Question for all of the success stories out there...

jconner491

What is THE most important thing that you've done to help you get the weight off and keep it off? If you could only choose one thing, what would it be?

godroxmysox

water....lots and lots of water

newjmf

Exercise, exercise, exercise! Second would the realization that 2500 mg of sodium is too much for a day. I lowered mine to 1500 mg.

newjmf

water....lots and lots of water

I concur with this, too!

Qarol

water....lots and lots of water

Could not agree more!

Jessaamine

Patience ; )

I eat a lot better than I did in the past: more protein, more fruits and veggies... but I don't freak out if I have an off day. MFP resets at midnight, you do too. Tomorrow you can review your food journal and change your eating behavior. No worries : )

karenyg

Exercise and eat my calorie intake to not go in starvation mode.

Marjorielk

logging my food

RoniDoll

Meditation and breathing techniques to control my cravings… And Muay Thai :bigsmile:

LyndseyMcKnight7

Logging everything I put into my mouth! Definitely!

damcool

For me it's been the psychological/emotional part of it. It's so easy to get discouraged when the weight isn't falling off. I also spent a lot of time getting scared that I wouldn't lose anymore. After 20 lbs, I thought "Well, What if this is it? I'm still fat. What if my body just stops losing weight?" I did the same thing at 30lbs, and every 5 lbs after. I did it today! I'm so close to my goal and am scared to death that this is it! So, through all of this, I have to always, always remind myself the science of it all. If I have a calorie deficit, I will lose weight. Maybe not at the rate I want, but it WILL come off. It's slow and steady, so enjoy the ride! You've got to continue to remind yourself the TRUTH, not the lies we tell ourselves. The lies are what got us here in the first place. And, it's so very important to have a person or people to turn to that genuinely love you to voice your fears over and over again. This journey has changed me from the inside out and it will you too!!

dendra7

I'm gonna go with patience too. And I'm not a patient lady. But if you listen to your body and take care of it- it will reward you. Just not always as quickly as most of us would like.

dmoses

Logging everything that goes into my body. It's an awakening to see the sugar, sodium, and calorie content of those things I used to call food!!!

MsTamzyK

Being consistent in my journey to weightloss. Sure every now and then I fall off, but it's about being mentally committed to achieving your personal short and long-term goals! Good question

Nigel99

I would say that there are a couple of reasons I have maintained successfully:

1) Continued regular exercise
2) Portions - I ate fairly well before, but ate oversized portions, and didn't watch my sodium intake at all. Now I keep an eye on both.
3) Drinking - I switched to water back in January, and eliminated the 4-5 sodas a day.

KendalBeee

Externalizing it. "Me" and my body are not the same. I will still be "me" no matter what my body looks like. I need to take care of my body so I can do all the things that I want to do.

mocha76

bump

ladybug1620

Controlling my diet. I worked out hard for 2 months and didn't hardly lose anything because my diet was crap. I've cleaned it up (some) and am seeing results again.

Quierstina

Great topic ----> keep em comin people !

kaypee65

I wish it was just one thing that keeps me on the rails!

I'm not at my goal weight, but what;s helping me so far is the following:

1) Community supported agriculture. I get a box that has $45 of organic produce delivered weekly. It helps me to eat a very broad variety of fruits and vegetables. Since I've already bought it, I'm too thrifty to just waste it. Note too that organic produce often delivers more bang for the buck. The pieces are a bit smaller, and they often have a bit less sugar and are otherwise more nutritious

2) Exercise.

3) Finding high fiber pre-prepared meals that I really like.

4) Having a weight loss buddy at my fitness pal.

5) Adjust my calories up slightly. I've done Lose It! too which allowed me more calories per day. When I first tried MFP, I just couldn't stay on it. I was so, so hungry and even though I was really struggling to meet my goals, I just wasn't losing. So I decided to try half a pound per week. Now, I feel hungry, but not to the point where I can't tune it out. I can be successful and meet my goal every day. And I guess I must be pretty active because I'm losing a pound per week. So for me, adjusting up a bit helped. I guess that files under pay attention to the messages you body sends you.

6) The number one thing without question is My Fitness Pal!!! Logging calories works. Meeting my daily goal makes me feel like a winner even if the scale doesn't always show progress. I know I'm succeeding every time I see the message of "goal met."

mamarundrc

Believe in myself and that I can do this. I truelly believe that you body can only accomplish what your mind will let it so you need to get into the mindframe that you truely believe you can live a healthy lifestyle. Once your head is in the game, it is easier to live the lifestyle needed to lose the weight and be healthier.

12by311

What is THE most important thing that you've done to help you get the weight off and keep it off? If you could only choose one thing, what would it be?

1. WATER.
2. Eating lots of veggies.
3. When I have a day/meal where I eat things I don't normally eat, I do NOT use it as an excuse to just eat like crap for months and months.
4. Realizing that I enjoy eating wholesome, good for me foods and they are satisfying!...and that the "sicky" feeling after eating too much junk IS a direct consequence.
5. Portion size. I do not have to eat until I feel stuffed. I hate that feeling. I never get that way anymore and I'm SO glad.

mocha76

I wish it was just one thing that keeps me on the rails!

I'm not at my goal weight, but what;s helping me so far is the following:

1) Community supported agriculture. I get a box that has $45 of organic produce delivered weekly. It helps me to eat a very broad variety of fruits and vegetables. Since I've already bought it, I'm too thrifty to just waste it. Note too that organic produce often delivers more bang for the buck. The pieces are a bit smaller, and they often have a bit less sugar and are otherwise more nutritious

2) Exercise.

3) Finding high fiber pre-prepared meals that I really like.

4) Having a weight loss buddy at my fitness pal.

5) Adjust my calories up slightly. I've done Lose It! too which allowed me more calories per day. When I first tried MFP, I just couldn't stay on it. I was so, so hungry and even though I was really struggling to meet my goals, I just wasn't losing. So I decided to try half a pound per week. Now, I feel hungry, but not to the point where I can't tune it out. I can be successful and meet my goal every day. And I guess I must be pretty active because I'm losing a pound per week. So for me, adjusting up a bit helped. I guess that files under pay attention to the messages you body sends you.

6) The number one thing without question is My Fitness Pal!!! Logging calories works. Meeting my daily goal makes me feel like a winner even if the scale doesn't always show progress. I know I'm succeeding every time I see the message of "goal met."

Love your statement in your signature!! I feel the same exact way!!

jconner491

Wow, I didn't expect to get all of this great advice! I realize now that I haven't been paying attention to water and sodium intake at all. Only calories in and calories out. As far as the psychological part goes and actually believing that I can do this...well that's really the hard part, isn't it? I work on that every day! I think I'm finally starting to get stronger...I know I am. This time it's going to happen. Thanks everyone for your advice!

Wileyjoe

Being consistant and logging food and exercise.

DESIREE1210

Journaling = Accountability