Would you like to lose weight - or do you WANT to get fit?

slapshotgolf

Here I am - 92 lbs lighter, in less than than 5 months (You can check my profile for pics). I joined MFP November 10, 2010 because I had enough. Enough of not feeling right. Enough of not fitting into clothes. Enough of being known as "big guy".

Now, I get asked all the time - "You look great - what are you doing? I'd like to lose some weight too!" A pretty innocent question, yet inbedded in that question are 2 issues holding many people back from their desired goal. 1. Its not about losing weight. It's about getting fit, and feeling healthy. If the goal is strictly to lose weight it can be done, but with limited, and short lived success. There is no shortage of ridiculous fad diets designed to sell supplements/special foods/books/videos/subscriptions to websites, etc. They all try to make it look easy, and for a while they succeed in losing those 20-25 lbs, before the reality of life sets in, you go back to your old ways, and you gain it all back, and then some. Been there, done that, got the XXXL t-shirt. No thanks. This time, its about getting fit. And I mean seriously fit. I dion't remember exercising so much, and so regularly, since I was in my teens, when sports dominated by daily routine. Its the key difference this time, and its the key for most people who have successfully changed their lifestyles, and who have made a commitment to being healthy. The side effect is the weight loss. 2. We have things we'd like to have (or in this case lose). "Liking" something implies that we desire the result, provided we don't have to change or sacrifice much. We'd prefer to have it, but are prepared to live without it, because, well, its just not a priority. "WANT", however, is a different animal. It means you desire the change, and you're willing to sacrifice things to achieve it. Sacrifice that extra plate of pasta you so love, or that slice of cheese cake you think you can't live without Sacrifice an hour or two a day of TV watching in exchange for time spent at the gym. Sacrificing the anonymity of eating recklessly late at night, in exchange for meticulously logging every bread crumb you eat and posting it here for the world to see. It has not been easy - but I want to get healthy and reach my goal more than the things I was prepared to give up, which is why I'm here - and why I will succeed. If you'd like to lose weight - best of luck and I wish you well. I know what I want. Feel free to send me a friend request if you're ready to "WANT" it. SSG

rhodes2b

I agree with you! I am always telling people that I am not on a diet. This is a life long plan. There is no luck in this, just hard work and a lot of sweat.

deeharley

Great post - THANKS!!

Charli666

i partly agree with you, its about getting healthy in the long run, although for me, right now, i gotta be honest its about losing weight whichever way is the quickest so i can have a medical procedure to reduce the pain i'm in from a long term illness.

I do agree with you mostly, but for me, its losing weight first!


WTG on your weight loss, its amazing

navvs15

Wait, did I hear your right...you lost 92 pounds in five months?! :noway:

slapshotgolf

Wait, did I hear your right...you lost 92 pounds in five months?! :noway:

Yes. Not by design, but more as a result of the changes I made. Originally I was hoping to get to my goal in about 18 months, figuring I could lose 2-3 lbs a week. But with the changes I made, it may take me a year instead, as I expect it will get harder as I get closer to my goal weight....

karo224

i think i have told you once if not more...you are a huge inspiration to me and i could not agree with you more.i have done every diet or program known to man and spent more money than i care to mention on all these fad or special diets. i lost 100 ilbs doing the whole low carb thing and then a year and half later it was back and brought friends. it will take me probably 1-2 years to get to my goal weight but i know when i get there it will be for good. great post and thank you for being such a good role model!

kathy

jewelzz

I want it all!!

slapshotgolf

i think i have told you once if not more...you are a huge inspiration to me and i could not agree with you more.i have done every diet or program known to man and spent more money than i care to mention on all these fad or special diets. i lost 100 ilbs doing the whole low carb thing and then a year and half later it was back and brought friends. it will take me probably 1-2 years to get to my goal weight but i know when i get there it will be for good. great post and thank you for being such a good role model!

kathy

Thanks Kathy - you're going great - we'll succeed because we know more this time around - keep it up!

elliecolorado

Great Job! I actually have not set any weight loss goals personally. I am trying to get fit and all of my goals are fitness related not weight related. I know that I will lose weight along the way and that is good enough for me, I just want to be healthy and get back the muscle tone that I once had, losing weight along the way is just a bonus!

fteale

I think you are doing really well, and if that mindset is what you need then that's great. I'm afraid I'm in the like category. I have made lifestyle changes I will keep, don't get me wrong, but I am not prepared to put my fitness before other important things in life. I won't sacrifice time with my children, or family days, or seeing friends. Those things are more important to me than my fitness.

I am prepared to run 30k a week, do circuits and aerobics classes, we have an active lifestyle (I have two manic small boys), but that stuff's fun. Not a sacrifice. I am just glad I have the time to exercise now, as I didn't for 6 years (raising small children with no child free time, ever), so I do. I have always eaten healthily, because I can't stand the feeling I get from eating junk.

alienblonde1

I want BOTH!

alienblonde1

I want BOTH!

alienblonde1

Ok wasn't suppose to post yet. Anyways I have been overweight most my life. But was my biggest over a year ago. Last year making small changes made me healhier and helped me lose a little but now I really want to lose more.