resonates there. Honestly, those articles contain most of what I know about weight loss. I just turned 40 yesterday, and am fitter, stronger, and leaner than I’ve ever been…and it’s because of the stuff I learned from the 10 Minute Solutions videos and my skinny husband.
I hope to see you here at See Jane Soar again!
Blessings,
Laurie
.-= Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen´s last blog post..Tax Resolution Tips – When You Can’t Afford to Pay Your Income Taxes =-.
Hi,
I am new to the site, and have really appreciated the helpful, thoughtful and sound weight loss advice. Sometimes are society seems so obsessed with losing weight fast, that happiness=thinness, that it’s hard to find advice you can trust.
1 year ago, over the course of a 8 months or so, I lost 40 lbs by running. I have since put back on 10 lbs. For the past year I’ve been trying everything I can do to lose that last 10 lbs (I am at 145 lbs right now). I’ve been downright obsessed with it, allowing it to make me feel bad and negative about myself. I finally had started to try to let that go, and I began developing problems with my knees, which I am starting physical therapy for next week. The doctor told me something that crushed me today. He told me I really need to take off that last 10 lbs. If only he knew that that issue had been the central issue of my life for the past year! It crushed me, I practically cried right there. I’ve tried so hard to accept and love my body the way it is, I exercise run/spin/pilates, eat well (mostly), and then he said that. He says every extra pound on my knees will make the physical therapy harder.
I plan to return to the pool, it’s hard as I live in Paraguay as a PeaceCorps volunteer and pools that you can swim in year round are few and far between and expensive. But I am tired of just doing pilates (I am restricted from running and spinning for the time being) I want to shed the last few pounds, start portion controlling better, etc. It’s just hard. I eat when I’m stressed I’ve realized, I reach for comfort foods.
I really appreciate the website. I feel like I will be checking in often as I make this journey: Accept me for who I am, love myself, and by loving myself I will treat myself better, and lose that 10lbs not from diet, not even necessarily from exercise, but more likely from doing what makes me feel good and feel happy, and healthy. And just like the 35 lbs, One day I’ll wake up, and it will just be gone.
Thanks.
women keep stressing them selves about losing weight instead of enjoying life and thanking God for what he gave them, especially the fact that you still alive.
don’t ever do something to impress someone (man).
I’m 20 years old South African Queen, wearing size 32 (8) en I love my curves.
I’ve lost the last 10 pounds I need to lose…and now I’m maintaining. Finally, it’s okay to plateau — this is the first time in my life that I’m happy with my weight. What a great way to start the new year!
.-= Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen´s last blog post..Help for Remarriages – 6 Tips for Coping With Angry Ex-Wives =-.
Thanks for the read!
These are great tips. Thank you! I know for a fact that just drinking large volumes of water and unsweetened tea definitely helps to kill hunger and food cravings. The same goes for snacking on veggies and chewing sugar-free mint gum. Sometimes the simplest things help the most!
.-= Lost Pounds´s last blog post..The “perfect” meal for losing 10 pounds very… =-.
Thanks for your thoughts, Teresa. You sound very healthy both emotionally and physically — if only more 20, 30, and 40 year olds had your perspective!
I’ll never forget talking to this older woman in weight room one day. She was close to 70 but didn’t look it — she did her exercise routine 3-4 times a week, and looked fabulous. Not like a swimsuit model or anything, but just fit and normal looking.
She told me that she looks back on pictures of herself in her 20s, 30s, and 40s — when she thought she looked fat — and is now stunned at how beautiful she was! She says women don’t realize who great they look, even if they do weight a few pounds more than they think they should.
What struck me was how sad she was that she wasted so much time thinking about her weight and hating her body…when she could’ve been just enjoying life and chasing her dreams!
She wasted alot of time and energy on her weight…and we don’t get that time and energy back, my friends.
Thanks for reminding me of her, Teresa! It’s a really good life lesson.
Laurie
.-= Laurie PK´s last blog post..6 Ways to Avoid Major Student Loan Debt for College Students =-.
I think it is simpler then the usual drone of ‘to do’s’ or ‘do over again’ details that we all know. It really is about self care and love for ourself. I am 52 and I really don’t care what size I am now in terms of attractiveness. I really want to care about my health and taking the time to take care of myself and not feel bad about it or angry that I am still struggling with weight issues. Those who have enjoyed recent weight loss success surely need to know, that it is a permanent way of life that helps us manage our health….and at times…stuff happens…a little humility and compassion for ourselves and those who are on a different stretch of the road on the boring topic of weight management breeds good juju!
Hi, Allena — it’s great to hear from you! I’ve read some of your articles on About.com (you’re the freelance writing guru there, right?
), and seeing you here reminds me that I haven’t visited About in a long time. Gotta get back over there.
Congrats on losing 30 pounds, that’s great.
I’m really interested in the discipline thing….because to be a writer (freelance or otherwise), you need to be disciplined. And to lose weight, you need to be disciplined. I guess to accomplish any goal, you have to be disciplined!
For weight loss — or writing, or achieving any goal in life — different things work for different people. Weight loss groups work for some, diets work for others, and food journals work for still others!
I’ve lost 20 pounds, and am happy with my weight. What worked for me was Pilates (10 Minute Solutions!), and getting a handle on my emotional eating. When I remember what I used to eat, I’m horrified — no WONDER I was always chubby. “Butter in the middle and on top, please” when I ordered popcorn at the movie theatre. Egg McMuffins every day. Gawd.
Anyway — thanks for your comment and I hope to see you around See Jane Soar again!
Laurie
Losing weight is about discipline and hard work. It’s about DOING something, not about talking about doing something, NOT reading about doing something, etc.
I don’t agree with much of this post. I recently gained 30 pounds establishing my business, and I’ve since lost it, in about 6 months.
I got my butt to the gym, or out for a three mile walk EVERY DAY, or, failing that, every other day. My walks turned into slow jogs, and then into runs–over 6 months. I went to a cross training class with 110 pounds 20 year olds, and THEN I came back the next day! I weighed myself EVERY MORNING to see if the day before worked. I wrote EVERY SINGLE CALORIE in a notebook for 6 months, straight. I didn’t read about losing weight, I didn’t attend lectures about losing weight, I didn’t go to groups about losing weight. Instead, I ACTUALLY LOST WEIGHT. All 30 pounds, gone, 6 months. Even thru the holidays.
When people ask me how I lost 30 pounds, I always tell them its about discipline and doing. If you slash your calories to 1200, and get up in the morning and move for an hour, you’re NOT going to keep that weight on. Bodies just don’t work that way. 1200 calories, an hour a day of REAL exercise- fast walk. Seriously.
Rant away, my friend. Rant away!
Did you know that exercise only accounts for about 30% of effective weight loss? I was shocked to learn that exercise isn’t as important for weight loss as I believed. It’s crucial for overall health and fitness, but you have to work out a long time to burn off potato chips and chocolate bars.
I’m loving a book called The Skinny on Losing Weight Without Being Hungry by Dr Louis Aronne.
Here’s what I’ve learned – it may not be new to you, but it’s working for me:
- eat your veggies, fruit, soup, salad, etc first — don’t touch the meat or potatos or rice until you’ve eaten lots of heavy, high-volume foods that fill you up and contain few calories.
- when you’re tempted to eat, rate your hunger on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being so full you can barely breath (like after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner!) and 1 being famished. Don’t eat unless you’re at a 5 or less. I’ve found this stops me from munching mindlessly in front of the TV.
- eat 3 bites of dessert. Save the rest to savor tomorrow — it WILL still be there. And if it’s not, there’s more where it came from!
Those are the 3 most important ones, for me anyway.
Some women really like joining groups like Weight Watchers or Tops. Have you tried losing weight that way?
Hey — maybe I’ll write up the most important points Dr Aronne makes in his book. Would that interest you?
Laurie
Mostly this sounds like the same old rhetoric. Lots of water, lots of exercise, little to no refined sugars, flours or starches, and “don’t eat like those around you.” All equaling – peeing every hour; spending an hour and a half (at least) with changing clothes, exercising, sweating, having to shower and change clothes again; not eating anything that is considered “fun” to eat; and don’t eat like the people around you who are able to eat what they want and not get fat.
*sigh*
No, nothing new here at all except, perhaps, the “write instead of eat” part. And even that isn’t new as I’ve seen many a diet book that wants you to journal, often as a way to distract yourself from wanting something to eat.
I need to loose weight. I’m 180-185lbs and only 5’1″. I used to weigh close to 220. It took me three years to loose that 35-40lbs, but then it stopped and I’ve been where I’m at for nearly another three years. My Dad’s side of my family were (are) all obese. My Mom’s side were (are) all thin. My brother and I are both heavy. My husband can, and does, eat all sorts of sweets and junk and he is finally, at 58, getting slightly over-weight. Both my children are over weight – even though like me they were thin until they were out of high school. I really do think genetics is a major factor in the issue of being over-weight.
If loosing was nearly as much fun as gaining it would be fantastic, unfortunately it is not. It is hard work and having to give up many things that make life enjoyable. I guess it’s fun when you actually get thin, more if you can then keep it off. I’ve lost weight several times and this has been the first time I haven’t gained it all back within a year. I am pleased with that, but not with the fact that I don’t seem to be able to lose any more.
I do like the fact that she did say we need to learn to be pretty and that not every man likes skinny women, but she still tied that to it giving us that extra boost to keep losing. That is still saying we have to be thin to be acceptable.
I want to get to at least 160lbs. Still way over weight for my height and build, but at least it would be below 170, which seems to be the “magic number” to avoid many of the weight related illnesses. No, I won’t be “pretty”. I’ll still look fat, but at least I should be healthier.
Sorry to rant.
Sandra