Summer Slim-Down Challenge Reveal and Giveaway

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Six weeks ago I agreed to take the Slim Fast Summer Slim-Down Challenge and today is the day I reveal my results. I learned a lot about myself over these 6 weeks and I plan to continue on my weight loss journey even though the challenge is over. That’s a good sign, right?

Drum roll please….my total weight loss from July 20 thru today, August 31, is 12 pounds and counting!

Yeah!

I want to share these 3 takeaways from my personal experience these past 6 weeks.

Takeaway 1: Less is More

The weeks in which I lost a little bit of weight were great, too… and they were much easier. I do think losing the first five pounds in the first 11 days gave me a psychological boost and great motivation (I’m not sure what happened in the last week, I lost 4 pounds in 4 days?! I think I may have weighed myself incorrectly last Monday, maybe I had hiking boots on or something, who knows!), but I feel much more likely to continue the journey if I take baby steps. The amazing thing to remember is one can lose 52 pounds a year at an average rate of just 1 pound per week. Which brings me to Takeaway 2…

Takeaway 2: Permission Denied to Deny Everything

I believe, and I am not an expert, that total denial of favorite foods is a mistake. That’s the beauty of the 3-2-1 program. I loved the Double Dutch Chocolate snack bars. Small, sensible indulgences helped keep me sane I think. Beyond that, at special events, I limited extra indulgences to small portions and just one or two days a week. I was most conscientious about staying on track the day after these. (Except for the few days I was in Cancun, of course, but thankfully, there were many sensible, yet still scrumptious, choices.)

Takeaway 3: Set A Nearby Goal, Then Another

Again, I’m no expert, but I found it easier somehow to think of losing 5 pounds as my goal, followed by another 5 pounds after reaching the first. Rather than thinking of losing a whole ten pounds, or 20 or 30. Setting the very realistic goal of 5 pounds felt achievable. Reaching it motivated me to shoot for another 5.

That’s it!

Well, if these thoughts help you in any way, great!  Again, I’m no expert, just a gal wanting the option to wear a bikini some day, even if I choose not to.

Now for the great giveaway I promised.

Win it!

Participating for your chance to win one (1) of 2 Summer of WOW! Swag bags is easy.  Just leave me a comment telling me which Slim-Fast product you would like to try.  You can check them out here. That’s it! That is your required entry.

Would you like more opportunities to win? I have a few of those, too! These entries are optional:

1. Subscribe or already be a subscriber to my blog by email or by RSS - 1 entry
2. “Like” Mamá Latina Tips on Facebook (or let me know in a comment if you already have)– 1 entry
3. Share the link of this giveaway in your facebook page – 1 entry
4. Like Slim-Fast in Facebook– 1 entry
5. Follow me on Twitter and tweet the following:

Enter for the chance to win 1 of 2 @SlimFast Summer of WOW swag bags @mamalatina #SFSlimDown http://bit.ly/T4ybTD

(one tweet per day, just please leave me a comment for each with the link of the tweet) 1 entry per tweet.

Please leave me a comment for your required entry and for each option (1,2, 3, 4 and/or 5), so I know how many entries you have, thanks.

This giveaway will end on Monday, September 17th, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. PST. No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only. Winner will be randomly chosen and notified via email. Winner must respond to notification email within 3 days or a new winner will be chosen. Void where prohibited. Entries/Comments that do not follow the submission guidelines will be invalid. Have fun and good luck!

Disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Slim-Fast® Summer Slim-Down Challenge.  Visit www.facebook.com/slimfast to join the conversation.  As always my opinions, comments and weight loss efforts are solely my own.  Please read Mama Latina Tips’ General Health Disclaimer and Information Purposes Legal Disclaimer

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