Pay It Forward

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RaspberryTickleChicken
RaspberryTickleChicken Posts: 629 Member
edited October 2014 in Goal: Maintaining Weight
Perusing the Get Started board I see the same questions over & over. So since we are all maintaining now I thought it would be cool to 'Pay it Forward' to those who are just beginning their journey or struggling.

(*) If you were to give ONE advice to someone just starting or struggling what would it be? (*) (If can be a lesson learned through the school of hard knox aka trial & error)

Here, I'll start

Reading IS Fudalmental! ;) I think the most valuable advice I can give is to arm oneself with facts (Google was my constant weight loss companion). <3 Simply by understanding the mechanics (science) behind ie. why I can't just have 1 slice of pizza; guided me to make healthier eating choices for the long haul. The beauty with knowledge is that it can't be unlearn so it's a skill that will really help towards that lifestyle change.

Replies

  • ianthy
    ianthy Posts: 404 Member
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    Log into MFP and read the success stories - when ever I felt fed up, the journey was too long I would read a success story and think WOW! if they can do it so can I. It just seemed to motivate me to keep going.
  • dopeysmelly
    dopeysmelly Posts: 1,390 Member
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    Do your research first and create a plan. Don't just rush in blindly.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
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    Learn to log correctly. Learn how to use a food scale, how to peruse the database, how to be honest in your logging. It will save a lot of headache later on when you think you're plateauing.
  • themedalist
    themedalist Posts: 3,212 Member
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    Get a food scale and use it to weigh and measure everything you eat. An inconvenience? You betcha, but the best way to estimate how much you are eating and the resulting calories.
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
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    The Healthy Table has four legs. Nutrition. Strength/Resistance. Cardio/Endurance. Flexibility/Recovery/Rest. No leg is more important than the Rest.
  • kharev
    kharev Posts: 19 Member
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    Make sure you take note of the ratios of the foods you are eating and try keep it in range. Its one thing to eat less calories but having a good ratio of fats, proteins and carbs helps with body composition.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
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    dopeysmelly wrote: »
    Do your research first and create a plan. Don't just rush in blindly.

    +1 Have a plan for losing, and a plan for maintenance. Don't just "stop dieting" when you reach your goal.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
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    Avoid taking an all or nothing mentality, whether it be around food or exercise. That way, if you have a less than stellar day, you will be able to take it in your stride, as part of the tapestry of life, and not be consumed with a sense of having failed which can easily derail you. Balance is key.
  • jane837
    jane837 Posts: 68 Member
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    My tip:

    Lifestyle changes should come from a place of loving ourselves and taking care of ourselves, not from self-hatred, self-punishment, or expectations of perfection.

    Choose goals that are sustainable and healthy, not ones that are overly strict, impossible to keep up, and make you miserable.

    And try not to beat yourself up if you have an off-day... we are human, and are guaranteed to be imperfect once in a while.


    <3
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
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    jane837 wrote: »
    My tip:

    Lifestyle changes should come from a place of loving ourselves and taking care of ourselves, not from self-hatred, self-punishment, or expectations of perfection.

    Choose goals that are sustainable and healthy, not ones that are overly strict, impossible to keep up, and make you miserable.

    And try not to beat yourself up if you have an off-day... we are human, and are guaranteed to be imperfect once in a while.


    <3

    That is a very good one. I am certainly guilty of self flagellation when I feel I have eaten too much rubbish, if I am not at a point physically that I am happy with.

  • TheVirgoddess
    TheVirgoddess Posts: 4,535 Member
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    Eat food you like.
  • LeonCX
    LeonCX Posts: 862 Member
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    Avoid excessive use of emoticons.
  • brenn24179
    brenn24179 Posts: 2,144 Member
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    believe that you can learn to live a different way. Log, eat a lot of protein, figure out stuff and don't eat emotionally.
  • indunna
    indunna Posts: 221 Member
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    yoovie wrote: »
    The Healthy Table has four legs. Nutrition. Strength/Resistance. Cardio/Endurance. Flexibility/Recovery/Rest. No leg is more important than the Rest.

    This times 1 million.
  • BigGuy47
    BigGuy47 Posts: 1,768 Member
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    Pay yourself.

    As a kid I wanted a model airplane. My dad encouraged me to save my own money to buy the plane. It was one of those life lesson things. I put a quarter in the savings jar now and again. Eventually after several months I had saved up enough to buy the model airplane. I learned about savings, how small things can add up over time.

    That's kinda how I view fitness now. Each time I get up in the morning and go through my exercise ritual I'm figuratively putting a quarter in the jar. At the end of the year if I've put in enough quarters I'm rewarded with improved fitness. A little bit stronger, a little bit leaner than the year before.

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