I need help learning to live healthy

jillianleevaughan

Hi everyone. I'm a 22 year old female who is getting pretty discouraged about ever feeling healthy again. In high school I could eat whatever junk I wanted and hardly exercised, my fast metabolism took care of me. In college I was so busy buzzing around campus (I didn't have a car) that I barely had time to snatch whatever food was laying around. I managed to stay a consistent weight through college because of this.

However, after graduation, I moved back home and was re-introduced to the land of ABUNDANT FOOD. I started a desk job and within two months I gained 10 pounds! I still hadn't learned good exercise habits but tried getting a 3-month Zumba pass. I hate it! My family guilt trips me if I come home tired and don't feel like going, and at work I'm surrounded by tempting treats at the coffee bar to take my mind off of my mundane work.

I tried being really, really good for three weeks a while back…no candy, no snackies, counting calories and Zumba 4 times a week. My calorie tracker app told me I should've lost 3 lbs…I lost nothing. Ive tried these "healthy stints" a few other times, still with no results. I just want to get back to my healthy weight before I succumb to being a desk-job lardball, but seeing no results after trying so hard makes me really sad. Any advice would be very appreciated!

Thank you

4legsRbetterthan2

Unfortunately there is a large learning curve to learning "to be healthy" when you have never tried. It took me several months of reading and tweaking to get to where I am now and able to accurately calculate my calorie consumptions and burns and really do what I have to do to lose. It can be frustrating but you can do it, you just have to accept that things will not happen over night and if it is not working you need to figure out why as apposed to stopping. This is a pretty helpful intro guide:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

make yourself some friends on here who can cheer for you and help answer your questions as you go.

~Best wishes

WBB55

Have you tried just making one change at a time? Then wait a month, and add something new. I found more success that way. Like:

1) Give up regular soda and deep fried french fries. Do that for a couple weeks, then add...
2) Start bringing your lunch every day to work. Then a month later, add...
3) Start walking every day. Do that for a couple weeks, then add...
4) Start counting calories religiously (but just to track them, not to reduce or restrict). Do that for a month, then...
5) Pick something else. Do that for a month..

...etc. Basically, eventually all of these things becomes habits you've encorporated into your life

spara0038

Seriously, I could have written that myself. I work a desk job and stayed pretty trim during high school since I played tennis. My college campus was big, and like you, I didn't have a car- so it was pretty easy then. Now I work M-F, 8-6, and I packed on 20+ lbs. Like you, I tried stints of being good (right before friend's wedding, etc), but nothing really stuck.

For starters, it's great that you're noticing a slide after only 10 lbs. For me, it took a picture at my friend's wedding that made me say "wow, is that what I really look like??". My issue wasn't treats like snacks- my pitfall is happy hour. I like my wine! Anyway, I've been on MFP for a few months now and here are a few things that have kept me on track:

1. Keep focused on why you're doing it. I want to look good and be confident. As much of a wakeup call as that picture was, I've kept that image in my head and I'm determined not to stay there. Seriously, I looked like I was pregnant. I. am. not. staying. there. Whenever I think about splurging with a snack, I think about that picture.

2. I know you can be tired after work. Don't let that be your excuse. If you get in a routine of at least exercising 3 x/week, you'll notice more energy at the end of the work day, so it won't be as much of an issue in the future.

3. Set a goal for yourself, and if you meet or exceed that goal, THEN let yourself have a treat. My goal is to hit the gym at least 15 times in March. If I do that, then I've promised myself some Taco Bell- another pitfall of mine. I also set weekly goals too (like 6 days under my calorie goal earns me a freebie day)

4. At least give yourself a month before you dismiss yourself as not making progress. For me, I didn't see any real sustained progress for 3 weeks... AND I tend to gain weight before I lose. Frustrating, but you have to be tough. For me, I actually GAINED weight in my first two weeks, and then I lost a ton at once. I was sooo ready to give up, but a short while later I dropped in weight, so you just have to stick with it.

5. I've been treating my calorie intake like I have been my spending. I think we all have a habit of thinking "it's not THAT bad- right?" Well, when you have to log everything and see the impacts of your actions, stuff gets really real really quickly. I mean, if I spent like I had been eating, I'd be broke and living in a cardboard box in no time!

6. To fight the office boredom: Keep your office stocked with low-cal "cheats"- single serving wrapped snacks, gum, plenty of water (that's a big one)

megmo1985

There is some really good advice on this thread! I agree about making small changes and then seeing the results of that change. If you try to do everything at once it's hard to stick to it. Just remember that "being healthy" is a journey and not something you can change in three weeks.

theashtrees

Great advice on this thread.

My only addition is to prepare your own low-cal snacks for the office. I work shifts tied to a desk and have found that by packing the right snacks for my shift, I can get by and don't sneak something bad or load up on bad prepackaged stuff.

There's some prep work involved but if you can set a few hours for it, you'll notice the difference in your wallet and your waistline.

Some of my favs are:

1 x fresh apple cut w/blueberries (splashed with lemon juice to stop the apple going brown)
1 x fresh apple with no salt/sugar peanut butter to dip (watch your portion size)
Home made spicy sweet potato chips
Small cup of veggie soup
Rice cakes with hommus (homemade)

http://www.mynaturalfamily.com/recipes/100-calorie-snack-ideas/

Log on to pinterest.com if you havent already, theres some great meal prep ideas and exercises too!

Feel free to add if you need a friend too - I try to post positive things including the random fun exercise ideas my training buddy and I do.

You're in the right place to learn

funsteps

Just posted this in another thread... I just started using MFP again after having a few semi successful tries (everything went well until I gave up). This time, I'm trying to stay off the scale for a while. I absolutely want to lose weight (and a lot of it!) but I also want to change my attitude toward food and live healthier. I don't want to consider this a "diet" and I think focusing on the number on the scale really encourages that mindset. A lot of people here recommend taking pictures, measurements, etc, other things to track progress other than weighing yourself. Set goals that are not weight related (clothing, fitness goals, etc) and focus on those.

1princesswarrior

Hey there, also if you don't like Zumba find something you do like. Exercise shouldn't be seen as something you have to do, it should be something you look forward to. I never thought I would love running but I do and I love lifting now that I've learned proper form. Try different things, think outside of the box. You'd be surprised how many calories you burn walking dogs or riding horses of going on nature hikes if you like any of that. Get involved with a sport. My point is to have fun.

Good luck.

jillianleevaughan

Awesome idea! I like the baby steps approach, getting used to one thing at a time. I'll definitely try this. Thanks

jillianleevaughan

Thank you so much for your advice! It's so good to know that I'm not alone on this