There is no silver bullet or magic pill - it takes work

2

Replies

  • mandylooo
    mandylooo Posts: 456 Member
    Great post - deserves to be kept bumping up - or made into a sticky!
  • JPayne53
    JPayne53 Posts: 235 Member
    Well said! :drinker:
  • supergirlie00
    supergirlie00 Posts: 169
    So glad I read this! Excuses are a person's biggest limitation.
  • Kcham817
    Kcham817 Posts: 106 Member
    Excellent post!!! Very encouraging it takes time and tremendous efforts but it is WORTH it in the end.
  • ZombieKillaPrincess
    ZombieKillaPrincess Posts: 404 Member
    i wish more people would realize this! great post!
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    For me, the work isn't physical, it's mental and emotional. Sweating, working out, that's all easy for me. It's not even hard for me to eat healthfully in general. It's just the extras that creep in. So for me, just logging my food is a major thing. I am no longer buying into the no-pain, no-gain (loss) concept. It's all common sense; do what works.

    Creeping calories are what have gotten me...I don't chow down at McDonald's. I don't eat seconds and thirds at mealtimes. No, it's more the snacking of seemingly low-calorie treats here and there. A candy bar when I want something sweet. A soda a few times a week. It's the idea that I wasn't paying attention. So maybe for some of us, the journey is about mindfulness and not necessarily knocking ourselves out with exercise.

    That's all valid and fine. For most people it is because they just don't want to work out. You don't have to knock yourself out with exercise. You have to get off your rear and sweat a little. If you are doing that but overeating, then adjust what you are eating, but my post is targeted at the very large majority that I read on my newsfeed or in the forums trying to eat 800 calories a day and are upset that they only lost 1 lb and when asked if they workout they say no.

    If you are genuinely working out and burning calories (I'm not going to set a limit but for me 30 minutes a day is an absolute minimum and by that I don't mean 30 minutes of walking around a gym and texting on my phone, I mean actually working out) but are overeating, then simply be mindful of what you are putting into your body, and this post is not targeted at you.
  • traceracer
    traceracer Posts: 303 Member
    Fabulous post!! :flowerforyou:
  • dollienj
    dollienj Posts: 49
    As the saying goes....slow and steady wins the race. It's a life change, not a temporary fix. Thank you for sharing.
  • mcadams1
    mcadams1 Posts: 47
    Well said, but if that "Magic Pill" ever does get invented, please sign me up for a boat load full, until then, it is up to me to work out and eat right :wink:
  • kemeko
    kemeko Posts: 158 Member
    Well said, auticus! Great post! :smile:
  • dslynn8
    dslynn8 Posts: 21
    Yes! Thanks for posting this.
  • rainman3k
    rainman3k Posts: 174 Member
    Great post - deserves to be kept bumping up - or made into a sticky!

    Agree 100%
  • shellshalla
    shellshalla Posts: 263 Member
    Love this! bump!!
  • czechsmate
    czechsmate Posts: 556 Member
    We are all motivated by different things.

    For me... it's wanting to be treated better by people. I have a book of nasty comments sent my way from strangers and "friends" alike, and that has become like rocket fuel. I started in July at 242 lbs needing to get down to 205 lbs. Today I'm 220 lbs. I'm no more less motivated than I was in July when I started running again. I got up to running 10 miles at the end of fall. Not bad for a fat guy ;)

    So why are you wanting to lose weight? How important is it to you? No one else can hand you motivation, it's gotta be in your heart or not. There comes a point where the excuses end and the action begins, and you have to find that road. We all have it in us to achieve greatness, but greatness doesn't just happen.

    I don't have a lot of weight to lose, I really want to get rid of the fluffiness so the muscles that I am strengthening will show through. I want to lose inches and fit into the clothes I used to wear....still saving a pair of jeans that I have not been able to wear for quite a few years now. I want to be healthier and I want to look healthier, I want to be stronger...I like having more drive and energy and I love the comments I get from my husband who is totally impressed with my dedication. :blushing:
  • timingsands
    timingsands Posts: 83
    I knew friending you was a great idea. Well said!
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    For me, the work isn't physical, it's mental and emotional. Sweating, working out, that's all easy for me. It's not even hard for me to eat healthfully in general. It's just the extras that creep in. So for me, just logging my food is a major thing. I am no longer buying into the no-pain, no-gain (loss) concept. It's all common sense; do what works.

    Creeping calories are what have gotten me...I don't chow down at McDonald's. I don't eat seconds and thirds at mealtimes. No, it's more the snacking of seemingly low-calorie treats here and there. A candy bar when I want something sweet. A soda a few times a week. It's the idea that I wasn't paying attention. So maybe for some of us, the journey is about mindfulness and not necessarily knocking ourselves out with exercise.



    I'm the same, and I also can't work out to the degree that the OP implies. But I do agree with the spirit of OP. There are no shortcuts.
  • ProudMomoftwo
    ProudMomoftwo Posts: 525
    Great post!
    Thanks for sharing
  • morganhccstudent724
    morganhccstudent724 Posts: 1,261 Member
    Harsh title but I felt it is needed. Perhaps its that this is the time of year when people decide to be healthier because it's magically a new year, but it frustrates me to watch a truckload of people show up with unrealistic expectations and then give up a week later.

    So here's the thing... you want to lose weight? You want to get in shape? You want to look better? Here are some realistic expectations for you:

    1) there is no silver bullet or magic diet that will allow you to shed pounds while doing nothing. Sorry. It doesn't exist. And the lazy road is what got us to where we are now. So its time to get OFF of that road.

    2) You didn't gain all of your weight in a month, why do you expect you're going to lose it in a month?

    3) Excuses are the paving stones to unhappiness and being out of shape. Coddling yourself will get you no where. You are here because you want to lose weight and get in shape? Time to get on the road to do so. Warning: that road is paved with blood, sweat, and tears. Are you ready?

    What is realistic? It depends on your body. If you are largely overweight you will lose quickly at first and then slow down as your body "catches up".

    This whole starvation craze? Garbage. Utter garbage. You are hurting yourself trying to get fast results. Would you swallow drain cleaner? Eat poison? No? Why not? Starving yourself is like that, it just takes longer to kill you.

    If you want to lose weight, you need to workout. That doesn't mean you have to be working out at the level of elite athletes. You have to start somewhere. Walking is a great place to start. Strength training is vital. You need to-get-up-off-your-butt-and-sweat.

    SWEAT.

    SWEAT MORE.

    Does it hurt? Yes. Is it uncomfortable? Absolutely. Does it suck? At first. You start to develop a craving for physical activity after a while. Your body thanks you. Dieting by itself is not enough for most people, and starving yourself because you think you are going to lose quickly so you can go back to your bad habits is not only destructive, but POINTLESS as you will just gain the weight back and then some.

    Lifestyle change. If you aren't ready for it, truly ready to change your habits, you will frustrate yourself with failure. You can't diet and exercise for a couple months and then go back to what got you fat in the first place.

    Do you want things real or candy coated?

    Losing weight and getting in shape takes time. It takes effort. It takes more than trying to trick your body because your body will win every single time.

    You must sweat. A lot. You must feel the burn. A lot. You have to want to not be fat more than you want to lay around and eat poorly. So here it is. How bad do you want it? Show yourself how bad you want it. Be realistic.

    The road to fitness is not an easy one If it were, nobody would be fat. Tempered through fire the strongest steel is, and the fire here is measured by the blood, sweat, and tears you shed along this road.

    If you are ready, get on that road and begin your journey. Temper your steel through the fires of your willpower.

    There IS a silver bullet...but I don't think its the same one you are talking about....:wink:
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    Ya think? ;)
  • lisaisso
    lisaisso Posts: 337 Member
    can i give u a slow 80's movie clap?
    clap...........................clap........... .......clap.......... clap...... clap....clap...clap. clap, clap, clap, clap!
    well said :smokin:
  • wildon883r
    wildon883r Posts: 429 Member
    I just want to point out that you can lose weight easily even without any major exercise routine. Alot of people thing that cardio is the best choice when its really not low impact raises your metabolism more then any cardio program does considering cardio benefits are only short term. More muscle from strength training means your metabolism is burning more 24/7. It's not hard to lose weight it just takes self discipline and desire to achieve a goal. Good Luck
  • auticus
    auticus Posts: 1,051 Member
    I just want to point out that you can lose weight easily even without any major exercise routine. Alot of people thing that cardio is the best choice when its really not low impact raises your metabolism more then any cardio program does considering cardio benefits are only short term. More muscle from strength training means your metabolism is burning more 24/7. It's not hard to lose weight it just takes self discipline and desire to achieve a goal. Good Luck

    Working out is working out. If that means high cardio, great. If it means you are lifting weight, great. It always trumps sitting on your *kitten* doing nothing.

    And yes you can lose weight without exercise, and often you will look like a deflated tire. Most people want to also look good, and barring superior genetics, this will more than likely require a workout regimen of some sort.

    I'm not talking about strictly raising my metabolism, I'm talking the whole thing. Cardio is how you burn fat, lifting weights is how you strengthen your body, which will raise your metabolism yes. If all you are doing is low impact, you aren't really burning fat. You're getting stronger, and you may be building muscle underneath the fat suit, but the fat suit is more than likely still going to be there.
  • emy10284
    emy10284 Posts: 171 Member
    can i give u a slow 80's movie clap?
    clap...........................clap........... .......clap.......... clap...... clap....clap...clap. clap, clap, clap, clap!
    well said :smokin:

    LOVE THIS !!! LMAO
  • siabevis
    siabevis Posts: 811
    AGREE!
  • jennifer2977
    jennifer2977 Posts: 156
    Amen! I think this every time I see a post about phentermine . If it was really magical, couldn't we all take it, and wouldn't everyone be skinny?
  • firefly101
    firefly101 Posts: 23
    all true... thanks for the 'tough love', Auticus!
  • bademasi
    bademasi Posts: 180 Member
    So many of us totally get your blog..... and sadly so many just dont get it! :laugh:
  • Fit4_Life
    Fit4_Life Posts: 828 Member
    Well said! :smile:
  • Jeff92se
    Jeff92se Posts: 3,369 Member
    well said...even though it does suck...and I really REALLY want the magic pill and ten pounds gone tomorrow.

    Find a pill that will make you take a 10lb dump. hehe
  • Purpleflipflops
    Purpleflipflops Posts: 563 Member
    Love It!!!

    And I do have to say, though there might not be a silver bullet or magic pill, there is a Magic Bullet, and that thing's AMAZING!
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