Paula Deen looks bomb. There, I said it. The Food Network star has lost 30 pounds within six months of announcing she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I can't even lie, I'm super proud. I wasn't exactly surprised to find out Deen's diabetes news considering her buttertastic cooking habits. The 65-year-old is on the cover of People this week talking about shedding the pounds:
"I do think differently now. I'm more aware," said Deen. "If you make a few small changes, they can add up to big results."
Wow. How refreshing it is to hear a big name talk realistically about eating healthy and dropping pounds. Deen has a point, too. It's not all about completely changing your diet. It's about tweaking it to live happily and, more importantly, healthily.
When you finally come to terms with the idea that you have to lose weight, it's hard to think long term. I've been there. You want to lose the weight, and you want it to happen fast. However, a way to ensure success is by doing what Deen suggests, making tweaks to your diet that are part of a healthier lifestyle you can maintain. Instead of completely cutting out carbs, for example, you can find a way to eat them in moderation. Instead of eating pasta with garlic bread, choose one or the other.
For Deen, her easy swaps have been trading in mashed potatoes for Greek salads and fried foods for baked. Sounds easy enough, right? When I went through a big weight loss phase, I opted for yogurt and fruit in the mornings instead of two large bowls of cereal -- and changed from grinder rolls at lunchtime to low-carb wraps.
Small changes, my friends. Kudos to Deen for making a necessary life change. She says she wants to stay on the weight loss train, so let's see if she can stick to it!
Have you ever been successful at shedding pounds? If so, what are your secrets?
Image via People
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Comments 6
there are so many other things i could mention about paula deen and her diagnosis and whatnot, but i'll keep those to myself, as that's not what you asked.
believe it or not, the easiest switch for me that worked wonders is flipping your meals. what i mean is rather than have a small or light breakfast, medium-average lunch and then a large dinner, you reverse the order of your largest meals. i'd eat something hearty (and usually dinner leftovers from the night before that i made the rest of the family) for breakfast, a regular lunch, and then just a bowl of cereal or a bagel and fruit, something small for dinner. it works with your natural metabolism and between that and working out with my kinect, i was able to drop two dress sizes in about two months. :)
I have cut down on many things just can't seem to shake the weight
Go Paula! I adore her, and her "buttertastic" ways, because butter is at least, natural. It must be so hard to have this lifelong disease, type 2 diabetes, and be in the spotlight as a cook! Best wishes to her :)
I agree with Kirsten. "Little changes" only work if you are very overweight. If you already eat well and have only have a few pounds to lose, there may be no more "little changes" left to make.