New to myfitnesspal

aprourk

Hi Everyone!

I recently discovered this site and I don't know what I've done without it! I am so close yet so far away from my goal weight. I've heard the last 10 pounds are the hardest and YES I am finding that to be true! I am starting to get 'comfortable' and am having a hard time sticking to any diet. I am hoping the site will make me more aware of what I'm taking in and working towards my goal.

I have a 15 month old daughter (my youngest) and I currently am 40 pounds less than before I got pregnant. I have always been heavy and am so excited to be this close to my goal. Any advice for the home stretch?

I am still learning this site but PLEASE ADD ME!! I'd love a few supportive friends.

SW: 180 lbs. (pre-pregnancy)
CW: 138 lbs.
GW: 125 lbs.

LaDiablesse

Welcome! Congratulations on your success so far and good luck with reaching your goal

beckystephens

just switch ur workouts up - otherwise u will plateau. do the work outs that u really dont want to do. make yourself uncomfortable. thats how u break through those last pounds

audjrey

I would love to help support you in your journey. Like you, I only have about 10 lbs to lose. And yes, those last 10 lbs are the most stubborn. Here are 10 simple points to keep in mind as you progress along your journey:

1) Be patient with yourself and your progress and realize this is a process and a journey and not a destination. Weight loss is never a destination but merely the start of an even longer journey - a lifetime journey to better health & fitness. There is no magic fairy or magic pill that will cure your body of extra fat overnight. It takes great commitment, tenacity for the long haul, and a life-long commitment to reach your goals.

2) Be forgiving when you slip up. Realize you are not perfect, most like you never will be, and that failure is simply an undesired result. Once you accept this you can move past any little infractions that might arise along the way.

3) If you are going to cheat on your diet/meal plan do so with purpose and intention. Choose your favorite "bring-me-to-my-knees" food and permit yourself to indulge a little once a week, preferably the same day each week so you have something to look forward to and don't feel deprived. When you feel deprived, you cave in and give up. That said, cheat with purpose and intention!

4) Be persistent towards daily exercise, and try not to do the same exercises over and over again. Switch it up daily, even if you only change one or two elements of your exercise. For example, if walking is your thing, walk long one day, short the next and super long the third day. Add extra weight periodically by way of a weighted backpack or weighted belt or vest. Do walking lunges every third minute for one minute. Walk two minutes and then do one minute of squats followed by 25 pushups. Walk forward two minutes and then backwards one minute. Same applies to cardio and resistance training. If you're using a treadmill, walk on a level surface for five minutes, on an incline for 10 minutes, then bring it back to a flat surface and walk two minutes then run all out for one minute. Repeat this for 10-20 minutes. Then go back to an incline walk and finish with a flat warm down. Do this and all these little daily changes will add up to something big in a few months.

5) As much as possible, try to eat unprocessed and clean. Forgo processed packaged foods in favor of making meals from scratch. Eat lots of dark green vegetables including the dark green leafy kind, whole grains as opposed to only whole wheat products, strawberries and cantaloupe in favor of other high sugar fruits, lean protein like egg whites (assuming you aren't vegan), grain fed chicken, turkey, and lean ground beef and pork. Try to steer away from pre-packaged meats as they are usually high in hidden sugars and sodium (high sodium leads to water gain and build-up of toxins). Instead, purchase whole chickens, turkeys, roasts, etc, and use the meat in sandwiches, wraps, soups, stews, stir fry, etc.

6) Make sure you drink enough water each day, especially before, during and after exercise.

7) Eliminate all visible sugars and read labels carefully for any and all hidden sugars. Familiarize yourself with the many names sugar has (about 10 or 12).

8) Learn what proper portion sizes are (American or Canadian Diabetic Society offers free visual guides online to help you with this) and eat the portion sizes appropriate to your daily caloric needs.

9) Log on every day (even when you're sick) to remain accountable for each morsel of food you consume and all your daily exercise activities.

10) Never let an excuse become your mantra or your alibi. Promise to work diligently on every excuse you have and eradicate them from your life. Make a list of every excuse you give yourself and then beside it write a reason that super-cedes this excuse and offers reasons of why you can and will succeed.

Of course I have lots more tips to help but don't want to overwhelm you. Print this out and keep it on your fridge or near your computer, a place where you spend a lot of time, to help remind you of your intention and not just your goals. Goals are merely dreams without action and action is almost invariably the result of intention.

All the best to you. I look forward to helping keep you encouraged along this path.