Real Life Getting Started Examples

Here is how two women began their weight loss journey in ways that worked for them.

Kaitlyn’s First Step

Kaitlyn, 48, is a nurse and mom of three. She had tried every diet and was afraid to fail again.

Instead of changing everything, she decided to simply write down what she ate for two days using the food log from The Holy Mess. That one choice helped her gain clarity.

She noticed that she was snacking at night more than she realized. That insight gave her a new sense of control.

Her words: “Just writing it down helped me reset. It felt good to face it instead of hiding from it.”

Here is Kaitlyn's food log after making just a few small changes. She was able to remove 500 calories from her day without cutting out food or going hungry.

Jasmine’s Pantry Plan

Jasmine, 62, is retired and lives on a fixed income. She was overwhelmed by the idea of starting yet another diet.

Instead of buying new groceries, she looked through her pantry and freezer and found what she needed to put together three simple meals.

Here is what she came up with for Day 1 with her notes.

🥣 Breakfast

Oatmeal with frozen berries and peanut butter

• ½ cup oats
• ½ cup frozen blueberries
• 1 tsp peanut butter

🗒️ “I’ve had that bag of blueberries in the freezer for months. Adding them to oatmeal made it feel special.

🥗 Lunch

Tuna salad over lettuce with crackers on the side

• 1 can tuna, mixed with a little light mayo and mustard
• A handful of lettuce from a bagged mix
• A few whole grain crackers

🗒️ “I almost forgot I had that tuna. It turned out to be one of my favorite meals of the week.”

🍲 Dinner

Canned vegetable soup with added beans and a piece of toast

• 1 can vegetable soup
• ½ cup canned white beans, rinsed and added in
• 1 slice whole grain toast on the side

🗒️ “It felt so good not to waste food. And I was surprised how filling this was. Next time I will add a can of chicken. I have added it to the grocery list.”

Jasmine thought that she needed all new "diet food." She learned that she could lose weight by making better choices using what she already had.

Your Turn

What healthy meals or snacks will you include in your plans this week?