how do you really succeed at this?

chandraminick

Yep, I got back on track since first posting this. I've lost 19 lbs since the beginning of the year and 16 of that since May 1st. I'm working on ten pound goals at a time. I'm still eating the same thing every day at the same time cuz its my plan not to stray into menu problems. I started walking a mile which took me 45 minutes at first, but now I'm up to five miles a day almost every day.

Machka9

chandraminick wrote: »

OK, everyone. I went back to all these things suggested here. I am also eating back all of my exercise calories as well as planning my meals in advance. I'm logging all my food and exercise not exceeding my calorie goal.

Eat half your exercise calories ... many people over estimate their exercise, and the equipment used to indicate calories burned doesn't help.

IremiaRe

1) Decide to do it. Really decide. Know why you are doing it - that can help. For me, it was the fact that I expect to live into my 90's (based on family history) and I thought it might be nice if I could, you know... walk.
2) Make one small change that you can maintain for the rest of your life. Exercise, reduce your portion size, something - whatever thing you can do and stick with - forever. You can't succeed at this if you don't make permanent changes in your life. Dieting does not work. You have to change the way that you live.
3) Repeat steps 1 and 2.

CICO, of course, is important - but what made it work for me was just deciding that I had to do it and then using the tools available at MFP and doing it.

Remember - there is no huge rush. Don't expect to lose ten pounds every month - because unless you are VERY heavy, it's unlikely that you will. What is more important, though? Losing a bunch of weight really fast or losing the weight forever?

Be prepared for the scale to look at you crazy all the time. Can you say Peri-Menopause? Sure you can. If I threw in the towel every time I "gained" a pound thru water retention, I would never have managed to lose the last 85 pounds. But the general trend over the last three years has been downward... and I am sure that I will manage to get down a bit more, before it's all said and done. Because the changes I make are PERMANENT ones, I don't really have to worry too much about regaining the weight...

I haven't given anything up - I just eat less or less frequently, the foods that I love. And when things start to slow to a crawl, I go back to step one, and make another small change. This year, I am doing Strength Training with a personal trainer. Muscles are da bomb.

Good Luck.

VUA21

Don't quit!

That's it, no matter how bad of a day or week you've had, no matter how long it's taking, no matter how frustrated you get at the scale (plateaus happen) or anything else, just don't quit. You can try different things, simply CICO, IF, keto, whatever, but just keep going.