When I first started this journey I thought ____, but now I know ____.

joyanna2016

1. I thought I was eating enough protein, but now I know I wasn't and it's very important that I do.
2. I thought I had to exercise to lose weight, but now I know that its really good for me mentally and physically but not necessary for weight loss.
3. I thought I would have to eat less food than I do, but now I know that eating too little has actually been my problem in the past. I was too restrictive and couldn't stick to anything.
4. I thought badly about myself if I overate, but now I know that I am going to overeat sometimes and it's not the end of the world.
5. I thought it was overwhelming when I considered how much weight I wanted/needed to lose, but now I know that there is no finish line anyway and that even small victories bring tons of joy along the way.
6. I thought that nothing could ever lessen my sweet tooth, but now I know that the less you have of it, the less you crave it...but I still crave sweets sometimes and that's okay too because....
7. I thought that I could possibly be successful at losing weight, but now I know I've got this even though I'm not a perfect dieting machine along the way.

GummiMundi

I thought I would have to deprive myself of all the sweets and yummy things that I love, but now I know I can include them in my day as long as they fit my calories.

I thought I would be hungry all the time, but now I know that just isn't true for me.

I thought I hated exercise, but now I know there are activities that I enjoy immensely.

I thought I didn't have "what it takes" to lose weight, but now I know I do have it.

(Thanks for this post, OP!)

cstatdixon

When I first started this journey I thought up to 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week was plenty, but now I know adding weightlifting and achieving 10,000-15,000 steps daily has made a world of positive changes to my overall health and body weight.

Sand_TIger

When I started this journey I thought I wouldn't be able to stick to this but now I know I can, have, and will!

Just a few weeks ago I never dreamed I could succeed with time restricted eating but now I know it works for me.

When I started, I never dreamed I could complete over 500 days of healthy living but now I know I can do 500 more!

I love this thread.

getitamb

When I first started I thought I wouldn’t ever be able to quit smoking and workout past 10 minutes. Now I can be active all day.

I also thought you had to eat less. Really you just have to eat more of the right foods.

Lietchi

When I started this journey, I thought weight loss was impossible and that I was doomed to get fatter as I aged (like my mom).
But now I know weight loss isn't just possible, it's fairly simple really, with consistency and patience. And now I know I'm capable of being disciplined, when I really want to be.

NicolaCross2

When I first started this journey I thought I would lose lots of weight quickly by restricting myself and exercising lots, and was disappointed when it didn't work out like that. Now I appreciate that slow and steady is the key to consistent and sustainable weight loss.

jugar

When I first started this journey, I thought that menopause would make it impossible. I know absolutely that this is false. I have been maintaining a healthy weight for almost 9 years and am in better shape than ever.

Every time I go "off the rails" I am afraid I cannot get back to healthy eating again. I found that just doing one perfect day, completely on plan and within goal, makes that fear dissipate. Every time, it takes that one day to get going again, and it IS possible to get unstuck.

dsclow

When I first started I thought I wold be tired all the time because I brought my sleeping down to 7.5 hours, reduced what I was eating and biking at least 20 miles a day. What I found is that I have more energy and feel better. I also thought it would be harder to stay out of the junk food. So far not so.

Terytha

I thought I'd have to give up all the foods I love. Now I know I can eat anything as long as I plan for it.

I thought I hated exercise and would be miserable forcing myself. Now I know that I just hate cardio, and weight lifting is fun, and I don't need to force anything since it's optional anyway.

And on that note, I thought only dude bros lifted weights at the gym, and now I know anyone can and that some gyms are worse than others.

And a last silly one, I thought I would only need new clothes, now I know shoe size can also change! XD

springlering62

Terytha wrote: »

I thought I hated exercise and would be miserable forcing myself. Now I know that I just hate cardio, and weight lifting is fun, and I don't need to force anything since it's optional anyway.

And on that note, I thought only dude bros lifted weights at the gym, and now I know anyone can and that some gyms are worse than others.

And to expound, I thought dude bros would look down on me, and was terrified, but now I know they’re just sweet little kittens in big muscular bodies, and are as happy for my little lifts as their own clanging ones. (If they pay me any attention at all. )

Dude bros are usually so engrossed in the task at hand or whatever’s in their ear buds, the world around them shrinks to the radius of their bench or rack. They’re also useful to move heavy stuff if you smile sweetly and ask nicely. They can’t do enough for you.

One of my happiest moments at the gym is hearing my insignificantly loaded bar make a bad *kitten* clanging noise when I rack it. It’s as soul satisfying as anything I hear at a meditative yoga sound bath.

And I don’t hate cardio as much as I thought I would. Sometimes my slow run feels just as liberating as a Usain Bolt dash must feel.

Cheesy567

When I first started this journey, thought weightloss was the focus. Now I know that learning to maintain my weight, wherever it’s at, is far more important, and has prevented me from regaining weight when life threw me curveballs and I needed to put weightloss on hold for a month or two. I feel much more prepared to maintain my goal weight for the long term once I hit it, too; no more yo-yo weight change for this one.

ClearNotCloudyMind

When I first started this journey I thought it was about my goal weight. Now I know that it's much more about my goal lifestyle.

When I first started this journey I thought the faster the weight came off the better. Now I know that I am happier, kinder and significantly warmer when it comes off slowly!

When I first started this journey I thought I maybe couldn't do it. Now I know that I can.

wunderkindking

I thought I was going to have to eat a boring diet of foods I didn't much like. Now I know I can eat whatever I want without jeopardizing my weight loss, and also there's some things that are high protein, relatively low calorie, and delicious.

TwistedSassette

What a great, positive thread!

When I first started this journey, I thought my PCOS would make it impossible to lose weight, again, but now I know that I was blaming my condition for my own failures and using it as a crutch before. Now I know that weight loss truly is about calorie deficit and nothing else, and that PCOS only makes it hard to estimate the CO side of the CICO equation, but it's not impossible and I can do it.

When I first started this journey, I thought that I was eating reasonable amounts of fairly healthy foods, but now I know that I was eating far, far too much and I don't need that much to feel satisfied.

When I first started this journey, I thought I would have to spend hours and hours exercising and hate every minute of it, but now I know that I enjoy some forms of exercise and as long as I control what I'm eating, it's all optional anyway.

When I first started this journey, I thought I could do it on my own because I didn't want anybody to know about it, but now I know that I do need support, and have made some wonderful friends virtually here in MFP groups & challenges.

micki48

When I started this journey I thought it was about hitting that goal. Now I know the whole journey is important and lifelong.

I thought I would not like exercising but now I know that exercise helps me feel better and Pilates has helped me identify my core.

I thought if I failed at this I would surely gain everything back, but now I know even though I’m not perfect, I have made important changes that help me maintain (sort of).

I thought I would have lost more of my weight by now but now I know slow is ok too.

soul105

When I first started this journey I thought that I could lose weight doing more exercise, but now I know that we exercise to be fit and we lose weight on the kitchen. (still sad about that, but hey ... it's the truth)

Onedaywriter

I had so many misconceptions!
I thought.....now I know;
- exercise had to suck.....exercise is fun, helpful mentally as well as physically, and a great way to explore new things.
- I could “burn” many more calories working out than I really do.....most of the exercise estimators I was using way overstate calories consumption.
- My inability to do some physical tasks were due to aging.....it was because I was in bad “shape.” I can do more stuff now than I could 15 years ago.
- eating well had to be expensive...it is cheaper or equal to spend $ on less volume of high quality than on high volume of crap. I rather go out for a super tasty ice cream treat once in a while than buy buckets of supermarket stuff everyday.
- I ate because I was always hungry.....most of my eating was entertainment and had nothing to do with hunger.
- My blood pressure was high because of daily stress.....under even more stress my blood pressure is right because my habits and body are better.
- I couldn’t run well because of some anatomical issues causing shin splints (flat feet from birth etc).....I can run but just needed to learn form and improve some joint mobility.
- Resistance training was all about vanity.....resistance training is for health.

I could go on and on- thanks for starting a great thread!

SuperMotivated56

Thank you for a thought-provoking thread!

When I first started this journey, I thought that it was selfish to take time for myself to focus on exercise and well-being and was very self-conscious about monitoring my eating and what others would think. But now I know that exercise and self-care has nothing to do with vanity and is not something to feel guilty about - I now embrace my exercise and healthier eating and the better person that it has helped me to become. I have seen those who respect and appreciate me - not to mention support me and are proud of my efforts, as well as those who don't and aren't worth my time or energy any way.

When I first started this journey, I thought that healthier eating would leave me feeling deprived of all the "good stuff", but now I know how delicious and fulfilling a better way of eating can be - really! - even though others question me...

When I first started this journey, I thought that I really enjoyed the "junk", especially the sweets and that the cravings if I went without would be overwhelming, but now I know that when I stop and think about them, these things really aren't even that tasty any way.

When I first started this journey, I thought that it would be impossible for someone like me to tone and build muscle. While it has been a long and steady process, I still surprise myself at times and now know that it is possible to build muscle, for the first time in my life, even as a 45-year old lady!

When I first started this journey, I thought that it was all about the weight, but now I know that I genuinely am a happier person, more capable, self-confident and self-assured and feel more bullet-proof than I ever have before!

sikorski

I thought that I had to exercise aerobically six or seven days a week for half and hour--and I did, without losing much weight.

I now know that aerobics is good for my health and bones, but I don't need to do it every single day.

I now know that using weights two or three times a week is important to my weight loss.

lorlenes24

When I first started this journey today I thought how am I going to make it...I've really let myself go too far, but now I know from reading all of your posts that it can be possible. Thank you!

Speakeasy76

I didn't actually think I could reach my "true" goal weight, I'd be stuck at mid-high normal BMI forever. It's just how I was built

Managed to not only reach that goal weight, but am currently sitting at weight that surpasses that initial "dream goal" weight by 10 pounds---and I eat around 2100-2200 calories per day , if not more(Female).

AnnPT77

I thought weight loss would be quite difficult, but that it was (regrettably) necessary for health.

It was much easier than I thought, for me. I could kick myself for not doing it decades earlier.

It was more necessary, and more subjectively desirable than I thought, for me, in various ways (reduced pain, improved mobility, general sense of well-being, etc.).

Because I was already very active while obese (and actually pretty fit when it comes to objective things like resting heart rate, race performance for a recreational athlete, etc.), but stayed obese despite high exercise activity, I thought I must have a "slow metabolism", especially in that I'm pretty old (59-60 when losing, 65 now), menopausal, hypothyroid, female, non-tall, not a lifelong thin/athletic/active person. Those are all supposed to be metabolic doom, "people say".

Nope. My calorie needs are actually substantially higher than average for my demographic, probably partly because of that decade or so of being active while obese. (I'm not saying the difference is necessarily about "metabolism", but there is a difference: MFP and many other sources estimate way too low, for me.)

work_again

I thought once I got to a number on the scale, I'd be satisfied, but now I know its a journey for improving myself and trying to be happy with what I've done for me.

FatLard200

As a kid I had this misconception that I would always be skinny. Considering I was skinny my whole childhood. Now I am 5'7 183 lbs. I am not the fattest person but I am also not the skinniest. My weight loss journey wont be as daunting as some of you but I can still relate to your struggle.

FatLard200

SuperMotivated56 wrote: »

Thank you for a thought-provoking thread!

When I first started this journey, I thought that it was selfish to take time for myself to focus on exercise and well-being and was very self-conscious about monitoring my eating and what others would think. But now I know that exercise and self-care has nothing to do with vanity and is not something to feel guilty about - I now embrace my exercise and healthier eating and the better person that it has helped me to become. I have seen those who respect and appreciate me - not to mention support me and are proud of my efforts, as well as those who don't and aren't worth my time or energy any way.

When I first started this journey, I thought that healthier eating would leave me feeling deprived of all the "good stuff", but now I know how delicious and fulfilling a better way of eating can be - really! - even though others question me...

When I first started this journey, I thought that I really enjoyed the "junk", especially the sweets and that the cravings if I went without would be overwhelming, but now I know that when I stop and think about them, these things really aren't even that tasty any way.

When I first started this journey, I thought that it would be impossible for someone like me to tone and build muscle. While it has been a long and steady process, I still surprise myself at times and now know that it is possible to build muscle, for the first time in my life, even as a 45-year old lady!

When I first started this journey, I thought that it was all about the weight, but now I know that I genuinely am a happier person, more capable, self-confident and self-assured and feel more bullet-proof than I ever have before!

That is interesting that you were a bit embarrassed about vanity. I never thought of eating healthy as a vanity. However, I've always feel that weight lifting is very vain. It's something that kind of bothers me sometimes. I don't want people to think I am some gym douche.

SuperMotivated56

FatLard200 - I would say embrace the weights 😊. I don’t belong to a gym and have only ever used handheld weights in the comfort of my own home. It has made such a difference to me - physically and mentally - the strength that I have gained is immeasurable and it feels great knowing that I can do things and lift things nice with so much more confidence.

MaltedTea

When I first started this journey I thought "Well, here goes nothing," 🤷🏿‍♀️ but now I know "Geewillikers, I kinda did something!!" 🙆🏿‍♀️

mjreid1

When I first started this journey I thought that managing carbs was the only way to succeed in losing weight and maintaining my goal weight. Now I know that by timing my carb consumption such that my insulin spikes only twice a day, and give it time to work I can achieve much more without sacrificing the foods I enjoy.

jo_nz

When I first started, I thought I would do a 6 week challenge and be nearly done! Now I know that this is a long haul, not about dropping as much as possible in the shortest time I can.
Now it's about living my life...balancing all the parts of my life including treats, exercise and overall health.

nitalieben

When I first started this journey, I thought it was about aesthetics, I just wanted to "look" better, but now I know that it has had a far greater impact on my mood, confidence, and mental and physical health than my appearance. That is now a bigger drive and motivation to carry on than simply what I look like.