What Other Factors (Besides Nutrition) Help You Succeed?

ConquerAndBloom

I stopped looking at weight loss as a linear and black and white process. One day over my calorie budget wasn't going to kill me and wasn't going to ruin all of my progress.

SoyD986

^^^^ Can't stress what ConquerandBloom said enough in what's been different for me this time around. I've been off a week at a time and, well, that's ok because I can just get back on the wagon the next day.

3500 calories = 1lb
if the scale is up 10lbs did I really eat 35000 extra calories in a weekend, day, etc?

nichell88

I created a vision board, which helped a lot. It was fun and cathartic to make and helped me to remain motivated

khronicuk

The Fitness Industry portrayed in the Media really slants the truth of calorie in vs calorie out. Simply if you can keep a sustainable diet with any type of caloric deficit you will lose!

My Nursing Studies have really helped me focus on what matters.

The key to maintaining for me was to getting a strong foundation of Nutrition. While I am nowhere near my goal, I know I will achieve it if I stick to the simple principles and acknowledge good days come with the bad.

paigele

Community has been key for me. I have found insight from other members as well received words of caution MFP friends who don't want to see me make bad decisions. The apps integration also is a big help, my ability track nutritional value and set goals based on percentage cars, fat protein calories. Great program. I recommend it to anyone watching their consumption.

kdiamond

Knowledge.
Water.
A few supplements (for energy, to get through a particularly grueling (or 10) workouts).
Motivation/something to look forward to.

BananaBite

1. I started working in retail part time. Lost about 5 lbs in the matter of a few weeks. Once that came off I was hooked to try and eat healthier and lose more weight.
2. Drinking water. I like soda and still drink it but don't over do it. Get a bottle and instead of drinking all of it, drink half of it. Save the rest for the next day.
3. Counting calories. Eating bananas are a staple, I've noticed my belly fat is extremely reduced when I eat bananas.
4. As a college student saving money, I'm just now realizing how precious money is and willing to save it from fast food.
5. Get yourself that sexy pair of underwear.

unigirl143

DanceDiva234 wrote: »

Get yourself that sexy pair of underwear.

^^
But with me it was a sexy dress I break out for date nights with my husband. He calls me his eye candy and says I make him look like a slob (but with a grin on his face) lol

NadNight

Eating food I like rather than food that is simply low calorie!

Accepting there was no quick fix, the only sustainable way is a lifestyle change. I started walking where I once would've got a bus or car. I stopped buying things like multipacks of crisps and biscuits regularly (they're fine if you have a family but having it all to myself meant I was way overeating) and get them once a month or every couple of months instead.

Ditching the sugar in my tea. I used to have 2 heaped teaspoons in my tea and I drink at least 5 cups a day....that was a LOT of sugar.

I learned to cook! I used to live on packet pasta and convenience food. But I've been learning about food and finding or developing yummy recipes that utilise fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies. I stopped looking at food in terms of being either 'yummy but fattening' and 'healthy but boring' and found things that tick all the boxes.

I don't deny myself things I love, I invest time in them every now and again. Rather than buy a tub of chocolate icecream for the freezer I can just dig into every night, I make myself an apple crumble and custard from scratch every now and again. It makes me appreciate the food more as it's an occasional thing.

Sustainability is the key thing. My biggest advice to anyone starting out is to make small changes. Like walking more, going to an exercise class once a week to start with. Choose lower calorie options where you can or make slight changes to decrease sugar or fat content. If it constantly feels difficult and you feel hungry all the time, you're doing it wrong!

Focusing on the positives. Once I'd lost a bit of weight I could look back and see I'd made progress which spurred me on. The good feeling after exercising is another good one to focus on, rather than how sore and sweaty it makes you feel. Compare how you feel after eating a load of fresh, highly nutritious foods compared to how you feel after you've eaten a load of fried food and chocolate. I love fried food and chocolate but when it goes into excess I feel DREADFUL. Tired and sick. I find thinking about the nutrients in what I'm eating makes them enjoyable

2baninja

Bixbyonline1 wrote: »

I've been on LCHF diet for 20 wks. The weight is slow to come off, but I remain totally committed to the diet. The main reason is the results of my lab test taken at 14 wks. My doctor could not believe them. I think she was more excited than I was. I had been eating lots of saturated fat, very few carbs (under 20 grams a day) and moderate amounts of protein for over 3 months. My cholesterol was at an all time low, except HDL which was an all time high! I was no longer newly diabetic, or even pre-diabetic. My advice is to find a healthy diet and get some blood tests, the best incentive ever. Good luck.

I assume you meant to say "not eating lots of saturated fat"???

MelissaSheklian

Keeping records- track food on MFP, workouts and measurements in my fitness journal. Also having support, reading the threads and seeing my friends on MFP that are working hard too because sometimes you need some external motivation to keep going

JustRobby1

Knowledge gained through experience, but also from the input of lots of great members of this community. I was an awfully confused individual about how this works in those early months.

CICO was the most liberating aspect. So eating the foods I love within my calorie limit. It made my life so much easier when I realized I did not have to be some whole foods junkie to lose the weight.

At the end of the day, I got to where I am from sheer determination and force of will. You have to be willing to tolerate lots of adversity and ebb and flow to get to the finish line, which explains why the rate of attrition is so high.

SnazzIT

appetite correction and new habits formed by listening to my body's needs rather than what I think it wants

mazmataz

I'm not quite a success yet - but definitely more successful than I've been so far. And the difference this time (as many people have said), is going easier on myself and not letting a bad day/weekend/week be the end of it all.

I've lost 12kgs over the six months, 3kgs (almost 7lbs) in the last month and I have had a couple of heavy weekends, TOM carb cravings and general binges in there. The difference is that in my many, many, many previous attempts at this, just one of those events would have derailed me completely. But each time I have gotten back on the wagon and started logging again.

Oh and I tend to shoot for a daily calorie intake of around 200 under my TDEE-20%, as it gives me a buffer for my not so good days and inaccurate calorie logging. This is one that I've tweaked so that it works for me and my lifestyle, but might not be for everyone.

RunStart34

Clean eating. Just started to leave the sugary drinks and eating at home. I wanted to lose weight but I took my time and research.

mysteps2beauty

That I can eat anything I want just not huge portions... and that seconds, thirds are not always in my best interests.
Water. Water. Water.
If I stumble along the way, just log it, and move onto the next day.
That what works for another may not work for me. I am unique and I embrace that knowledge everyday.
Water.Water.Water.
The mirror is a friend, so is the scale. Even if I don't like what I see, I have the power to change it.
Change your thoughts, change your life.
Water.Water.Water.

forgtmenot

Looking at before and after photos really helps motivate me! I spend a lot of time looking at the success stories here and googling before and after photos. It makes me want to try even harder because I know if they can do it I can too.

Also taking “active rest days” has been a real game changer for me. In the past when I would take a full rest day and just not work out at all I would get out of the routine and often just give up or get lazy and quit! Now I make sure to do something every day. On my “rest days” I do yoga or something similar. It really helps keep me in the routine of working out.

Also I’m sure most people on mfp hate this but I no longer calorie count. I eat a high carb plant based diet and I eat until I’m full. I only use mfp now for tracking work outs and the community.

Johns_Dope_AF

Forcing myself to love the process..

Calliope610

consistency, discipline, doing "x" even when you don't want to or "feel like it"

Johns_Dope_AF

forgtmenot wrote: »

Looking at before and after photos really helps motivate me! I spend a lot of time looking at the success stories here and googling before and after photos. It makes me want to try even harder because I know if they can do it I can too.

Also taking “active rest days” has been a real game changer for me. In the past when I would take a full rest day and just not work out at all I would get out of the routine and often just give up or get lazy and quit! Now I make sure to do something every day. On my “rest days” I do yoga or something similar. It really helps keep me in the routine of working out.

Also I’m sure most people on mfp hate this but I no longer calorie count. I eat a high carb plant based diet and I eat until I’m full. I only use mfp now for tracking work outs and the community.

I love active recovery days as well, keeps me fully engaged in my training.

natajane

I know loads about nutrition and exercise. I can estimate food and exercise calories accurately without looking. I’m a good cook, I enjoy healthy foods. I have stamina and drive for exercise.

But nothing has helped as much as addressing my mind. All this time I kept sabotaging myself and not even seeing what I was doing.

Once I figured my sub conscious brain out and cut myself some slack, it’s been easier. I’ve cut off my emotional connection with food completely.