All things in moderation??

DorothyNorrington

After several starts and stops, I decided to try to figure out why. Looking back, I can tell that I tend to go at it full force; diet, exercise, water, all of it. But, I have a very all or nothing personality. I give up after I slip up and struggle to get back on track.

Does anyone have suggestions for changing that thought process? I am open to suggestions and understand that it will take time to make these changes. Also, if I just start out with walking as my exercise, will It help with the weight loss at all? I am just so overwhelmed and frustrated at this point and know that I have want to start somewhere.

Suggestions, Please??
Dorothy

deeharley

No sugggestions, but when you figure it out can you friend me and let me know? Good luck!

Pebble321

I'd suggest changing your goals.... most of us set out to "lose 20 kg in 3 months" or something similar. You might it easier to stick with if your goal is something smaller and more active like:
- eat a healthy breakfast every day
- cut soft drinks or juice to one (or none) a day
- walk 30 minutes, 5 x week.
- no snacking after dinner is finished
- try one different fruit or veggie every week.

By picking one small thing to change and working on it for a week, you can see success much more quickly - and if you only did one of these things each week, by the end of a month you will have made some really positive changes for your health.

Measuring success ONLY by a number on the scales is setting ourselves up to fail, especially if we have goals which are tied to dates or events. Whereas having a longer term goal of "creating healthy habits" will have a side effect of weight loss over time and you can measure and celebrate all the small victories on the way.

Edited to add: Yes, walking is a great way to exercise.

tross0924

Start off just changing one thing. Maybe add 2 cups of veggies to your dinner and eat those first. Don't change anything else just that. Once you get that down, change something else. Maybe a significant cut back on refined sugars (not a complete elimination, if it's your birthday have some cake for God's sake) Then when you get that down add something else, maybe a walk in the morning. Then add . . . change . . . add . . . change . . . until you're eating like you want to in order to meet your goals.

Small steps can make it easier to stick with. Just keep focusing on that one small change until it's second nature, then make another. Before you know it, you'll be where you want to be.

moonlightturk

“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” - Robert Collier


This is a little hard for me to reply to because I have the SAME personality. Even with food. Either I eat the whole sandwich, or don't eat anything. Either I work out an hour or nothing.. Right now I'm on the South Beach Diet.. People tell me to just 'lower' my food, mainly carb intake. Well I don't know how to displine my self, to stop after the first couple of bites, so intead I cut out carbs all together! (That's the 1st phase of the SBD)..
I don't know how you can change that personality but here is my do's...

1) Walk while you talk
2) Study the wrapper on your food
3)Sip green tea b4 a walk
4) Pack your own lunch
5) Olive oil over butter
6) Sprinkle flax seed on cereal
7) SUPERSIZE your H20
8) Chop rather than shred veggies on salad
9) Log your food
10) Buy small
12) Break into a jog
13) Drop & do 10
14) Trick your taste buds (mints, gum)
15) Look for inspirations

I lost most of my weight by cutting out pasta, rice, bread, sugars! Fruit has sugars too, it's very nutritious but you gotta treat it like it's a treat (Not too much of it either).
I can guarantee you'll lost weight if you INCREASE veggies, protein, nuts, fruits and DECREASE carbs.

You gotta be aware that diet is 80% weight loss and the other 20% is exercise. ANYTHING helps!

shanteel612

I told myself that this was going to be the year where I finally followed through with getting my life on track. In the past, every time I tried to get my eating habits together I would slip up and always say I will start fresh tomorrow. It seemed like tomorrow never came.

All I will say is believe in yourself, if you falter just know that you have the power to do pick back up.

breeanreyes

Walking will definitely help! any exercise is good exercise, and they all burn calories be sure you're settings on MFP are correct and reasonable (like your activity level, goals, etc.). As long as you log everything in and stay within your calorie goals you should lose weight, even without any exercise (although i don't recommend doing it that way). And be honest, with yourself and MFP! Small changes are the easiest to stick with, so say you eat all white bread/pasta, switch all of them to whole grain and do that for a week or two, then tackle another area, that way you don't get burnt out. Easier things to change for you can be done at first and at the same time, but the tougher ones may take some time. Remember, you want to change your life for the long term, not just for now. Every pound is a victory, every inch is a success, and everytime you say "yes" to health and "no" to the bad is a moment to celebrate!

DorisR184

I'd suggest changing your goals.... most of us set out to "lose 20 kg in 3 months" or something similar. You might it easier to stick with if your goal is something smaller and more active like:
- eat a healthy breakfast every day
- cut soft drinks or juice to one (or none) a day
- walk 30 minutes, 5 x week.
- no snacking after dinner is finished
- try one different fruit or veggie every week.

By picking one small thing to change and working on it for a week, you can see success much more quickly - and if you only did one of these things each week, by the end of a month you will have made some really positive changes for your health.

Measuring success ONLY by a number on the scales is setting ourselves up to fail, especially if we have goals which are tied to dates or events. Whereas having a longer term goal of "creating healthy habits" will have a side effect of weight loss over time and you can measure and celebrate all the small victories on the way.

Edited to add: Yes, walking is a great way to exercise.

^^ I agree!^^

By making small changes was the ONLY way I was able to stick with my weightloss and make it a lifestyle change... I've lost 72 lbs by taking it little by little.

*In the beginning, my only exercise was walking and it DID help me start losing!

Good luck! You CAN DO IT Dorothy!!

DrBorkBork

Approach it like you're gonna eat an elephant. Just take it one day at a time. Focus on making the right choices hour by hour. Eventually hours turn into days, days into weeks, weeks into months, months into your way of life.