What valuable lessons have you learned?

BoxerBrawler
BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
edited November 17 in Health and Weight Loss
How long have you been on your weight loss / fitness journey and what valuable lessons have you learned along the way?

I was at it hard core for a little over a year and have been maintaining now for about a year and a half.

I learned that one truly has to eat to perform! That a body fueled properly is a happy body :smile:

I learned that one can lose weight quickly with cardio but when the cardio is over the weight can come back. Weights is the way to go!

The most valuable lesson I have learned is that this journey is about me and my fitness goals, no one else.

Replies

  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    Progress isn't instant.
  • totaldetermination
    totaldetermination Posts: 1,184 Member
    CICO
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    totaldetermination wrote: »
    CICO

    Aint that the truth!
  • zap5
    zap5 Posts: 38 Member
    patience
  • jessypug
    jessypug Posts: 142 Member
    I've learnt to eat enough so that I don't reach for hight fat snacks :D
  • Mycophilia
    Mycophilia Posts: 1,225 Member
    Broscience everywhere. Don't listen to anyone lol. Do your own research and make an informed decision.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I've been at it for 16 months now. I will echo what @zap5 wrote--patience.

    I lost 30 pounds the first 4 months and then it's taken another year to lose the next 25. I'm aiming at another 7-8 right now and then I'm going to switch to a recomp. I wrote a post about weight loss not being linear and the need to be patient but I'll admit it's hard. I'm having a bit of a week where I'm just tired of it all and I'm getting impatient but I have to keep reminding myself to stick with it and eventually I'll get there.
  • KingsGirl4
    KingsGirl4 Posts: 152 Member
    edited April 2015
    I've been on my journey for 14 years and failed a lot but figured out the "tricks" last year -
    • Never skip out on your cravings - have a bite or 2 to satisfy your cravings, otherwise you will binge later (learned that the hard way)
    • Praise yourself every single day even if it's a simple one ("even though I ate over my calories, at least I ate half that piece of cake")
    • Eat protein!!! (a tiny bit of nuts go a long way) This will keep you full and satisfy hunger so you don't feel deprived
    • Keep busy - get your mind off snacking, join a new activity (this is how I discovered my snacking habits were solely based on boredom. When I was busy/distracted, I never thought about food once)
    • Drinking tea - weirdly removed my hunger cravings
    • PATIENCE!!! (The most important)
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    What I've learned is:

    Calories in vs Calories out
    Patience
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    Mycophilia wrote: »
    Broscience everywhere. Don't listen to anyone lol. Do your own research and make an informed decision.

    Truth!

  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    I've been at it for 16 months now. I will echo what @zap5 wrote--patience.

    I lost 30 pounds the first 4 months and then it's taken another year to lose the next 25. I'm aiming at another 7-8 right now and then I'm going to switch to a recomp. I wrote a post about weight loss not being linear and the need to be patient but I'll admit it's hard. I'm having a bit of a week where I'm just tired of it all and I'm getting impatient but I have to keep reminding myself to stick with it and eventually I'll get there.

    Good for you! Please do stick with it! The end results are so worth the small challenges and struggles along the way. In the beginning I had weeks where I was just so damn tired of being hungry.... but no giving up!

  • kickassbarbie
    kickassbarbie Posts: 286 Member
    - It should never be about your weight on the scale but about the bounce in your step and how you feel looking in the mirror.
    - Never underestimate the positive benifits of fitness and strength training both mentally and physically.
    - Never give up, never give in or listen to unhealthy fads and ideas, they bring nothing but misery and failure in the long term.

    (Learnt this on a looong 8 year journey from a 113kg teen to a skinny fat 59kg 20yo, now a happy and healthy 25yo and now aiming for a super fit 30th!)
  • PeachyPlum
    PeachyPlum Posts: 1,243 Member
    CICO, weight loss isn't linear, and don't ever say anything stupid on MFP!
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    PeachyPlum wrote: »
    CICO, weight loss isn't linear, and don't ever say anything stupid on MFP!

    omg for sure don't ever say anything stupid on MFP! LOL!

  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    kickassbarbie wrote: »
    - It should never be about your weight on the scale but about the bounce in your step and how you feel looking in the mirror.
    - Never underestimate the positive benifits of fitness and strength training both mentally and physically.
    - Never give up, never give in or listen to unhealthy fads and ideas, they bring nothing but misery and failure in the long term.

    (Learnt this on a looong 8 year journey from a 113kg teen to a skinny fat 59kg 20yo, now a happy and healthy 25yo and now aiming for a super fit 30th!)

    This is great! Congratulations :smile:

  • AmazonMayan
    AmazonMayan Posts: 1,168 Member
    Patience
  • shinisize
    shinisize Posts: 105 Member
    -Set yourself up for motivation, measure progress in as many ways as you can keep up with so you can see progress in some way even when your weight has stalled (I do weight, measurements, weekly photos, and fitness improvements).

    -Muscle is going to make your progress so much easier. The more lean mass you have, the more calories your body burns even at rest. Lift weight and eat your protien and boost that metabolism by building some sexy muscles.

    -It's better to do something you can keep doing without having to upend your life and lose weight slower than to try do something you can't maintain when life is throwing curveballs. For me this means things I can do from home relatively quickly, because having a toddler means dodging half a dozen curveballs on a slow day.
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    edited April 2015
    There is no such thing as free. :p I can row for free at work, but so far, I have spent about $60 bucks on it. Needed light lifting gloves and a gel seat pad (was getting nasty blisters) and a cell phone holder for my leg.

    Also the eyes of my friends and family and co-workers completely glaze over when they ask how I lost weight and I say CICO. They insist there has to be more to it or some trick or that I have a 'fast' metabolism (despite at one point weighing 270 myself)...Why ask if you don't want to know the answer? I learned giving advice about weight loss is like pizzing in the wind 90% of the time.
  • Kate5283kate
    Kate5283kate Posts: 87 Member
    That I am powerful, and capable of change, even in areas that I didn't think I could address. That small actions, day after day, create great change.

    50+ pounds down and trucking on...
  • LMS120yesIcan
    LMS120yesIcan Posts: 35 Member
    I'm still in the weight loss phase. 12 pounds down. starving yourself is never the answer and counting calories is simple. Just be truthful about your food intake.
  • britt01any
    britt01any Posts: 83 Member
    That I will never have that "Hollywood perfect body". I am learning to love the body I have.

  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,681 Member
    73 days in
    10 kg lost

    -- CICO works.

    -- However ... results are fickle and have a mind of their own. I go several days without losing anything, then I might go up a few grams ... and finally I'll lose several grams ... only to gain one or two grams back again ... and then I remain the same for a few frustrating days ... and then all of a sudden I drop half a kilo ... Overall, I'm losing, and losing reasonably quickly, but the progress is messy.

    -- Just stick with it. I might have several days or a week where results are not looking good ... but if I just stick with it, I eventually lose.

    -- If I want to eat something special and high-cal, I have to earn it by exercising for it. Good motivation to exercise. :)

    -- You don't have to limit your diet to foods with all the excitement and flavour of cardboard. The variety in my diet has increased since I've been here. I browse the grocery store looking for interesting low-cal things to eat ... and they do exist. We're always eating different and tasty things now.
  • lauracups
    lauracups Posts: 533 Member
    That the rest of the world doesn't stop turning just because I've changed a habit. There will always be stress there will always be bad times (hopefully more good ) but I don't have to use that as a reason to eat or drink.
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  • Whitezombiegirl
    Whitezombiegirl Posts: 1,042 Member
    Here’s what I learnt through logging consistently and MFP in general:
    • I manage my weight better when I log and weigh myself every day.
    • Being prepared is key for me- keeping the house stocked with food I want to eat and making my meals in advance.
    • Monitoring my monthly cycle closely – and being prepared for cravings and low moods
    • I eat chocolate and something ‘dry & crispy’ everyday (within goals)- didn’t realise I did that!
    • Eating 100& clean/paleo doesn’t work for me. I need my small treats. I didn’t believe it before. I aim for 90% paleo/ clean each day (see above)
    • I’m a great cook (Okay, I already knew that!)
    • I eat quite high carb- I thought I was low carb!
    • I don’t eat anywhere near the protein levels I think I should
    • I totally UNDER estimate portion sizes and OVER estimate calorie content. I was eating much less than I thought- weighing is the best way to go. (I thought my lunch salad was 98 cals – its 42)
    • I am quite capable of eating VLC to get quick results but I tend to get tired, clumsy and confused.
    • I like cardio but strength training makes me want to cry. (I’d love to do more weights but I refuse to do it at a gym where people can see me and judge my poor form and light weights)
    • There will always be occasions to celebrate with food- if I pig-out at every one, I’ll never be how I want to be.
    • If food is not the problem- it shouldn’t be the solution!
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    It's always about consistency, even the best of plans won't lead to results if you don't do it regularly.

    Exercise and strength training are incredibly efficient tools to reduce pain - I never thought I would be back and shoulder pain free again - this was just part of growing older. Surprise - the single most important benefit I have is fully functional elbows, shoulders, back and knees - I still get issues but I'm managing them better. Well, mostly.
  • BoxerBrawler
    BoxerBrawler Posts: 2,032 Member
    These are all such great answers and I hope that by doing this it has helped to re-motivate or re-light that fire and passion you have (or had) about fitness and nutrition!

    I have to say that throughout my journey, even with the struggles and challenges along the way, every lesson learned was totally worth it. I have accomplished things physically and mentally in my life that I never thought I would. I've had huge success, I've had loss, I nearly starved myself, I've eaten emotionally, I've been on track, I've fallen off track, I've tried supplements, I've gotten off the supplements, I've done countless hours of research, I've tweaked and re-tweaked and set my goals and re-set my goals and on and on and on. Just like everyone else on this journey. Every moment has been worth it and I'm proud of myself today. I love my body, I love my strength and I love myself which really should be the ultimate goal of getting fit.

    Thanks everyone!
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