American Idol Judge, Randy Jackson is one such celebrity who has struggled with heavy weight and defeated it by losing 100 pounds. This famous bassist and Grammy Awardee has experienced the height of obesity and then a life without that extra weight. He has stated on the Oprah Winfrey Show that his life has drastically changed after 100 pounds. He has been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2001 and he has attained 350 pounds. He was already having Sleep Apnea which is a weight related disorders and then he found about diabetes. It was like the biggest threat to his life and then his doctor suggested for weight loss surgery and he readily agrees to go for it because he has tried everything but still his quality of life was going down.
He has undergone gastric bypass surgery in 2003 which reduces his stomach size up to 95 percent by stapling a huge portion of the stomach. This procedure has limited his food intake and enhances the weight loss process, but weight loss surgery doesn’t not give results overnight and you have to work harder to gain the benefits of the surgery. When Jackson has started regaining weight he vowed tostick to healthy food and focus on his fitness but it was not so easy for this Louisiana boy and the reason he stated “I grew up in the South where food and good times were king.” He has penned down his weight related struggles and experiences before and after weight loss in his book Body with Soul: Slash Sugar, Cut Cholesterol, and Get a Jump on your Best Health Ever.
Jackson has revealed his secrets of weight loss and how to maintain it for years and these secrets go like this
Live within limits
Jackson says that you should know your limits like when you are eating. You should look out for the signals which your body gave when it is full since like he stated “The signal to stop eating is going to come from your body, not an empty plate.” Though it was really very difficult for a foodie like him to control himself and paying attention to body signals, but he learned them eventually.
Stop saying ‘Never’
When you say that “‘I will never have another piece of chocolate’ because it won’t happen. And as soon as you say never, there is a binge coming,” stated by Randy Jackson, who believes that when you try to avoid something then you will start craving for it. So it is better to change your preferences for example whenever Jackson craves for chocolate then he satisfies himself with other healthy alternates like frozen yogurts and protein shakes.
Settle with little bites
Since Jackson needs to attend dinner parties and other similar events and he could not say no to every food served there therefore he allow himself to have small bites of two or three things of his likings which do not add much calories in his body for example sweet potatoes or mashed potatoes. In this way he is able to put off his cravings without adding up calories to his waistline.
Arrive with a full belly
Jackson says that he never goes anywhere when he is famished. He has kept small refrigerator in his office and packed it with healthy food because his working schedules was very hectic sometimes. When there are no healthy choices available at the sets then he used to gulp down glasses of water or chew a gum to delay his appetite so that he can have some healthy food later. If you are going outside without a proper schedule, then it can happen to you also so always eat properly before leaving for work.
Keep health conscious
One forgets to check on the healthy options in the parties and eat anything served there and have drinks to enjoy the mood. Same was the case with old Randy Jackson but the new version of him satisfies himself with a little mineral water with lime. He remains conscious about himself when he mingles with people at parties and it prevents him from taking up calories.
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Emotional support
Support from family and friends plays a major role in losing oodles of weight as their expectations don’t let you give up hope and efforts. They cheer you up when you feel low and encourage you more when they see some positive changes. Randy’s wife Erika Riker and his three children Taylor, 17, (with ex-wife Elizabeth Jackson) and Zoe, 11, and Jordan, 9 has been supported throughout his weight loss journey and his friends and Co hosts Simon teased him by saying “We are ordering lunch, bring Randy a Dunkin’ Donut and 12 milkshakes.” but remain supportive in their own unique way.
Changing eating habits
This was tough for him since he was growing up in south and developed taste for high calorie food, but after surgery, he has learned to prepare healthy versions of his favorite dishes so he can eat healthy without compromising the taste.
Develop liking for exercises
Jackson has placed his treadmill next to his bed so that first thing he does after getting up is walking on it. He says “ It’s right there staring at me, going, ‘Come here. You know you need this’ and that makes the ugliness worth it,” He used to walk for 35 to 45 minutes on the treadmill which gives him a nice start and then he performs yoga postures like stretching which relaxes and energize the body. He admitted it by saying “I have become accustomed to yoga, and I love the stretching and how it makes my body feel better and looser”.
Health is wealth
He has said yes for surgery because of the quality of his health was going down day by day. After he changed his lifestyle and food habits, his blood sugar has been under control and he is no longer on medication. He has experienced the best and worst parts of life and that is why he advised by saying “It’s a good thing to stay on top of body because health is the biggest wealth we can have in the world.”
These are his secret weight loss tips and he has also shared some amazing recipes in his new book which are healthy and tasty at the same time. You can also try these simple tips to improve your health and life. Always remember that precaution is better than cure and by improving your lifestyle in a healthy way is the biggest precaution which will save you from experiencing any kind of cure.