What should i expect?

Papa_Swearingen

For those of you who have lost a significant amount of weight, I was wondering what types of boundaries/hardships or other problems I can expect during my journey and how to deal in those situations.

I've been dieting/exercising for 3 weeks and realize that I'm not even at the tip of the ice berg, but so far I've noticed how incredibly hard it is to manage my calorie intake/burning on weekends or any time that is "play time". I find it difficult to not cheat on the weekends when I want to have a few beers or go out for dinner.

MB_Positif

Well...weekends are 50/50 for me, sometimes they are a breeze and others are not...I can usually (except yesterday, eek!) stay inside my calorie goals but since we often eat out my sodium is always high. What I can tell you, is try to save calories for that beer. Have a light breakfast and lunch with some healthy snacks throughout the day and you should have enough for dinner & a beer. Even more if you burn some calories as well!

rochey1098

There are 2 types of dieters, those that have fallen off the wagon... and those that will. When you slip up, get up, screw the guilt trip, get back in the game

lutzsher

I spent the first 6 months on MFP at exactly the same weight. I would always lose my 2 lbs (or so) on weekdays, then undo all my hard work every weekend with just a few unwise choices and a few beer.
It finally dawned on me that I was cheating myself. Were those few treats or beers worth my health or worth losing years off my life?
Losing weight is a very short time in retrospect as you have the rest of your life to have a beer on occasion.

When I finally realized that I was WORTH making a sacrifice of just a single year out of my life to conquor this goal it was like the lightbulb came on.

I did not lose weight until I had this "ah ha" moment and started taking one day at a time to dedicate to my goals.

Mama_CAEI

One "Cheat day" should not throw your whole plan off track, but you have to be committed to the process. This should be a lifestyle change, not a quick-fix, so even the way you approach "play time" should change for the long term. I still eat chips, but instead of a whole bag, I have 150 calories worth. If I want chocolate, I eat a couple of cookies, not a whole Snickers. Small changes add up and it really does get easier with time. If the kids want to eat at McDonalds, I have a Buffalo snack wrap instead of a Big Mac. Baby steps.

cmeade20

You're gonna have bad days and even weeks. Just get back on track everytime you slipup. Eventually eating right becomes habit. I plan what im going to eat a week at a time and prelog it I find it prevents me from cheating on my diet a lot more

Papa_Swearingen

Everyone seems to have some really good advice and support, please keep the ideas coming! Friend me if you like!

KyleB65

I think that as far as hardships go I had very few. However, it was not easy. (Went from 272 lbs last March to 196 lbs early last Dec.)

What made it work for me was the notion that it was a life style change rather than a diet. There is no end to what I am trying to do. Yes, I have a weight goal. But, once I get there, the real work will start as I will need to maintain!

With this life style change I had to leave some old friends behind. Friends like Coke - McDonalds - Kentucky Fried Chicken - Chips - Dip, etc. etc, etc. (Also left behind beer!)

But, I made some new and better friends - Skipping - cycling - salads - club soda - beans - oatmeal, etc, etc, etc.

You have made a start and that is the first and most important step. The next is to figure out how to change your life to achieve your goals. You can still go out for dinner, just chose some thing that fits into your daily calorie allotment. As for beer, if you can afford the calories, have a beer. For me, as I went along, I found that more and more I was choosing better foods. Mostly because I felt better and had more energy when I ate better!

Best of luck on your journey!

amuhlou

Since I usually have more time on the weekend, I try to get in a longer workout (or two) to make up for calorie splurges. I try to get it out of the way earlier in the day and that way I"ll know what I'm working with when it comes to dinner/drinks.

therealangd

I do my beers and dinner out, one night a week. I've done it every week since I started. I don't plan to stop. Going out for dinner for a meal and having a couple of drinks is not going to ruin what you've done all week. Go. Have fun. Track. And if you go over, so be it.

JMaher710

Discipline discipline discipline... Basic science dictates that in order to lose weight you must burn more calories than you take in. Sneaking that glass of milk, spoonful of ice cream or peanut butter, having just that one cookie. These activities are the ones that cause you not to succeed. When I realized that I was spending the whole day hungry and deprived that I would sneak a snack here and there, I really was just doing myself an injustice. With discipline and a few weeks of solid work, I am watching to pounds just melt off... good luck

cmeade20

I think that as far as hardships go I had very few. However, it was not easy. (Went from 272 lbs last March to 196 lbs early last Dec.)

What made it work for me was the notion that it was a life style change rather than a diet. There is no end to what I am trying to do. Yes, I have a weight goal. But, once I get there, the real work will start as I will need to maintain!

With this life style change I had to leave some old friends behind. Friends like Coke - McDonalds - Kentucky Fried Chicken - Chips - Dip, etc. etc, etc. (Also left behind beer!)

But, I made some new and better friends - Skipping - cycling - salads - club soda - beans - oatmeal, etc, etc, etc.

You have made a start and that is the first and most important step. The next is to figure out how to change your life to achieve your goals. You can still go out for dinner, just chose some thing that fits into your daily calorie allotment. As for beer, if you can afford the calories, have a beer. For me, as I went along, I found that more and more I was choosing better foods. Mostly because I felt better and had more energy when I ate better!

Best of luck on your journey!

When Im really craving dip or having a get together I make it with plain fat free Chobani instead of sour cream.