Simply put, I need your help.

Bgirl72

Nothing beats a failure but a try.....I have been lurking (intermittently) here on these message boards every now and again. I feel encouraged and have felt so embarrassed about sharing such a personal struggle in a public forum, but it needs to be done! Hello I am Bgirl72- 41 and ready for the first time in her life to be a big ole loser......yea I said it ( only in weight and a negative self image)

I wish I could say that, "I have done everything...tried every diet" but I haven't. I have ,however, dropped the ball so many times I can't even count.....

This time is new, this time is full of possibility...this time I win.

My strategy.....
be accountable to some folk that I don't know (posting here,and blogging)
STAYING CONSISTENT
getting back up even when I have "fallen"
not quitting even it the scale doesn't move
not quitting when I hit plateaus
drinking water.....


I feel so inspired by what I have seen here on the message boards , it seems like such a safe place to shed....

I pledge to post regularly.....please I encourage and welcome you encourage me

IamUndrCnstruction

Hey there! We fall, we get back up, we fall we get back up...we fall, we curse for a bit...we get back up! Add me if you'd like, I would be happy to help

harleygroomer

THAT is your problem--you have been dieting. My trainer changed my way of thinking because she said everyone fails at diets--it is why we are so fat. WELL---- THIS time you are on a LIFESTYLE CHANGE... You will set goals, eat right, exercise and seek help when you need it and you WILLLLLLL do this for the REST OF YOUR LIFE. Hence the phrase Lifestyle change. Welcome and don't be shy--someone on here always has an answer.

TheMMan

I agree with harleygroomer that most of us who are successful have made lifestyle changes. A lot of people on MFP have become fitness buffs, which is fine, but I can only sneak in 2 good workouts in the gym/week. I found that logging my food did WONDERS for me. I was able to spot my calorie traps, eliminate them and change my lifestyle accordingly. I was able to identify 400 calories of useless calories/day, easily eliminate them without much sacrifice and lose 20 lbs. Just remember that it is a slow process and you will cycle up at times but if you are doing the right thing, you will drop off the plateaus. Feel free to add me if you like.

michybeans

Welcome! And I couldn't help but notice you've lost 4 pounds already, so congrats and you're off to a great start!

Feel free to add me as a friend if you want. I love encouraging others on here and receiving encouragement myself. Such a great community at MFP.

trogalicious

I post these tips all over the place. They may help.

1. don't trust the initial setup that MFP provides. If you put in the wrong/inaccurate information, it'll tell you to eat an amount that may not be applicable.
2. Make sure you eat enough.
3. Figure out what works for you and is sustainable/healthy/long term.
4. avoid fads. don't buy in to any "Hey, try the twinkie and vodka diet"
5. Don't cut out anything now that you don't plan on literally giving up forever.
6. GET A FOOD SCALE. Weigh everything. No, seriously.
7. Get an HRM with a chest strap. You'll at least have a better idea of what you're burning. It'll be more accurate than the generic info in the exercise database.. and even more than the cardio machines. This is great for steady state cardio (run/walk/etc)
8. Don't go balls out. You'll burn out. I see 300 lb people show up here, instantly start working out and cutting their intake SEVERELY... trying to cut out all of their carbs at once.. whatever. Take it slow. Figure out how much you need to eat FIRST in order to lose.. then incorporate exercise.
9. Don't cardio yourself to death.
10. Take the information on the forums with a grain of salt. A lot of people that have been here for a while.. and have been successful, may seem jaded. They give out GREAT advice day after day, only to be met with people that refuse to listen.
11. Eat real food. Not diet food. Not "low fat, sugar free, now without X." It's easier to get/find/count.
12. don't set time restrictions.
13. measure yourself weekly. Don't just weigh. Measure and take pictures.
14 BE PATIENT.
15. Avoid forum topics that have "1200" in the title. It's just full of butthurt. Lots of it.
16. This isn't a game, it's about changing your lifestyle. Do that.

pretty much that.

...and don't fall into the "1200 calorie" vertigo of suck because of:

the typical MFP users does this:
1. I wanna lose weight, let's try MFP.
2. OH! Wow, it tells me I can lose 2 lbs a WEEK? AWESOME!
3. I just sit at a desk when I'm not working out, I guess I'm sedentary.
4. MFP tells them 1200 calories, and they don't even eat that.. then they work out on top of it.. creating an even bigger deficit.
5. Lose a lot, fast, brag about 1200 calorie success.
6. Come back in a few months trying to figure out why they're dizzy, tired, not losing weight.
7. Get on the forums, ask why they aren't losing.
8. Get two responses (I eat 1200 and lose) (I eat 2200 and lose)
9. Argument ensues about who is right.

Now. That being said. These threads happen hundreds of times per day. Most times, and I mean really.. seriously.. 95% of the time.. people get the 1200 number because they don't put the right information in when they set up the account. There are a great number of people that are trying to help. I'm one of 'em.

I'm a hardcore advocate of actually finding out what works for the individual.. by means of other calculators, averages, time, practice, and patience.

Blanket prescriptions of 1200 calories "because it worked for me" is more harmful to the generic new user than the "figure out what you need to eat." Unfortunately, one is a LOT easier to type.

Find out what you need: http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/
Take the tips, links, and info above and make the cart more manageable to stay on.

sonjarogers72

You can do this! You will do this! You matter and deserve it. I know its hard, but I had the same problem at first. Set small goals that can be achieved - like 5 lbs at a time, then go up from there. I believe in you! Add me if you wish!

MsWallwoman

Positive self talk. You are not a loser, a loser would fall and not get back up, you have gotten back up! The hardest part of a transformation is not sabotaging yourself. You need to think positive and be positive. If you stumble, oh well, live and learn, dust yourself off and keep moving forward. You CAN do this. Your body will follow where the mind takes it... So step out of the dark negative space and it take it to a positive healthy place and watch your body transform.

You have a choice, every minute of every day to choose to move forward. You are in charge of your life, how you see things and how you feel, choose happiness and success and reach for your dreams! Your stronger than you think you are. Success is yours for the taking... So go get it!!
:flowerforyou: