Getting the most out of MFP....need help

niklong

I'll keep this short...I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. I've joined Weight Watchers & lost & gained more times than I can count. And I'm so fed up....with the process of trying to get healthy & with myself. I've reached my highest weight & I feel like I'm at a loss as to what to do because I just keep failing. I keep thinking of joining WW again or getting a health coach but I don't have or want to spend that much money. I like the concept of MFP but feel like I need more guidance, support & motivation. ...or maybe I'm just not using it to the fullest right now. What's helping you be successful? I feel like I need more than just a place to journal. I start logging food everyday...just don't follow through to the end...I really need help & I'm feeling overwhelmed.

queenliz99

For me, my success came from logging everyday, I made it a habit. Even if you have days where you are horribly over, log it. And get a food scale and weigh every thing because a food scale gets you good at eyeballing portions. You can do this!

TravisJHunt

I liked getting a fitness tracker, it really shows me just how lazy I am at work. So when I see the day is over and I've only got 2000 steps in, well its time to be active at night. I make it a little competition with myself. Hit the goal each day is a challenge, when you work a desk job at least.

spikycactus

I love my Fitbit for tracking how active I really am. I have many days where I come home from a desk job and it's only in the 2000 range. Terrible. So I joined in some challenges with other MFP people on Fitbit where we can see who takes more steps. Got me running again especially since I don't like losing

Anyone with a Fitbit who likes mini challenges add me lueema@live.com

tequila5000

What about making a friendly weight loss wager with a small group of friends or family? We did that a few times in my family---about 5 adults each put up $20 and we went for a specific period of time. Like 2 or 3 months. At the end the person who lost the highest percentage of body weight got ALL the money. It was fun! Because everyone likes $$$$. Th great thing was that at the end, we had all lost at least a little weight. So everyone ended up a little healthier.

baciodolce18

You have to really want it. You have to *decide* to put the work in, come hell or high water. I've been struggling to get the weight off the past year but I haven't given up. Last year I couldn't be consistent (though I ironically lost more weight last year) but this year I'm much more consistent and every time I think of quitting because it's not going the way I want, I just take a break for a weekend and get back to it.

Get a scale. Weigh your food. Move a little more. If you want it badly enough, you'll do the work. And after awhile it won't feel like work anymore. Just a way of life.

cdahl383

At first, all you need to do is eat a little less and exercise a little more. Drink more water, cut back or cut out completely any liquid calories (pop, juice, beer, etc). You'll notice the weight will come off pretty easily at first.

Eventually that method will no longer cut it. You'll likely plateau at some point. This is when you really need to get serious about quantifying what is going in your body. Counting calories every day is the best way to go. Using a food scale is a must at a certain point as eyeballing portions just won't cut it as you get closer to your goal weight. I've found that by cutting my calories about 20% under what I need to maintain my current weight and exercising 3-5 times a week at a moderate level I can lose weight quite easily. The harder part is keeping it off.

The bottom line is you really have to want to do it as the others have said. It's very easy to just use excuses...I'm too busy today, I'm too tired, I worked hard today I need a few beers, etc. Everyone is busy, everyone gets tired, and everyone works hard (well most people do anyway). Only you can motivate yourself. Without internal motivation, you're likely doomed from the start. Give yourself some goals to work toward, one big goal for long term and then several short term ones along the way.

Good luck to you!