Calling all successful MFPers!!

mandijo

Since the new year is about to begin, I've done a lot of thinking about where I was last year at this time. Unfortunately, I was about where I am today, a year later. I have, however, learned a lot about nutrition, exercise, and being healthy over the last year. Now all I have to do is make things happen. What I want to know is: For those of you who have had success, but aren't naturally self motivators- What do you remember as being the "thing" that changed you? What was that defining moment that transformed you from not having any motivation or will power to stick with something and then all of a sudden making the right choices and changing your way of thinking. I've taken the last year to figure out what I NEED to do, my problem now is just having self control and motivation to stick with it? Any pointers would be great!

superhippiechik

The "thing that did it for me was the day I could barely zip my size 16 jeans. I realized that I no longer fit clothes sold in regular clothing stores and would have to shop in the plus size department. AND I was the same size I was when I delivered my 1st daughter and weighed almost as much as I did when I delivered my second!
It doesn't hurt wheh I put my shoes on anymore and I am almost in single digit sized clothes! I think of what I have accomplished and feel good knowing these last 15lbs. will help me be the healthiest I have ever been!

billylindsay

I have set the exercise to 1 hour a day and now I do that and more ( i have a mapmyride target of 5000 miles for next year) but never less I also I am doing it for my family basically I want to be along for as long as possible.

LadyPersia

Im afraid to die. I want to run away from death and if that means daily than so be it. I have four handsome boys and I want to be around for as many grands and great grands. I am 12 pounds lighter and my bp has dropped some. Notes on the fridge help and MFP friends for support.

Most importantly...My husband and I workout together. I think that has made all of the difference.

NanBar

"I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence...but it comes from within. It is there all the time." ~anna freud

This is the quote on your page. Really think about it. Everything comes from within.

You have to WANT CHANGE, and then MAKE CHANGES to SEE CHANGES.

You know what to do- now do it.

That being said however, I do have piece of advice--- ASK on MFP for a weight loss buddy who has SIMILAR goals as you do- get to know each other and support eat other every step of the way.
You do NOT want someone who will accept it if you make excuses- you want someone who will help hold you accountable.
I think you will find more motivation this way.

toludc

MFP was the 'thing' for me. Logging all my food for a couple of weeks made me get real about what I was eating and how many calories I was consuming each day. That made me get real that change in the 'weightloss' direction want gonna happen unless something changed. I made a commitment to log in every day for 100 days. Once I started tracking calories I was spured on lose some of them through exercise. Waking up every day to a new MFP page meant bad days were yesterday and I was motivated that today could be a good day. Planning ahead is helping me too.

For me it's been like having a personal trainer to push me to make right choices every day (most of the time I listen) and I feel like I'm learning every day.

When I'm feeling demotivated success stories with pictures on MFP help me refocus

jacj46

I had been on this journey for about 2 months and had lost @ 10 lbs when one day ... I went to 'America's PX' with my shopping list ... thought it was time to get some bird seed ... all they had was a 40lb bag ... when I went to put it into the buggy a light went on ... 'this is heavy' and I am carrying around (twice this plus) to much weight ... have thought about that ever since ... Now! after I lost the 1st 20lbs, I went and bought me a 20 lb hand wieght and have it by the door in the kitchen ... every day I pick that thing up and realize that I carry this and more around every day ... good luck!

MFPfriend

My friend was talking to another friend on Facebook through comments on a photo. One of the things my friend said was, "I secretly hate fat people. I don't know, they just piss me off."
Then it made me think about how unhappy I was with myself, and how unhappy other people might be with me too.

Also, when I was 11 years old, my mom had gastric bypass surgery and lost about 120 pounds. She's gained about 15 pounds back, and is thinking about starting the HCG diet. I'm trying to convince her that if she just exercises and eats right, she can lose weight. The more weight I lose, the more she begins to believe me.

Lastly, when I was looking at a fancy dress one day, I wanted to buy it. It was the most beautiful dress I'd ever seen, so I immediately looked through the sizes. 2, 10, and 24. I knew I would probably never be a 2 (too big of bones), and I would never let myself get to a 24. But I though "You know. I could be a 10. A 10 is normal. Why am I not a 10?" And then everything just changed in my mind.

lruff1987

Seeing pictures of myself at my best friend's mom's wedding shower was the first "thing" that did it for me. I looked like a blimp and I was so embarrassed. That "thing" helped me to lose 25 pounds. The second "thing" that did it for me was almost losing my appendix because I was eating so much yeast and I have an allergy to it. I was so sick and almost had to have emergency surgery. So that second "thing" helped me to lose another 12 pounds and now I'm only 13 pounds away from my goal weight. But what I really had to remember all the way back at the beginning of my weight loss journey is that true successful weight loss takes time and you have to have patience in order to succeed!

HealthyChanges2010

bumpin! Because this thread looks awesome/inspiring:drinker: ....I'll have to check it out later!:flowerforyou:

TaraMaria

For me it changed a year ago. I have been on this website since June of 2008 (I started with a different sign name.) But when I made the decision to have a hysterectomy, I remember thinking I HAVE to make the decision to get healthy too. I had been struggling and desperately trying to loose weight for a while and it had not been coming off, but I hadn't been using MFP as a tool nor had I been sticking to it.

And it was SO HARD. Because the weight didn't come off. In the beginning it was really hard to remember WHY I wanted to do this. Yes I had the determination of making my surgery choice, but as the weeks dragged on afterwards and the pounds slooowly dropped off, I felt more and more ripped off that the weight didn't come off faster. I was doing the work! I sure didn't remember what healthy felt like! It has been YEARS since that feeling! But the bottom line was: I didn't like how I felt. I HATED the jeans I fit into. I didn't like the image I saw in the mirror. Ultimatly, I saw a skinny me being able to do more then lay on the couch. I saw skinny Tara being able to play with her son, cook more meals for her husband and do more for her family. Because she was healthier. Even if it took forever: I had to change all of that.

Writing as I went helped a lot. Writing my goals out. Writing is a natural help to me. Cutting myself some slacked would have helped, lol. Loving myself along the way would have helped even more instead of grimacing every time I looked in the mirror. I think the way people do it on here is amazing with mini goals, mini rewards. I love being workout oriented now. It helps me so much. I've been working on the last 5 pounds, the last few inches and instead of concentrating on them, I concentrate on the exercise and they are just shedding off. I've lost 70 pounds and soo many inches in less then a year. ) And lemme tell you, if this sick old broad can do it, you can too! )

mandijo

You guys are great! Thanks! I've never been thin, so I think sometimes I just think that I was "destined" to be fat or maybe I just don't have that "connection" to what that feels like to want to get back to thin so badly. I've tried finding accountability buddies, but no one ever does that- keeps me accountable. But you are right-my quote says I'm always looking outside of myself, and I NEED to start taking responsibility for my actions. The excuses stop here. Keep the posts coming. I love reading them!

mandijo

For me it changed a year ago. I have been on this website since June of 2008 (I started with a different sign name.) But when I made the decision to have a hysterectomy, I remember thinking I HAVE to make the decision to get healthy too. I had been struggling and desperately trying to loose weight for a while and it had not been coming off, but I hadn't been using MFP as a tool nor had I been sticking to it.

And it was SO HARD. Because the weight didn't come off. In the beginning it was really hard to remember WHY I wanted to do this. Yes I had the determination of making my surgery choice, but as the weeks dragged on afterwards and the pounds slooowly dropped off, I felt more and more ripped off that the weight didn't come off faster. I was doing the work! I sure didn't remember what healthy felt like! It has been YEARS since that feeling! But the bottom line was: I didn't like how I felt. I HATED the jeans I fit into. I didn't like the image I saw in the mirror. Ultimatly, I saw a skinny me being able to do more then lay on the couch. I saw skinny Tara being able to play with her son, cook more meals for her husband and do more for her family. Because she was healthier. Even if it took forever: I had to change all of that.

Writing as I went helped a lot. Writing my goals out. Writing is a natural help to me. Cutting myself some slacked would have helped, lol. Loving myself along the way would have helped even more instead of grimacing every time I looked in the mirror. I think the way people do it on here is amazing with mini goals, mini rewards. I love being workout oriented now. It helps me so much. I've been working on the last 5 pounds, the last few inches and instead of concentrating on them, I concentrate on the exercise and they are just shedding off. I've lost 70 pounds and soo many inches in less then a year. ) And lemme tell you, if this sick old broad can do it, you can too! )

Thanks babe! You are inspiring!

TaraMaria

You guys are great! Thanks! I've never been thin, so I think sometimes I just think that I was "destined" to be fat or maybe I just don't have that "connection" to what that feels like to want to get back to thin so badly. I've tried finding accountability buddies, but no one ever does that- keeps me accountable. But you are right-my quote says I'm always looking outside of myself, and I NEED to start taking responsibility for my actions. The excuses stop here. Keep the posts coming. I love reading them!

I felt the same way! Destined to be fat! I even tried to say that on my 5'3" frame I was more um, big boned or something. Broad shouldered. Thick. LOL. I could get away with it better! Ha ha! )

goldspaula

Wow, lots of great answers! The defining moment for me was when a local gym came to my work and offered their corporate fitness program to us as a employee benefit. I work in HR and the boss said he was really considering it, but he wanted someone that wasn't a member of a gym already and could really use it to improve their lives to join. That would make it worth it to him as our employer to offer the plan and even subsidize it for the employees. There were several people that really, really, wanted it and I am a notorious people pleaser, so I said; I'll do it!

Mark said great and signed the contract with the gym. I have gone steadily, six days a week generally, and now it is a new healthy habit. It has made all the difference in the world. I didn't even gain over the holidays, and I usually put on 10 pounds or so at least. I eat what I like, and I'm still losing so I do not feel deprived at all!! It's awesome.

Exercise and portion control is the keep. Pledge to do it for a month, and you will do it for a year, and then you will be where you want to be.

Good luck!!!

Holton

It truly is your mindset and that is hard to explain as to "what clicked" for me. I do know that I had become disgusted with myself and added it to my prayer list, seeking strength and willpower to make the change happen. I established a written plan as to what I would actually try to do (made it simple so that failing would not be an option), posted a pic of my mom (who is obese) on my bathroom mirror and created a grid of blocks to write my weight in on each Monday (that was my weigh in day), and at the end of my 40 week grid, I had posted a picture of a healthy lady (not a model, mind you) that was my goal. I simple started eating more vegetables, cut out white flour and white sugar, and cleaned out my pantry and freezer of unhealthy options so that they were NOT in my house. I did not go out to eat for at least 3 months (as that complicates your calorie counting) and I counted every morsel that passed between my lips. Again, hard to say "what clicked" for me, but it was definitely the mindset that allowed me to stick with my simple plan and make it happen. Exercise was only a 2x a week commitment of either walking at a fast pace or an elliptical; anything more than that was above my commitment. I wish you success as you keep at it. You can make it happen with the choices you make, one meal at a time!!!

DJackson230

The things for me:
1. Joined a gym... this gave me a place to go to relieve stress and gave me my daily get away from he wife and kids... me time
2. Put my workouts on my schedule, I fit them in at a time when I would have no excuse not to go.
3. Figuring out what my weaknesses were in eating and deciding to fight against them. I lose sometimes, but I win most of the time.
4. Logging my foods daily, made my food dairy public, because knowing others were going to see what I ate motivated me not to eat too much.
5. Not letting one bad day, send me into a tailspin. Just come back and look that budget in the face the next day and win. Food and fitness is a daily battle.

ItsMeMaryW

For Me my motivation this time was finding out I was going to be a Grandma. I wanted to live to see my Grandson grow up. I also had a Doctor who told me that if I didn't do something to get my weight lower I would have a heart attack. The Doctor suggested surgery but I don't want to alter my insides. I have tried every kind of diet there is since I have been heavy since about the 3rd grade. I checked into Medical weight loss but its to expensive. This time I wanted to do it the right way, no gimmic, no surgery just good old hard work and its paying off. I count calories and I go to the gym as often as I can. I have lost 68lbs since the end of July. I have a long ways to go but now I know how to do it the healthy way. I feel 10 year younger and healthier. I wont give up this time, I want this way to much to stop, this is my lifestyle now. This website has been the best thing I have ever found for motivation and support. Love my MFP friends!!