How do you do it?
Need2Exerc1se
Posts: 13,575 Member
How do you change your lifestyle when you are very happy with your current lifestyle? How do you find the motivation to trade happy for something else?
I would like to weigh less but I am struggling with changing something I love. Does anyone have any tips other than what Nike has already told me?
I would like to weigh less but I am struggling with changing something I love. Does anyone have any tips other than what Nike has already told me?
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Replies
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You don't. If you're happy with what you're doing, keep doing that!
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Don't change it, you don't have to restrict any foods that you love, just learn portion control.
Log what you eat, every spoonful.
Find a physical activity that you enjoy, it does not have to be a gym membership, if you like to walk, even if it is around the mall, go for a walk. Anything fun to increase your activity levels.
But you have to want to do it, until that happens, you will not succeed.0 -
I'm happy with my lifestyle, but not my weight. I'd like to drop about 20 lbs., which actually isn't that hard. But changing my lifestyle so that I keep it off is very hard.0
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If you're not happy, then do whatever will make you happy.Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I'm happy with my lifestyle, but not my weight. I'd like to drop about 20 lbs., which actually isn't that hard. But changing my lifestyle so that I keep it off is very hard.
If you want to lose weight, do it! Eat right (or just less) and exercise.
Losing weight isn't easy. But it is fun and can make you happy if that's what you WANT to do.
It's all about happiness, though. You have to figure out what you REALLY want and then be happy doing that.
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Well... my happiness has actually increased regarding lifestyle. I eat whatever I want as long as I hit my protein goal and am within my calories for the day (of course, I'm not anaI about the latter), I do the type of exercise I like doing and don't over-train (working on this at least, as I had been overtraining and am now adjusting until I find my happy medium), and I have realistic, sustainable goals.
Steps for changing your lifestyle to lose weight:
1) Calculate an estimated maintenance calorie intake
2) Subtract 20% from this estimate
3) eat this estimate daily with whatever food you'd like.
4) If you estimated without including exercise, then log and eat back exercise calories.
5) Adjust calories up/down if not losing as expected (20% shoudl yield ~4lbs/month)
Boom, done, nothing hard or unhappy about any of this.0 -
There might be a lot to love about your life 20lbs lighter. More energy and healthier. Seems like we could all use a change like that in our lives. A few simple changes might get you there. Take the stairs (up and down). Walk the long way instead of the short cut. Drink water more and soda less (if at all). Try not to eat too late at night. I think if you do those things (unless you already are) you would probably lose 20lbs in a year or less without even noticing. But, for the record, exercising (if it's doing something you enjoy) is fun. And fitting your clothes better and being in better shape are also some things to love!0
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I take it from your name you think you need to exercise to lose weight. You would be amazed at what minor tweaks in your diet will do for your weight. I'd track your food and focus on things like getting enough fiber and protein and reducing sugar. That way you can have successes every day and see how eating alone affects you feel or look. If you realize that all you need to do is substitute slightly smaller portions, trade out a sugary snack for a piece of fruit and you can have your lifestyle and be 20 pounds lighter it becomes much easier. Or if you realize that you can keep your eating habits but add that half hour of cardio a day and weights (or yoga, or cross fit) twice a week and feel stronger and be at the weight you want it becomes easier because you realize that it all breaks down to easy choices that are completely within your control. For me exercise lets me eat the junk food that I know is inevitable so working out means cake, cookies or candy that otherwise would have me getting a continually larger size wardrobe that I cannot afford at the moment.0
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I'm happy with my lifestyle, but not my weight. I'd like to drop about 20 lbs., which actually isn't that hard. But changing my lifestyle so that I keep it off is very hard.
Then I guess you aren't that unhappy with your weight. Or losing weight isn't that much of a priority. When the pain/discomfort/unhappiness of remaining the same becomes greater than the pain/discomfort/unhappiness of making the change, you will make it happen. But not until then.0 -
With me it was simple.
I hated my fay body more than I loved my unhealthy lifestyle. Everybody finds their own motivation, and over time I learned to develop and love my new fitness and health based lifestyle.0 -
If you're not happy, then do whatever will make you happy.Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I'm happy with my lifestyle, but not my weight. I'd like to drop about 20 lbs., which actually isn't that hard. But changing my lifestyle so that I keep it off is very hard.
If you want to lose weight, do it! Eat right (or just less) and exercise.
Losing weight isn't easy. But it is fun and can make you happy if that's what you WANT to do.
It's all about happiness, though. You have to figure out what you REALLY want and then be happy doing that.
I already know what I want. What I REALLY want is to weigh 20 lbs less while living my life exactly as I am now. But I need to face the fact that it's not an option.
Losing weight has always seemed easy to me. I've done it many times. But what is the point if I'm just going to gain it back? I know most people do gain it back. How do the few that keep it off long term do it? Do only those unhappy before the loss succeed long term?0 -
I wasn't happy with it. My fitness level was preventing me from doing things I wanted to do.Need2Exerc1se wrote: »How do you change your lifestyle when you are very happy with your current lifestyle? How do you find the motivation to trade happy for something else?
Ascending a line using a prusik was far harder than it should have been. A 50# pack at altitude for several hours was a death march.
The real kicker though.... my back had become so weak that if I slept wrong it would hurt, badly. That's not acceptable.
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i would've loved to have graduated college without cracking a single book. but i couldn't expect to get a degree without studying. so i had to do something that i didn't love, to get something that would make me happy.0
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YOU have to figure out what you really want. If you want to lose the 20 lbs you are looking for a change to your lifestyle to make it a happier one. Try cutting your portions down, make some healthier food choices and maybe even eating more often and working fitness in. There are many ways to do this. You can work in strength training, yoga, circuit training, running and walking to name a few. You can add more options at a gym or fitness center. I lost 60 pounds and I am happy with my lifestyle now.
Good luck! 0 -
Calliope610 wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I'm happy with my lifestyle, but not my weight. I'd like to drop about 20 lbs., which actually isn't that hard. But changing my lifestyle so that I keep it off is very hard.
Then I guess you aren't that unhappy with your weight. Or losing weight isn't that much of a priority. When the pain/discomfort/unhappiness of remaining the same becomes greater than the pain/discomfort/unhappiness of making the change, you will make it happen. But not until then.
Yes, I suppose you've hit the nail on the head. I am less unhappy with my weight than I am happy with my life. I want it all.0 -
For myself, failing over and over again usually teaches me a little something new each time, such as slightly higher will-power, learning that giving in to temptation isn't always worth it, patience with myself, to have fun once in a while. Let failure frustrate you AND motivate you. I think you're getting it. I mean, I'm not there and I feel like I've been doing this forever. However, each time I "backslide," I don't go back quite as far and I bounce back fairly quickly.0
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What do you actually want us to say? That you'll magically lose 20lb doing what you already know to be causing the problem?
Yes, only people that want to succeed in losing and keeping 20lb off, will.
I wasn't unhappy before my weight loss and I'm not unhappy after it either. I've just learned a whole load of things, tried a load of things I would never have done otherwise, made new friends and have come out better for the experience.0 -
I suppose I should add that I'm not unhealthy. My BP, blood work, etc. has always been in the healthy range. I am pretty active and eat pretty well most of the time. I drink too much, and this is the obvious thing I should change. I'm not a lush, I just like to party with my friends.0
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Haha - I know that feeling! You could just try lower calorie things within your current lifestyle. Like switch wine for vodka and soda or bank calories through the week to have indulgent days/meals out etc?0
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I take it from your name you think you need to exercise to lose weight. You would be amazed at what minor tweaks in your diet will do for your weight. I'd track your food and focus on things like getting enough fiber and protein and reducing sugar. That way you can have successes every day and see how eating alone affects you feel or look. If you realize that all you need to do is substitute slightly smaller portions, trade out a sugary snack for a piece of fruit and you can have your lifestyle and be 20 pounds lighter it becomes much easier. Or if you realize that you can keep your eating habits but add that half hour of cardio a day and weights (or yoga, or cross fit) twice a week and feel stronger and be at the weight you want it becomes easier because you realize that it all breaks down to easy choices that are completely within your control. For me exercise lets me eat the junk food that I know is inevitable so working out means cake, cookies or candy that otherwise would have me getting a continually larger size wardrobe that I cannot afford at the moment.
You can eat cake even if you don't exercise. Sugar =/= weight gain, calories = weight gain. So.. eat below your maintenance regardless of what type of food it is and you will lose. I exercise 4x a week, strength training, only 5 mins of cardio most of the time as a warm-up. I do plan on bringing in light intensity cardio on rest days for cardiovascular health, but because I eat back exercise calories and because it's so low intensity (20 mins max probably) it's not going to result in being equivalent to a slice of cake. But I can still eat that cake if I want to because I track calories/macros.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
If you're not happy, then do whatever will make you happy.Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I'm happy with my lifestyle, but not my weight. I'd like to drop about 20 lbs., which actually isn't that hard. But changing my lifestyle so that I keep it off is very hard.
If you want to lose weight, do it! Eat right (or just less) and exercise.
Losing weight isn't easy. But it is fun and can make you happy if that's what you WANT to do.
It's all about happiness, though. You have to figure out what you REALLY want and then be happy doing that.
I already know what I want. What I REALLY want is to weigh 20 lbs less while living my life exactly as I am now. But I need to face the fact that it's not an option.
Losing weight has always seemed easy to me. I've done it many times. But what is the point if I'm just going to gain it back? I know most people do gain it back. How do the few that keep it off long term do it? Do only those unhappy before the loss succeed long term?
Yes it is. You simply do exactly what you are doing now while logging your intake and eating 15-20% below your maintenance needs. Which might be half a meal or whole meal less, which is really not that much of a reduction in food.
Aside from actively eating less, I have not changed anything about my eating habits or lifestyle. I actually exercise less, though.0 -
stuffinmuffin wrote: »Haha - I know that feeling! You could just try lower calorie things within your current lifestyle. Like switch wine for vodka and soda or bank calories through the week to have indulgent days/meals out etc?
I like that idea. I think I will try eating lower calories during the week. It is soup weather here now.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »stuffinmuffin wrote: »Haha - I know that feeling! You could just try lower calorie things within your current lifestyle. Like switch wine for vodka and soda or bank calories through the week to have indulgent days/meals out etc?
I like that idea. I think I will try eating lower calories during the week. It is soup weather here now.
Same here - stews, pies and soups!
Working to weekly calories has worked for me through weight loss and maintenance. Working to daily ones doesn't fit in with my social life or lifestyle. Some days I'm going to be eating cake and drinking wine.
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I'm happy with my lifestyle, but not my weight. I'd like to drop about 20 lbs., which actually isn't that hard. But changing my lifestyle so that I keep it off is very hard.
Then it sounds to me like you aren't ready to lose weight.
In order for your weight to change, things cannot stay the same. You will not see change until YOU make change.
You do not have to stop eating the things that you enjoy or doing things that make you happy, but as far as the food you like, you do need to watch your portions. If you are not willing to make that compromise , then I guess you just won't lose weight.
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I'd agree with above doesnt seem like you are ready to make the commitment, which is cool if you are happy as you are. I think yo yo diets were much unhealthier than remaining overweight.
If you want to still carry on consuming then maybe focus on more exercise.0 -
Associate what you would like to be doing with something positive. Re-associate something negative with what you would like to change. Believe your thoughts. Change your behaviour. (See book: "Unlimited Power") What we do depends on what we think about what we do.0
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Find fitness that you actually like. Add it to your lifestyle which you love. Tada!0
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You got me. Haven't studied it and don't know anyone who lost a bunch of weight. I have a friend who is always losing and gaining the same ten or fifteen pounds. She loves fad diets. She's a fad diet-aholic.Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
If you're not happy, then do whatever will make you happy.Need2Exerc1se wrote: »I'm happy with my lifestyle, but not my weight. I'd like to drop about 20 lbs., which actually isn't that hard. But changing my lifestyle so that I keep it off is very hard.
If you want to lose weight, do it! Eat right (or just less) and exercise.
Losing weight isn't easy. But it is fun and can make you happy if that's what you WANT to do.
It's all about happiness, though. You have to figure out what you REALLY want and then be happy doing that.
I already know what I want. What I REALLY want is to weigh 20 lbs less while living my life exactly as I am now. But I need to face the fact that it's not an option.
Losing weight has always seemed easy to me. I've done it many times. But what is the point if I'm just going to gain it back? I know most people do gain it back. How do the few that keep it off long term do it? Do only those unhappy before the loss succeed long term?
The job of the fat cell is to supply energy. It knows it can't do that empty, so for the rest of your life (they think, there haven't been life-long studies that I've heard about, but there have been long-term ones), those little fat cells are sending messages to the brain. "Feed us! We need to be full! You may need energy one day! We have to prepare!" So, for the rest of your life, it's a struggle against those fat cells.
It really is a life-long thing. I think everyone has their own game plan, but you can't even get in the game if you don't lose the weight first.
You can:
1. Stay the way you are
2. Work on losing
But No, of course you cannot have your cake and eat it, too.
If you aren't ready to do the work of losing, just don't. Don't drive yourself crazy, being upset with yourself for failing to do something you never really wanted to do in the first place! That's nuts.
If you aren't ready to do the work, just don't. Be happy with that choice! Enjoy eating whatever you want, guilt-free and know that when you want to, you can always lose.
Make the choice and then BE HAPPY with it. Because if you're not happy...screw that. There is no "if you're not" - just be happy with whatever you do!
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If you're happy with what you have, you're not ready to change.0
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I'd agree with above doesnt seem like you are ready to make the commitment, which is cool if you are happy as you are. I think yo yo diets were much unhealthier than remaining overweight.
If you want to still carry on consuming then maybe focus on more exercise.
That is my plan. Exercise more, I mean (hence my username).
But why do you think yo-yoing is 'much unhealthier' than remaining overweight? It doesn't seem logical to me. Being overweight puts stress on your body. Losing weight reduces that stress. Less stress seems like it would be a good thing, even if it's temporary.
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Need2Exerc1se wrote: »How do you change your lifestyle when you are very happy with your current lifestyle? How do you find the motivation to trade happy for something else?
I would like to weigh less but I am struggling with changing something I love. Does anyone have any tips other than what Nike has already told me?
Change one thing at a time, when that one thing becomes "normal", make the next change.
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