If you could give only piece of advice

Ely82010

Eat to live, DO NOT live to eat, and remember: a minute in your lips and forever on your hips.

Zeromilediet

Set aside the focus on weight and, instead, make choices that are in the best interest of your health. The results are the same, and you'll be less stressed not dwelling on the calories.

billtownsend

Stay Consistent, in nutrition and exercise, even if you slip up a day, be back at it the next. Repeatedly doing it will reinforce your doing it right.

Good Luck!!

carolina_r

Don't try to change your whole life in one day! Take it slow, tackle one habit at a time. Be in it for the long run!

carolina_r

Take the same time to "workout your inside" as well. Many of the obstacles you need to overcome are inside of your head.

Great advice!!!

engineman312

you've never lived unless there is a rule made up because of something you did.

Pebble321

Losing weight takes time, so however you choose to do it, keep doing it!

auntiebabs

If you could give only one piece of advice.... It would be a miracle.

this is not a punishment... I'm doing this to make my life better and more enjoyable.
In the end, like everything, it comes down to priorities and trade-offs.

auntiebabs

Don't try to change your whole life in one day! Take it slow, tackle one habit at a time. Be in it for the long run!

Excellent!!!! So true easy to stick with it if you conquer a couple of small things at a time instead of up-ending your whole world getting frustrated and giving up.

auntiebabs

Oops! Double Post

honeysprinkles

"You didn't gain all the weight in a month, so don't expect it to come off that fast, either".

Be patient and keep on going!

I gained 30lbs in a matter of a few months, the last 20 being only in about 2 months! But, I didn't know that my thyroid was "lazy" as my doctor put it, so I think that contributed!

My apologies, I didn't mean to come off as insensitive. :flowerforyou:

No need, you are fine! I didn't think you were insensitive in any way!

CMmrsfloyd

Don't starve yourself and don't fall for gimmicks. Eat sensibly, stay close to your calorie goals, and exercise. That's always been the best, healthiest, most sustainable way to lose weight and it probably always will be.

honeysprinkles

Don't try to change your whole life in one day! Take it slow, tackle one habit at a time. Be in it for the long run!

I am guilty of that! When I become interested in something, I dive into it. I think it can be a negative and a positive.

MisterDubs303

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY POUNDS YOU NEED TO LOSE...
THE ONLY POUND THAT MATTERS IS THE NEXT ONE.

MOTIVATION IS FLEETING - HABIT IS EVERYTHING
Choose just a couple of new nutrition behaviors/choices and one exercise behavior, and commit to doing them everyday for 30-60 days (with pre-selected rest days). Make these choices NON-NEGOTIABLE and maintain them for the entire 30-60 day period. No matter how much or how little else you take on in your health efforts, these items are simply non-negotiable.

For example, when I started, I knew that I was intimidated by going to the gym. I knew that I would make excuses or just legitimately not feel like working out at some point. I also knew that HABIT IS EVERYTHING, and if I just forced myself to go to the gym every week day for a month (even if I just walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes), I would develop the habit and the mindset that going to the gym was part of my daily life. I also accurately predicted that by going everyday, I would overcome my intimidation and feeling that I didn't belong there. It worked. I never went for just 10 minutes. Once I stepped through the gym doors (which was the hardest part), I was there for the duration.

I also promote REPLACING (not merely eliminating) a couple of bad nutrition habits with healthier habits.

StacyB150

Only you can push you.

Sarah0866

Persistence is key...if you fall off for one meal or a whole day or a whole week even, don't give up...just hop back on track and keep pushing through

oberon0124

If you ahve a problem turn to a friend here. That is what we are all here for.

julieinomaha

I agree about getting a HRM to gauge calories lost, the calculators over calculate and then you are just kidding yourself. Also it is good to equate how much exercise it takes to burn off your favorites or burn to "earn". Best of luck

honeysprinkles

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY POUNDS YOU NEED TO LOSE...
THE ONLY POUND THAT MATTERS IS THE NEXT ONE.

MOTIVATION IS FLEETING - HABIT IS EVERYTHING
Choose just a couple of new nutrition behaviors/choices and one exercise behavior, and commit to doing them everyday for 30-60 days (with pre-selected rest days). Make these choices NON-NEGOTIABLE and maintain them for the entire 30-60 day period. No matter how much or how little else you take on in your health efforts, these items are simply non-negotiable.

For example, when I started, I knew that I was intimidated by going to the gym. I knew that I would make excuses or just legitimately not feel like working out at some point. I also knew that HABIT IS EVERYTHING, and if I just forced myself to go to the gym every week day for a month (even if I just walked on the treadmill for 10 minutes), I would develop the habit and the mindset that going to the gym was part of my daily life. I also accurately predicted that by going everyday, I would overcome my intimidation and feeling that I didn't belong there. It worked. I never went for just 10 minutes. Once I stepped through the gym doors (which was the hardest part), I was there for the duration.

I also promote REPLACING (not merely eliminating) a couple of bad nutrition habits with healthier habits.

Great advice!

reepobob

Don't be intimidated by more challenging exercise routines...don't get in a rut and do the same ol' thing. CONSTANTLY challenge yourself to get better, workout harder, lift more, do more reps, workout longer.

NikkiTaber

Take a before and after picture. You'd be suprised.

I agree with this! Whenever I start feeling like I'm not losing weight or I am losing my motivation, I will compare a recent picture with my before picture. Seeing the difference is the best way to get back on track.

taso42

Plan ahead.

Acg67

Don't overcomplicate things. Too often people get all caught up in when and how often they should eat, what they can or cannot eat etc etc when really in terms of body composition the most important thing is you hit your macros and if you're looking to lose weight maintain a consistent caloric deficit, really it's that easy

kleavitt1992

an hour of cardio a day dont eat it back

CakeFit21

Do not mistake pleasure for happiness.

solpwr

I blogged this last month:

Advice for the highly motivated newbies

I'm sure you have a vision now of what your physical health goal is.

I would encourage you to adjust your lens to even a wider scope, that includes finding the lifestyle, adjusting every single thing in your life - that will result in your health goal as a consequence of that lifestyle.

Doing that will make the result fall out of the process of adhering to that lifestyle.

The reason I suggest this is because we can get mired down from time to time, losing sight of the goal. Distracted. That's when you need to just focus on the process. If your goal is The Process rather than the result, you just have to get through that day, maybe even that moment. The result ends up being a consequence of adhering to your goal. The goal is now the lifestyle you've chosen. This approach takes time out of the equation as well. You pronounce each day as a day you achieved your goal. The Big Goal. Most of us who have stuck with using MFP for even years have ended up adjusting their health goals at least twice through their progression. That health goal may change, but if the process becomes your goal, that doesn't change.

MFP gives you the tools to reach the goal. It is all about NET calories and accountability. Using the diary facilitates accountability. The more detail, the more you can fine tune your approach. That aspect of the lifestyle.

Hope this makes sense to you.

scapez

If you're a woman, don't be afraid of strength training! You are not going to bulk up unless you spend a LONG time lifting while upping your calories (protein). Strength training is good for us!

glossybl3

Be true to yourself and keep track of what you're eating. Remember if you cheat yourself you'll never be successful

Scott613

Haters gonna hate.

wish21

BUMP!