Your weight loss tips !!!

psmith64

Sometimes it can be so daunting to take the plunge and decide you are going to set aside some time and devote it to your own body in getting back into shape and some level of fitness. To a certain extent you may feel selfish because you are going to devote some time to yourself especially if you have family to consider, and they are not joining in.

I remember looking at other peoples success stories where people had lost maybe 5, 7 or even 10 stone in 12 months.

I remember thinking I have best part of 7 stone to lose, but I am never going to be one of those people who I have read about.

Well, I did become one of those people and back in 2007 - 2008 did lose 7 stone to put me in a healthy BMI for the first time in 20 years. It did come at a cost of being quite selfish though, going to the gym 5 times per week, spending a whole morning or sometimes a day at the weekend doing a 50 - 60 mile cycle ride, or a 20 mile sponsored walk, being completely focused on myself and not taking much interest in what was going on around me. If you are interested you can read my personal success story here:-

http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/weight_loss/success_story/psmith.htm

It was something I couldn't maintain , I just couldn't go on being as selfish as what I was being. I don't know if anyone else can relate to that. I gave up the gym and reduced the amount of exercise I was doing.

I gradually slipped back into my old ways, not helped by quite a stressful period somewhere in between, and began to consume more calories than I was buring.

So here I am, 4 years later having put half the weight back on, but still motivated by my own previous success as well as a lot of other peoples both on here and in printed magazines to get going in the right direction again.

The first basic rule which I think we all know is burn off more calories than what we consume should equal weight loss.

This time I am going to be taking more time and using my time more efficiently. Afterall as long as I am going in the right direction I am gradually going to get fitter and healthier. I am not going to get hung up on getting it done too quickly.

Already I have adjusted my time to visit the Gym. I go first thing in the morning before I go to work. That way it doesn't get in the way of family life as much as it did before when I went in the evenings. Already I feel in a better frame of mind than I did before about going to the Gym and think in the long term it will be more maintainable. I use my lunch breaks at work to do a 30 - 45 minute power walk. So basically I get all my exercise in without being selfish towards my family.

I know in the end I will get to my goal as using a site like this to log food and exercise really does work. I know that each week that goes by even if I have only lost 1/2 lb I will be getting fitter and healthier and getting closer to my goal.

I hope what I have said may help someone who is struggling with time.

I feel more positive this time around than I did before. Even though I know tough goals are achievable as proved by myself and many others they are maybe not maintainable over the long term.

I am going to enjoy losing weight this time around at a more leisurely pace, and feeling more comfortable about maintaining it for the long term.

It would be good to hear anyone elses tips for long term weight loss, especially those that have managed to maintain in the longer term past say 3 years.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year to all using MFP, its a great web site and works when used to log honestly.

Regards

Paul