What do you wish you hadn't done on your fitness journey?

NinaSharp

MFP is filled with stories of success as well sometimes people looking for 'shortcuts' other than CI/CO. What is one fad or "diet" you tried on your fitness journey that you wish you hadn't tried?

For me it was paleo. I probably did it wrong admittedly, but I wish I'd never even tried it. Granted I did get to a low weight while doing it, but I missed carbs so much, once I reintroduced it (because there is nothing wrong with me or carbs) all I wanted was more bread...and pasta....

Anyone else? What fad do you wish you hadn't done?

yopeeps025

I wish I used MFP and not I think I can do it on my own.

DeguelloTex

1. Call it a journey.
2. Wait so long to start.

Owlie45

I wish I hadn't given up so many times. Where I could be if I hadnt.

Bshmerlie

I wish I hadn't put it off for as long as I did.

TiberiusClaudis

Actually, for me, it's what I didn't do. As I began to lose weight, I focused on diet and only cardio. I should have begun weightlifting at the beginning. I lost 60lbs in 3 months via cardio, but then I looked skinny fat. It's only then that I took up WL. Took me about 6 more month till I looked healthy and fit. I know now how important building muscle is during this crucial time.

acheben

I wish I hadn't set my weight loss rate at 2lb/week for the first few months. It definitely led to me logging my intake incorrectly and made my weight loss take that much longer.

Faith4eva31

I wish I had never tried the Slim Fast diet. In the end, I gained weight and ate more sweets because I was always hungry.

Need2Exerc1se

I just wish I'd started sooner. Still can't believe I let myself become 30 lbs overweight.

madhatter2013

I wish I had lifted from the beginning and I wish I hadn't stopped lifting for 6 months after I had been doing it for over a year.

iLoveMyPitbull1225

waited so long to start lifting.

Kalikel

I wish I'd stuck to my plan better every single day, but I really did give it my best shot and failures are part of the process, I think.

Trying to eat to numbers didn't work out for me, but I'm not really sorry I tried it. There are lots of things I try just for the heck of it, but I don't regret any of it.

Otherwise, nothing. Unlike so many, I never tried fad diets. I never had to learn about calories. I already knew that stuff.

VintageFeline

I wish I hadn't ignored what I already knew for so many years and I wish I'd just done CICO every time I decided it was time to lose. Mind you, MFP hasn't always been around and I'd never have written things down and got a calculator out etc so I guess now was the perfect time to start!

PaulaWallaDingDong

I wish I hadn't tried to lose weight just by exercising. What a friggin nightmare.

professionalHobbyist

I got a trainer and dr sent me to a nutritionist

When I first got to MFP I already knew there is more to a piece of food than calorie count only.

I wasted time discussing CICO with some people here that treat it like the only property of a piece of food.

It is the internet, not the gym. I don't take things here serious any longer if it remotely conflicts with what I hear from my trainer, doctor, nutritionist.

Don't waste time arguing here. That is the main thing I took from MFP.

SueInAz

TiberiusClaudis wrote: »

Actually, for me, it's what I didn't do. As I began to lose weight, I focused on diet and only cardio. I should have begun weightlifting at the beginning. I lost 60lbs in 3 months via cardio, but then I looked skinny fat. It's only then that I took up WL. Took me about 6 more month till I looked healthy and fit. I know now how important building muscle is during this crucial time.

This for me, too. I've done enough stupid diet things in my life that I'm not even going to try to name them all. The one good thing to come out of it is that I never let myself get to the point where I was actually "overweight". I really, really wish I had started weight lifting sooner and stopped worrying so much about the number on the scale.

bakerkate221

I wish I hadn't crash dieted out of impatience. I initially started at 240# and gradually got down to 165# and stagnated there. Then, for a week, I kept my calories under 600 and did two workouts per day. Almost passed out once. I lost 10# in a week, then gained it back over the next few days. Oh, plus another 30#.

yusaku02

I wish I hadn't waited so long to start lifting. I could have done it when I was losing weight.

AmAnDuh77

Lifting! It's been a game changer for my new lifestyle, wish I had started doing it from day 1 along with my cardio.

barbecuesauce

-I wish I had done it the MFP way earlier
-I wish I hadn't used MFP like some pro-ana teenager for the first few months--I mourn my lost LBM (and hair). Active to highly active and 1000 calories do not mix.

LAT1963

I wish I hadn't:

a) pushed hard enough to acquire injuries
b) suffered logging fatigue/stopped tracking

TimothyFish

I tried measuring my progress by taking body measurements instead of stepping on the bathroom scale. What a disappointment it was after several weeks of that when I stepped on the scale and I hadn't lost any weight at all.

MostlyWater

Good thread! Enjoying all the comments !

barbecuesauce

barbecuesauce wrote: »

-I wish I had done it the MFP way earlier
-I wish I hadn't used MFP like some pro-ana teenager for the first few months--I mourn my lost LBM (and hair). Active to highly active and 1000 calories do not mix.

And by the MFP way, I mean eating a balanced diet, counting calories, and not restricting or turning to Slim Fast or anything else.

slaite1

I would not have tried so hard to eat "clean" and have the perfect workout. I knew better, but I got caught up in the hype. If I had kept it this simple from the beginning-my progress would be much further.

R_Turnz

Wish I never had a 3 year break!!!

Cait1122

I wish I ate more iron rich foods... I became anemic. I wish I would've done strength training with the loads of cardio I did. I lost weight, but I have loose skin.. My arms are the worst.

cmcdonald525

A) I wish I had spent more time in the forums during my first weight loss attempt. I would have realized I was eating too few calories and restricting myself too much. Then I wouldn't have to lose those 30 lbs again.
I wish I would have switched trainers much sooner. My first pt was a wonderful person and fun to work with, but he did not bother correcting my form at all. I could have made so much more progress if I was actually doing the workouts correctly! Not to mention saved myself unnecessary pain.

callsitlikeiseeit

i just wish i hadnt waited so long.

ive never done fad diets or pills or anything so no regrets there LOL

lemurcat12

I wish I'd gotten consistent with a progressive weight routine right away instead of screwing around and always chasing some new shiny program.

But not entirely, since I actually think I managed to learn some stuff while spinning my wheels.

I also think experimenting with different levels of carbs and even paleo were learning experiences for me. I guess at the moment I'm thinking of everything as a learning experience.

I DO wish I'd started sooner.

Qskim

I wish I'd never found a calorie counting app.