... continued from Cover
I am sure many of you are wondering how I lost the weight. The truth is that losing the weight was actually pretty simple, but that does not mean the path was easy. First, I became extremely disciplined about mealtime portion control. I stopped overloading my plate and I stopped going back for seconds. My portions became much smaller. Today, I only eat what I need to eat. When my stomach is full, I am done. Second, I cut out in-between meal snacks. This was hard, and I did not succeed 100% of the time. I would say I cut out 90% of my in- between meal snacks. I still enjoy an occasional homemade cookie (or two) when Lisa bakes a batch to give to someone. I know cutting most of my snacks made a huge difference. Third, I monitored my Fitbit daily. My goal was to walk at least 10,000 steps (approximately 5 miles) every day. If I fell short of the goal one day, I just walked longer the next day to make up the shortfall. As a “I learned a long time ago the importance of surrounding myself with people who would believe and support my goals. While I was laser-focused on my personal mission to lose weight, I only shared my target of ‘below 180’ with my wife, my daughter, and my son.”
result, I was able to maintain a 10,000 step per day average over the three-month period. Fourth, I gave up alcohol for a couple of reasons. One was to cut out the caloric intake and the other was to commit to a heathier lifestyle. I have never felt better in my life. I am more energetic and creative, and I sleep like a baby. There you go. My personal formula for how to lose 30 pounds in 90 days. My pants fall off me now and my shirts are a lot baggier. But I am enjoying wearing loose clothing in the Arizona summer! I learned a long time ago the importance of surrounding myself with people who would believe and support my goals. While I was laser-focused on my personal mission to lose weight, I only shared my target of “below 180” with my wife, my daughter, and my son. They each knew how much this goal meant to me and positively reinforced my efforts. Any self-improvement goal that matters to you can be accomplished if you are determined. Just remember that if your goal is to achieve drastic results, you must be willing to make drastic changes. Changing habits and actions is what creates the result. Now that I have shared my personal story, I would love to hear yours. Please email me at Dennis@DLJonesHomes.com and share your self- improvement goals with me.
I promise to believe and support you all the way!
–Dennis Jones
The holidays are around the corner, the time of year many of us spend extra time in the kitchen. Since October is Cookbook Month, what a great time to pick up a helpful cookbook! You might be surprised to know that cookbooks have a long, ancient history. The very first recorded cookbook is written on four clay tablets from 1700 B.C. in ancient Mesopotamia. By the 1300s, cookbooks became a norm for kings and nobles. Many of the titles may even seem similar to modern cookbooks, except they often referenced social class, such as “Fifteen-Cent Dinners For Working-Men’s Families” and “La Cuisinière Bourgeoise.” Luckily, we do not have to be a king or nobility to learn how to cook fancy, comforting, delicious meals! Many people fall in love with cooking long before buying their first cookbook. I also fall in that category. I learned to cook when I was growing up watching my mom in the kitchen and also in 4-H. I even learned cake decorating in 4-H and somehow won some purple ribbons along the way! We ate at home a lot, we entertained quite a bit, and growing up in the Midwest, we attended a lot of potlucks. We always seemed to be making something to take somewhere.
How Lisa Came to Love Cooking (And Cookbooks!) Over 200 Cookbooks Later …
Lisa in her kitchen with her 200-cookbook collection!
2
DLJonesHomes.com
Dennis & Lisa Jones
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator