Bring it!
Replies
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By Mike French
"DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS!"
If your personal Fitness goals are important to you, work as hard as you possibly can, and pay attention to every hour of every day. Then, after a while, you might decide your goal is a bit more important so start paying attention every minute of every hour of every day. Seek out people, who are better than you, take an open mind and ferocity for learning when you meet them. Their example will inspire or intimidate you and if it's the former you must dig in and learn.:happy:
In fact, you might find being exposed to their superior discipline and fitness levels will drive you to work harder than you thought possible, or necessary. In time you'll overcome your self-imposed limitations and make progress you didn't think was possible. Now, you understand; there is positive reinforcement for suffering and hard work in your workouts and especially in your nutrition regimen.
Now, perhaps you give your fitness goals even more importance and you begin paying attention every second of every minute of every hour of every day, and you maintain this discipline for weeks and months at a time. You no longer think yourself as powerless, and uninformed. You are a focused, disciplined individual on a mission, a mission that doesn't end after 90 days.
An honest self-assessment is the place to start. Don't be lazy, or confused about the meaning of hard work and nutritional discipline. Self-discipline doesn't mean eating two M&M's instead of twenty. Taking a ton of supplements cannot make up for a poor diet and inadequate recovery. Remember, appearance is a consequence of fitness.
How many of you know exactly what you want to achieve? Where are you now in your progress towards that goal? What is your plan to get from here to there? How many will start on the path to extreme fitness, but fail? How many will settle for less? The answer to these questions is that very few people know, and too many people will settle for less.
Simple fact, DON'T SETTLE FOR LESS!
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This article, written by a member of the Beachbody community, is exactly what I try to follow. Mike and his wife Tami work out every night together and eat clean. They emphasize setting good examples for their children as well. Mike is a Maine state trooper, and Tami is a stay-at-home mom with 4 young children. If they can do it, so can we. Sometimes they work out after they put their kids to bed, even if it means finishing at 11 PM. Truly an inspiration.0 -
By Mike French
I have always been interested in Japanese culture. More to the point, the Bushido way of life and thinking. So I will post this:
PERSONAL POWER - THE KEY TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL STRENGTH
Personal power is a quality few people understand. It has very little to do with physical strength or technical proficiency. Its a commodity different from political power, economic power or even Military power, although people who have personal power can usually achieve in those fields if they choose to. To get to the point, personal power is the powerful force that you generate by freeing yourself from fear of failure, no matter the consequences.
We all walk through life making decisions by anticipating the potential outcomes of our actions. All too often people make a choice not based on what they can achieve, but what fearful outcome can be avoided.
Achieving personal power means finding the courage to drive ahead no matter what your problem threatens. When you divorce yourself from any fear of failure, your problem no longer holds any power over you.
Man and Woman's greatest fear is death. Imagine the power you wield when you throw off your fear of dying! If you can kick that fear all other problems in life become trivial.
The first step in achieving personal power is always to assume you are going to die tomorrow. Face it, embrace it...savor it! Now go out and do today what you most need to achieve in this world! Tell that special someone that you love them unconditionally. Workout harder than you ever have...hold nothing back! Eat so clean that your body has to burn fat, you have no time for junk! Go out and do what must be done....today!
Fast as the wind, quiet as the forest, aggressive as fire and immovable as a mountain. Samurai Battle Banner
Life is too short to by mentally and physically weak.
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Another good note by Mike, which examines the power of personal choice and overcoming fears.0 -
"Fast as the wind, quiet as the forest, aggressive as fire and immovable as a mountain. Samurai Battle Banner "
I love this quote!!!0 -
Hello everyone,
In an effort to keep myself accountable while on my fitness journey, I would like to start this thread to get to know the community. I have not been posting for a long time, but the information I have seen has compelled me to start my own thread. My goal is to motivate you, and also to receive motivation from others. However, I emphasize that this thread is only for those of us who are serious and dedicated to a lifestyle change, incorporating our fitness program and nutrition program for a healthier, more fulfilling life. Therefore, I would like to invite you to join, but please consider the following ground rules.
-Nutrition: Clean eating only. If you are unfamiliar with this concept, please research it. There is also a thread over in the Nutrition section dedicated to clean eating. I will place emphasis on lean protein, whole grains, non-starchy vegetables, fresh fruits, monounsaturated fats, and whole, fresh food in general. White flour, sugar, processed, packaged, low-carb, low-fat, 100 calorie packs be gone! Log your calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and sugar each and every day. Every morsel of food should be recorded in your food diary.
Questions about diet pills? Quick fixes? Easy ways out? Alcohol? Take them somewhere else. If you’re inquiring if these are ok, you already know the answer. Please do not seek validation from us.
-Exercise: Just do it. There are no excuses for not exercising. Your body needs cardiovascular work. Your body needs strength training. Find a program that fits your tastes, goals, and lifestyle, and DO IT! We all have the same 24 hours per day, and if you are truly dedicated, your commitment to a new lifestyle will be reflected and rewarded in how you look and feel. I highly recommend a chest strap heart rate monitor so that you can get the most accurate count on your exercises and record them into your diary. Don’t guess.
- Mental Preparation: This is probably the biggest component of any successful lifestyle change. Now is the time to be serious. Are you ready? Can you give up chips, cakes, cookies, and alcohol throughout your journey? Can you dedicate one hour to exercise each day? Do you have the necessary support? Are you ready to give up toxic friends and those who are holding you down out of their own insecurities? Are you willing to make your goals specific and clear to yourself and those around you? Do you view this as a lifestyle change or a diet? Answer: If you are viewing this as a diet, this is not the place for you. If you slip-up (we all do) will you persevere and get right back to it, or will you view yourself as just another failure? Do you regularly participate in negative self-talk? Are you doing this for yourself or to impress others?
Define why you are here. Do you want to set a healthy example for your children? Do you want to lead by example for an unhealthy family member? Climb that mountain without getting out of breath? Not worry about fitting in the roller coaster ride seat? These are all valid reasons, and you need to keep them front and center to bring you back should you venture too far off the path. This is your mission statement.
Take time out to ponder these questions, and meditate. Yes, meditate. Clear your mind, and see yourself at your goal. How do you feel? How do you look? What are you doing? This mental picture creates an end-goal for you to envision whenever you get discouraged and feel like quitting.
Goal-setting: I encourage everyone here to have a set of long-term goals, broken up into shorter term goals. And by goals, I mean very specific, challenging but achievable goals. If you are brave enough, list your starting statistics, your current statistics, and your goal statistics. Height, pant/dress size, weight, body fat %, right upper arm, left upper arm, waist, hips, chest, neck, right thigh, left thigh, right calf, and left calf. This may seem like a lot of measurements, but sometimes when the scale doesn’t reflect a change, and you know you’ve been following your program to a T, the measurements speak louder than the scale. This will motivate you to continue. Also, align these goals with weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. Keep in mind that even when you reach your goal weight, there are always opportunities to dig deeper, reach higher, and achieve more than you ever thought possible, whether it be in your strength, endurance, or your ability and desire to be a better friend, spouse, or parent.
I have a tendency to be blunt when others are nice and to play the devil’s advocate. I want everyone to succeed, but I want you all to be as unwilling to accept excuses as I am. If your health and fitness is truly a priority, then make it a priority. Of course life will put you in some unsatisfactory situations, but prepare yourself and develop contingency plans should you find yourself in one, and then get right back to it.
Feel free to share your thoughts, motivation, goals, measurements, recipes, and questions here. Surround yourself with others who have similar goals, and you will have a higher chance of success. If you ever have any questions, concerns, or issues, please feel free to post or send me a personal message, and I will make an effort to get back to you as soon as possible.
Finally, no excuses. Just do it!
Thanks everyone!
Michelle
Just curious as to what you have your degree in? What sort of education/background do you have within the fitness/nutrition field? Perhaps I missed it while I was reading through all these posts... TIA
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Tia,
Ignoring your sarcasm, my degree is in Business. Not once in these posts have I claimed to be a professional nutritionist or personal trainer. That being said, many people are passionate about what they do and excel at it, even if they don't have the formal training or the shiny degree that "proves" they know what they're talking about. How many overweight doctors, nutritionists, and others in the medical field do you see? How many of them smoke? I can assure you, it's more than most people think. We all know it's bad, they know it's bad, but they still do it. It can go the opposite way too. I didn't spend a decade in medical school, but I have found what works for me, and it has worked for others as well.
My goal here is to help people achieve their personal best. I believe that this can be achieved by the methods I have proposed. If they don't work for you, or it's a path you do not choose, that's fine, but please do not stop by to call us out on not being "formally trained." I have spent the last few years trying to research and acquire as much knowledge about trends in nutrition and fitness possible, and I feel motivated to pass on the information to others as it might help them achieve their goals as well. People learn some by listening, more by teaching, but most of all, by doing. The more actively involved we are in our own goals, the higher chance we will have of success.
The people who have chosen to follow this thread see hope, positive reinforcement, and motivation here. That's what I want, and if you don't, or disagree with the things said, it's up to you to find what works best for you.0 -
I have avoided this thread. But decided to say a few things. First I do consider myself to be dedicated to my new lifestyle. I have maintained my weight loss since Oct. I continue to eat healthy most days and exercise. I love food and that includes deserts, chocolate, wine and other drinks on occasion. Eating and drinking those things sometimes does not mean I am not healthy or serious about my health.
My main problem I have in your post is that you say everyone has the same 24 hrs. I don't believe that. I am a stay home wife. My kids are gone, I am not working outside the home. So I have alot more time than a person who is working, going to school, has kids home and sometimes all three of those. They are still dedicated and serious but they do have less time in their 24 hrs than I have.
I don't think you meant to offend. I think you are excited to start on your journey and want to share it with like minded people. That's one of the nice things about MFP. We can find and connect with others for encouragement and support.
I wish you well as you become healthier.0 -
Hello everyone,
In an effort to keep myself accountable while on my fitness journey, I would like to start this thread to get to know the community. I have not been posting for a long time, but the information I have seen has compelled me to start my own thread. My goal is to motivate you, and also to receive motivation from others. However, I emphasize that this thread is only for those of us who are serious and dedicated to a lifestyle change, incorporating our fitness program and nutrition program for a healthier, more fulfilling life. Therefore, I would like to invite you to join, but please consider the following ground rules.
-Nutrition: Clean eating only. If you are unfamiliar with this concept, please research it. There is also a thread over in the Nutrition section dedicated to clean eating. I will place emphasis on lean protein, whole grains, non-starchy vegetables, fresh fruits, monounsaturated fats, and whole, fresh food in general. White flour, sugar, processed, packaged, low-carb, low-fat, 100 calorie packs be gone! Log your calories, fat, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, and sugar each and every day. Every morsel of food should be recorded in your food diary.
Questions about diet pills? Quick fixes? Easy ways out? Alcohol? Take them somewhere else. If you’re inquiring if these are ok, you already know the answer. Please do not seek validation from us.
-Exercise: Just do it. There are no excuses for not exercising. Your body needs cardiovascular work. Your body needs strength training. Find a program that fits your tastes, goals, and lifestyle, and DO IT! We all have the same 24 hours per day, and if you are truly dedicated, your commitment to a new lifestyle will be reflected and rewarded in how you look and feel. I highly recommend a chest strap heart rate monitor so that you can get the most accurate count on your exercises and record them into your diary. Don’t guess.
- Mental Preparation: This is probably the biggest component of any successful lifestyle change. Now is the time to be serious. Are you ready? Can you give up chips, cakes, cookies, and alcohol throughout your journey? Can you dedicate one hour to exercise each day? Do you have the necessary support? Are you ready to give up toxic friends and those who are holding you down out of their own insecurities? Are you willing to make your goals specific and clear to yourself and those around you? Do you view this as a lifestyle change or a diet? Answer: If you are viewing this as a diet, this is not the place for you. If you slip-up (we all do) will you persevere and get right back to it, or will you view yourself as just another failure? Do you regularly participate in negative self-talk? Are you doing this for yourself or to impress others?
Define why you are here. Do you want to set a healthy example for your children? Do you want to lead by example for an unhealthy family member? Climb that mountain without getting out of breath? Not worry about fitting in the roller coaster ride seat? These are all valid reasons, and you need to keep them front and center to bring you back should you venture too far off the path. This is your mission statement.
Take time out to ponder these questions, and meditate. Yes, meditate. Clear your mind, and see yourself at your goal. How do you feel? How do you look? What are you doing? This mental picture creates an end-goal for you to envision whenever you get discouraged and feel like quitting.
Goal-setting: I encourage everyone here to have a set of long-term goals, broken up into shorter term goals. And by goals, I mean very specific, challenging but achievable goals. If you are brave enough, list your starting statistics, your current statistics, and your goal statistics. Height, pant/dress size, weight, body fat %, right upper arm, left upper arm, waist, hips, chest, neck, right thigh, left thigh, right calf, and left calf. This may seem like a lot of measurements, but sometimes when the scale doesn’t reflect a change, and you know you’ve been following your program to a T, the measurements speak louder than the scale. This will motivate you to continue. Also, align these goals with weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. Keep in mind that even when you reach your goal weight, there are always opportunities to dig deeper, reach higher, and achieve more than you ever thought possible, whether it be in your strength, endurance, or your ability and desire to be a better friend, spouse, or parent.
I have a tendency to be blunt when others are nice and to play the devil’s advocate. I want everyone to succeed, but I want you all to be as unwilling to accept excuses as I am. If your health and fitness is truly a priority, then make it a priority. Of course life will put you in some unsatisfactory situations, but prepare yourself and develop contingency plans should you find yourself in one, and then get right back to it.
Feel free to share your thoughts, motivation, goals, measurements, recipes, and questions here. Surround yourself with others who have similar goals, and you will have a higher chance of success. If you ever have any questions, concerns, or issues, please feel free to post or send me a personal message, and I will make an effort to get back to you as soon as possible.
Finally, no excuses. Just do it!
Thanks everyone!
Michelle
I really like this I didn't have the terminolgy but the ideas are the same as the ones I made prior to staring this, however I am just not a goal person I will get there I have made drastic lyfestyle changes and the results of the work will show in it's own time thanks it was a great read0 -
I know the 24 hours thing is again, kind of subjective, but you can't let no time be an excuse. If you TRULY have no time, then perhaps this just isn't your moment yet. When it comes along, you'll have more time and mind power to dedicate to yourself and make it a priority. Life ebbs and flows. That being said, some work better knowing they have a lot of free time to get it done, and others work better knowing that they are extremely pressed for time and only have from x time-x time to dedicate to themselves.
I understand being busy. Working full-time, and then going to school full-time at night really left me with very few hours to get much accomplished. But I still do my best. It comes with preparation, planning, and dedication. There really is a way to get things taken care of and just do it, but it might take several trial and error periods before you get it exactly right. Instead of looking for reasons why it CAN'T be done, we need to look for ways and reasons it can. These boards are not the only ones that provide inspiration, and I'm sure many of you have searched the internet looking for like-minded people. If you don't find the support you're looking for here, or nothing particularly strikes a chord, there are communities out there with the same goals, the same time constraints, and the same downfalls.0 -
I wish you all the luck in your journey but I agree the tone doesn't feel right0
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I'd like to chime in here.
My community has few options for exercise, so I go to Curves 3x/week after work & then hubby & I walk 2-4 miles 4 days/week. My goal on my ticker is a short term goal because I have lots to lose. If I put my real goal up & had to look at it every day it would be discouraging.
I have dieted off & on all my life & I really dislike listening to people try to outsmart their diet plan - you know - how much of this (whatever junk food) can I eat & still follow the plan...then they complain about how their diet isn't working.
I think it's important to choose an eating/fitness plan & then really stick with it or don't bother. Give it a chance if you're serious.
I used to know someone who was very proud of her vegetarian lifestyle & preached it to everyone who would listen. But she interpreted it to mean she could eat as many bags of potato chips as she could hold & then wondered why being a vegetarian wasn't good for her weight?! She ended up gaining a lot of weight & just couldn't figure it out.
She was very annoying to be around.0 -
Get married. Have kids. Your focus changes a bit. If it doesn't something is wrong.0
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I'd like to chime in here.
My community has few options for exercise, so I go to Curves 3x/week after work & then hubby & I walk 2-4 miles 4 days/week. My goal on my ticker is a short term goal because I have lots to lose. If I put my real goal up & had to look at it every day it would be discouraging.
I have dieted off & on all my life & I really dislike listening to people try to outsmart their diet plan - you know - how much of this (whatever junk food) can I eat & still follow the plan...then they complain about how their diet isn't working.
I think it's important to choose an eating/fitness plan & then really stick with it or don't bother. Give it a chance if you're serious.
I used to know someone who was very proud of her vegetarian lifestyle & preached it to everyone who would listen. But she interpreted it to mean she could eat as many bags of potato chips as she could hold & then wondered why being a vegetarian wasn't good for her weight?! She ended up gaining a lot of weight & just couldn't figure it out.
She was very annoying to be around.
You make some good points...I myself used to be like this ...Im more than sure this is why previous lifestyle changes havent gone beyond the 10lb mark for me..Im finding now that I really have to JUST DO IT leaving little to no room for excuses....Somedays Im pooped and try to find ways out of physical activity but I know that frumping around all day on the couch isnt whats best for me ..so I have to push myself to do whats right for me and what will give me the results I need...whats funny is the more I stay committed the more I enjoy it..lol its like my inner diva is coming out.....:drinker:0 -
Good observation Georg. Sometimes you just have to suck it up! We can only help those people who truly are ready, willing, and able to let themselves be helped though.
I think vegetarianism is a good lifestyle, if you can find the balance and are making sure that you get enough protein, as with any nutrition plan. However, too many people I know took this to mean that they could eat just about anything that wasn't meat! Then they gained 30 pounds. Just because chips don't have meat in them doesn't mean they're good for you!
Oh well, I hope your friend saw the light and realized what she needed to change.
Good for you on having your short-term goals on your ticker. I agree that short-term goals make the long-term goal less intimidating and help us feel like we are actually moving towards something. Sometimes it's easy to think that the long-term goal is so far away and that we'll never make it. This leads to falling off the wagon!0 -
Folks -
There are a few posts on this thread that are pushing the line on personal attacks. If you disagree with other members, make sure to do so respectfully. I definitely will not tolerate personal attacks, and people who continue to attack others will have their posting privileges suspended, or worse, be banned from the site.
I hate having to ban people, so please, help us all out by making sue to adhere to the forum rules and avoid personal attacks.
Thanks for your cooperation, and hope you're enjoying the site.0 -
Thanks.
Yes, I have messed around with lots of diets & fads too, but there are only a choice few that I ever really gave a fighting chance. That's why I think it's so important to just do it - like was said earlier - get a grip & jump in. No whining.
The more success I feel, the easier it will become. The less time I spend trying to outsmart my diet & see how much I can get away with - the easier it is.0 -
Tia,
Ignoring your sarcasm, my degree is in Business. Not once in these posts have I claimed to be a professional nutritionist or personal trainer. That being said, many people are passionate about what they do and excel at it, even if they don't have the formal training or the shiny degree that "proves" they know what they're talking about. How many overweight doctors, nutritionists, and others in the medical field do you see? How many of them smoke? I can assure you, it's more than most people think. We all know it's bad, they know it's bad, but they still do it. It can go the opposite way too. I didn't spend a decade in medical school, but I have found what works for me, and it has worked for others as well.
My goal here is to help people achieve their personal best. I believe that this can be achieved by the methods I have proposed. If they don't work for you, or it's a path you do not choose, that's fine, but please do not stop by to call us out on not being "formally trained." I have spent the last few years trying to research and acquire as much knowledge about trends in nutrition and fitness possible, and I feel motivated to pass on the information to others as it might help them achieve their goals as well. People learn some by listening, more by teaching, but most of all, by doing. The more actively involved we are in our own goals, the higher chance we will have of success.
The people who have chosen to follow this thread see hope, positive reinforcement, and motivation here. That's what I want, and if you don't, or disagree with the things said, it's up to you to find what works best for you.
First off, my name is NOT TIA - TIA stands for thanks in advance, and there was NOTHING sarcastic about my post, so sorry that asking for your background is inappropriate seeing that you are giving out pretty strict nutritional advice to members. If I were to "follow" your plan, I think that I have the right to know what your educational background is so I know that I am doing a plan that is accurate in nutrition and fitness.
With that being said, I am a registered nutritionist and have a background in personal training/fitness. Obviously what works for some may not work for others. It's great that you are trying to motivate people to be successful, but being overly critical is not a form of positive reinforcement. Telling ppl that keeping cookies and such in their house for thier kids will result in kids being overweight, or the fact that not having time is just an excuse. I take it you don't have kids.
Do your thing, there's nothing wrong with it, but don't stir the pot at the same time. Other people do read your posts out of curosity and some have becomed very bothered by it. This is an open forum, everyone is welcome,. Motivate the way you know how, but keep it on a level where everyone feels comfortable dropping in to read.0 -
I think this is a great post--I am not bothered by it all. On the contrary, it's inspired me to get back on the wagon after a couple of weeks of cheating. :happy:
For those of you bothered by this thread, please leave it and the posters alone. :grumble:0 -
I really want to give a shout out to the clean eating board for their help and inspiration. I haven't been a clean eater for very long at all, but all of a sudden, I feel like something clicked. I don't mean to sound like it was a religious experience :laugh: but I really see now that I had issues with food.
Now I think about every choice and I feel so proud of myself for having control and awareness. And the funny thing, that I mentioned at first, is that it's no longer even about the number on the scale. It's not even about calories although of course I am more aware of how many calories are in what food and what sources etc. It's just that I feel good, I feel positive... just like you were saying, every other area of my life has become better. I've realized that there is no in-between, it has to be a dedicated commitment to health (which doesn't mean no cookies or beer, but certainly means much much less cookies and beer than I used to think was okay), or nothing else works.
YEAH!!! I'm glad you joined in on the Clean eating thread and that you finally had that *light bulb* moment!!! :drinker:0 -
Everyone,
Advice is just that. ADVICE. You don't have to like it, you don't have to take it. Mike and I had a discussion, and we might change the name of the thread, seeing that many people are having trouble perceiving it as motivating but rather exclusive and rude. It is a perception thing, and if you feel personally offended or intimidated, you don't have keep following. However, I don't apologize for that.
Personally, I don't see the need to change the name of the thread, but if Mike chooses to, he will. Secondly, there are many successful people who have kids. The earlier inspirational posts are written by a couple with 4, yes, 4 young children. They still dedicate themselves to clean eating and at least one hour a day of working out, all while keeping up with their children's activities and demands and staying active in their lives. I still say that using the no time excuse is just that. An excuse. If you read through earlier, I said if you TRULY don't have time to dedicate right now, then now may not be your time, and it might come later. If that's really the case, all you can do is your best. If you really feel like you're doing your best, then by all means, keep doing it.
I started this thread because I didn't find exactly what I was looking for when I searched around. A few of the threads were just a little bit too fluffy and rainbows and butterflies for me. I need tough love, and many others do too. We don't want sugarcoating, and it does help to have a plan. Again, if it's not for you, don't follow it. That's all there is to it.0 -
Wow!!! It is funny that I just also thought you could change the name of the thread or start a new one. How about BADA$$ Team or something like that!! :laugh: :laugh: You remind me of Jilliam Michaels, in a good way :laugh: I think her approach and yours is awesome!!! I would like to join this bada$$ group!!! I'm afraid I'm about to be a very bad girl in a couple of weeks though...I am from Puerto Rico and I only get to go there every 2-3 yrs so when I go I eat the things that I miss so much that I cannot get here and they are not very healthy :noway: :noway: So maybe I will join this group when I come back...in the meantime I am a very healthy person, exercise regularly, pretty hard sometimes, eat clean about 80-90% of the time, etc etc. I think I can join this group and be everyone's mom!!! :laugh: :laugh:
Michelle, don't try to explain yourself to anyone else, you are not doing anything wrong...to the members of this thread just go on with your thread and help each other out ignoring the others who are being negative...
:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:0 -
Alright everyone,
It seems that we've had enough bickering about what's right, what's wrong, or if you should or shouldn't take my advice. One last time, if you don't like it, then you can choose not to follow. That being said, for the people who are choosing to follow, do we want to change the name of the thread? More of a team name, a catchphrase, or just leave it as is? Any ideas?
P.S. We will ignore naysayers, negative posts, and people who don't feel supported by this thread. We are forward-looking and searching for motivation and support from those who choose to be here. Thanks!
Alf1163,
Thanks for supporting us. Have fun in Puerto Rico! I'm jealous. I bet it's warm and sunny there. Don't worry about feeling bad, because you know once you leave PR you are right back at it! Oh, the El Conquistador calls my name! 0 -
Alright everyone,
It seems that we've had enough bickering about what's right, what's wrong, or if you should or shouldn't take my advice. One last time, if you don't like it, then you can choose not to follow. That being said, for the people who are choosing to follow, do we want to change the name of the thread? More of a team name, a catchphrase, or just leave it as is? Any ideas?
P.S. We will ignore naysayers, negative posts, and people who don't feel supported by this thread. We are forward-looking and searching for motivation and support from those who choose to be here. Thanks!
Alf1163,
Thanks for supporting us. Have fun in Puerto Rico! I'm jealous. I bet it's warm and sunny there. Don't worry about feeling bad, because you know once you leave PR you are right back at it! Oh, the El Conquistador calls my name!
How about change the name to "Doing What Works For Us!"0 -
Alright everyone,
It seems that we've had enough bickering about what's right, what's wrong, or if you should or shouldn't take my advice. One last time, if you don't like it, then you can choose not to follow. That being said, for the people who are choosing to follow, do we want to change the name of the thread? More of a team name, a catchphrase, or just leave it as is? Any ideas?
P.S. We will ignore naysayers, negative posts, and people who don't feel supported by this thread. We are forward-looking and searching for motivation and support from those who choose to be here. Thanks!
Alf1163,
Thanks for supporting us. Have fun in Puerto Rico! I'm jealous. I bet it's warm and sunny there. Don't worry about feeling bad, because you know once you leave PR you are right back at it! Oh, the El Conquistador calls my name!
Yeah Yeah!!!! :drinker: :drinker: Ignore all the negative, don't feed the fire :laugh: :laugh:
I can't wait to be in sunny Puerto Rico, I miss it!! And I miss my parents
I can't wait to hug them and put my head on their shoulders... getting sentimental here...:laugh: I am taking my jump rope, exercise clothes, running shoes, and my exercise band. I will be exercising some. I cannot definitely eat a lot of junk especially around my dad. He had a quadruple bypass in December and he is having a hard time adjusting to his new lifestyle...so it might not be as bad as I think I will be :laugh: I always go to El Conquistador so I will think of you Michelle...I will post a pic from there :laugh: :flowerforyou: 0 -
There are so many threads here and elsewhere if I see a thread I dont like or doesnt fit my current plan I dont see a reason to visit it again and its kind of funny that the naysayers stay to drip their dislike....oh well it is a beautiful day so let's move forward..
I have a sign in my bathroom that I made a few weeks ago and all it says is NO EXCUSES...it works for me..I see it often, especially drinking all this water, lol, and it motivates me...so whatever name this thread gets or keeps ...lets burn some clean calories with N O EXCUSES
Dave0 -
Curious....Are you really never going to eat another cookie or piece of cake the rest of your life??? Wow.
Ditto.....
:laugh: :laugh:
I'm glad I wasnt the only one thinking that... I am serious about my lifestyle change, but I will not give up the foods that I love. I will focus on moderation and portion control. but I cant live without my yummy food!
Amen Sister!
I second that. :bigsmile:
I third that!
it's okay to splurge once in awhile. If I deprive myself too long, I go crazy.
And I am no longer a huge drinker, but I'm not giving up my glass of wine with dinner some nights or my happy hour with the girls.
Good post though, and I do so admire your dedication!0 -
Amen to the paradigm shift.
I am inspired by a couple things:
________________________________________________________
1. NEVER give away your power. (i.e. YOU are in control of YOU.)
2. Energy follows thought.
________________________________________________________
Great post, mgullette.0 -
Amen to the paradigm shift.
I am inspired by a couple things:
________________________________________________________
1. NEVER give away your power. (i.e. YOU are in control of YOU.)
2. Energy follows thought.
________________________________________________________
Great post, mgullette.
These are great quotes..they kinda get ya thinking about what they really mean..thks!0 -
Alright everyone,
It seems that we've had enough bickering about what's right, what's wrong, or if you should or shouldn't take my advice. One last time, if you don't like it, then you can choose not to follow. That being said, for the people who are choosing to follow, do we want to change the name of the thread? More of a team name, a catchphrase, or just leave it as is? Any ideas?
P.S. We will ignore naysayers, negative posts, and people who don't feel supported by this thread. We are forward-looking and searching for motivation and support from those who choose to be here. Thanks!
Alf1163,
Thanks for supporting us. Have fun in Puerto Rico! I'm jealous. I bet it's warm and sunny there. Don't worry about feeling bad, because you know once you leave PR you are right back at it! Oh, the El Conquistador calls my name!
Yeah Yeah!!!! :drinker: :drinker: Ignore all the negative, don't feed the fire :laugh: :laugh:
I can't wait to be in sunny Puerto Rico, I miss it!! And I miss my parents I can't wait to hug them and put my head on their shoulders... getting sentimental here...:laugh: I am taking my jump rope, exercise clothes, running shoes, and my exercise band. I will be exercising some. I cannot definitely eat a lot of junk especially around my dad. He had a quadruple bypass in December and he is having a hard time adjusting to his new lifestyle...so it might not be as bad as I think I will be :laugh: I always go to El Conquistador so I will think of you Michelle...I will post a pic from there :laugh: :flowerforyou:
Way to go on being dedicated enough to exercise during your vacation. I usually do too, even if it's different from my usual routine. Running on the beach or just running around exploring the area are fun ways to burn calories and enjoy yourself. And then you don't feel guilty either
My dad also had a quadruple bypass back in February of '08. It was scary because it was emergency surgery. No one knew that he had clogged arteries until he went to get a check for a hernia. My dad made rapid improvements after his surgery, including quitting smoking. He'd been a lifelong 2+ pack a day smoker, and he hasn't had one since his surgery.
However, my family has YET to make an improvement in their eating habits, and I fear that they never will. I thought that the surgery would be inspiration enough to motivate my family to change their lifestyles for the better so they didn't end up with a similar fate. It hurts to see my father take so many medications, including those for his type II diabetes that could be controlled with proper nutrition and exercise. He still prefers all fried foods (a product of growing up in the south) and makes up his mind about disliking something healthy before he even tries it. My mom uses her mother's death as an excuse to overeat and not exercise. She is the queen of excuses. I am in no way trying to downplay my grandmother's passing, but part of the reason she suffered in her later years was because of inactivity in HER life, and I don't want to see my mother suffer the same way.
My younger brother and sister, 14 and 11 respectively, both were very active, normal sized children when they were younger. Unfortunately, having unhealthy snacks and supersize portions does not help them, and they are both quite overweight for their age now. While I think it's never ok to insult children or make them feel inadequate, I wish that I had the support to help instill healthy habits while they are young. As many of you know, it only becomes harder to break those bad habits as we get older, and it's harder to lose the weight as well, without even mentioning that they are entering the years when peers are MOST judgmental and critical of appearance. I spent many of my teenage years feeling inadequate and self-conscious because I was overweight and had low self-confidence. I'm sure many of you can relate, whether it be your current situation or your past.
This is perhaps why I emphasize mental preparation as an integral part of any lifestyle change. If I had known what I know now back in high school, I would have been a much more confident, outgoing girl. We can sit and feel sorry for ourselves, and wish we could be the 120 pound girl scarfing down Big Macs and not gaining an ounce, or we can DO SOMETHING. I only weigh 10 pounds less than I did in high school, but my fitness and nutrition have led me to go from a size 12 to a 6-8, which speaks louder than the scale alone.
It's definitely not all about appearance though, and all of our goals are different. This is more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge, hands-down. I aspire to challenge myself each and every day, mentally and physically. I look forward to each day and think, how can I improve on yesterday? When you take this attitude, you wake up each morning, looking forward to the day ahead and refuse to accept less from yourself.0 -
This topic has generated some controversy, and I've received a few messages about it. I've thought about it for a while, and wanted to share my thoughts with all of you.
In my opinion, different people are motivated in different ways. Some people need to have small goals, and find reward in seeing their progress. Others need to go to extremes - completely cutting out sweets or whatever their weakness is. Some need a lot of positive reinforcement and encouragement, some need a kick in the pants, and most of us probably need a little of both. For me, the latter is definitely the case - I need both the stick and the carrot for me to make major changes in my life, and I'm sure a lot of you do as well.
In my vision for MyFitnessPal, I would like it to be a place where people can find whatever they need in order to help them reach their goals. So if they need some warm, friendly words, they could find it here. And if they needed some tough love and straight talk, they could find that here as well. I'm not talking about personal attacks, insults, etc. I'm talking about honest talk that is meant to be constructive and helpful, not hurtful. And I truly believe that this topic was started with that intention - to be helpful, not hurtful.
In that spirit, I would like to find a way to make topics like this one work within the MyFitnessPal community. Maybe some of the posts here could have been said in a different way that would have offended fewer people. For example, I suggested changing the name of the topic to remove the implication that people who didn't follow exactly this advice were not serious, dedicated, etc. I think the topic title only meant that the road being followed in this topic isn't an easy one, so only people truly wanting and willing to make a major change should participate. But clearly some people have not taken it that way.
But whether the wording could have been better or not, I think an opportunity for people to be pushed, and not just praised, isn't a terrible thing to have on the site. And overall, I would like to find a way to accomodate that on MyFitnessPal, but at the same time, not alienate those who prefer another way.
One solution that I think might work is adding the ability to create groups on the site. Groups would allow members to gather together in an area with a private forum in which they could discuss their goals in whatever manner they wished. So a "tough love" group could form and people who want that kind of program could participate, while other people would simply pass it over and join a different group they prefer.
The issue for now is that building the groups functionality is a big project, so it'll be a while before it's ready. Until then, I would like to allow this topic, and am strongly inclined to do so. I am open to feedback on this, so if you disagree and would like to share your thoughts with me, feel free to do so in a private message if that's what you prefer. But in general, I want to try to make this work. I think this type of topic could help a lot of people, so any suggestions on how we can make it fit within MFP are definitely welcome.
But please, let's discuss this in a respectful manner. Let's work together to try to figure out how we can make this work.
Thanks for listening, and hope you're all enjoying the site.0 -
Amen to the paradigm shift.
I am inspired by a couple things:
________________________________________________________
1. NEVER give away your power. (i.e. YOU are in control of YOU.)
2. Energy follows thought.
________________________________________________________
Great post, mgullette.
You know, I needed that, especially #1.
I have a problem. Through the week, I am great. The weekends, I allow myself a little more give, however...spending my weekends alone now for the first time in years...I tend to binge. And then sometimes...if I've eaten too much...
Anyway, I need to remember that when I'm feeling like I want to binge. Because most likely, I'm not hungry, and if I am, I don't need to eat everything in sight. It never makes me feel better. Only worse. Thanks.0
This discussion has been closed.
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