Starting again....again!

Hi all, have been on and off of here over the past few years. This last year I have gained a stone and have been losing and gaining the same 4lbs since April! So now I've decided enough is enough I feel miserable as I have outgrown all the clothes I bought when I previously lost weight. But today is a new day, I'm tracking my food again and have rejoined the gym, to help shift the 22 pounds that I want to lose. Hope to speak to some of you soon :-)

Replies

  • Triciad811
    Triciad811 Posts: 268 Member
    welcome back !!! Good luck on the beginning of your new journey :)
  • Thank you :-)
  • MMMendoza007
    MMMendoza007 Posts: 157 Member
    "If I don't try again, then I've certainly failed."

    That's what I told my husband when he made the remark, "How many diets have you been on since I've known you?"

    He was trying to tell me that I was doing things wrong because obviously I hadn't succeed to date. It sounds harsh, but once I explained my point of view (plangently and at length), he apologized.

    I shudder to think of the alternative to NOT trying again.

    Welcome back!
  • I am in the same boat. This is my third time coming back, and this time I plan on sticking to it! Welcome back!
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  • I am in the same boat as you! I have a hard time staying consistent and keeping balance. I had a baby recently and need to shed at least 25 (30 would be better!) before I even think about having another.

    Good luck to you.. I'm looking to meet some people on here to help keep me motivated. Feel free to add me and stay in touch!
  • ElenaYan
    ElenaYan Posts: 81 Member
    im also starting again, again, again. =) feel free to add!
  • trogalicious
    trogalicious Posts: 4,584 Member
    dear startovers... folks that have fallen off of the wagon...


    I Copy/paste this everywhere around here:

    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.
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