What have you learned from your weightloss

wolfehound22

What have you learned from all of your weightloss, can be serious or funny:

- I don't sleep as much, ya I get my 7-8 hours, but man I have so much energy, sometimes I just can't do it.
- I get cold very easy, ya well losing 75 pounds of insulation will do this. I very rarely would ware long sleeve shirts in the past, but man I where them all the time in the winter now. And here I use to joke on my wife about always being cold lol

insights2

I have learned that I'm not nearly as good as I thought I was at estimating how many calories is in a meal, especially in restaurants. I have also learned that exercise really does give me more energy.

Kanzaki3

I learned how easy and how hard losing weight can be. If I can stay away from fast food, no obstacle can get in my way of losing weight. I also learned how gradually weaker I became the more I lost weight.

Poetic_

I've just learned I can live without certain stuff, I gave up a lot of my favorites and I don't crave a single one of them. I'm finally at a point where I eat to live, not the other way around. It's pretty awesome to be honest.

scott091501

I've learned I am obsessive compulsive about certain things.

wolfehound22

Ditto on the obsessive compulsive thing >)

pittfancbk

I know whenever I lose weight & inches, I feel pretty darn good about myself. I've also had lots of problems w/ time management & focus, but ever since I started dieting and working out, my time managing is slightly better, but I feel like I can focus a lot more. It's like I've learned how to prioritize myself better.

monharri

Like someone else said, I learned that I can live without certain types of food. I also learned that weight loss is a journey and not to overgeneralize if I have a bad day like telling myself "it's never going to happen for me." Learned to be consistent.

hkulbacki

I've learned most of these I've actually been thinking for the last few weeks how nice it would be to sleep to about 11am then spend the rest of the day lounging on the couch, but somehow Monday morning rolls around and I just haven't found time for that! I used to have plenty of time for that LOL
I've definately noticed that the healthier I eat, the small my sweet tooth gets.
The thing I've learned from MFP specifically is what a serving size looks like. When I have to log them, I measure them, and when I measure them I get an accurate visual. Even if I'm having more than one serving of something, I can now translate that particular amount of a food to it's calorie equivalent much more accurately.

spazwgeo

I learned that it can actually be FUN to work out!! I also learned that some foods only tasted good because my body didn't know the difference!!

katkins3

I have some foods that I moved into the "once in awhile" group because they were high calorie/low nutrition.
What I learned is that when I had them, after not having them for weeks, they weren't all that great after all!
Example: I used to love Chile's Southwest Egg Rolls, but when I had them recently, not so much! Instead of the Yum I expected, it was more of Meh!

UpEarly

That I don't have to give anything up and that traditional 'diets' are a colossal waste of time! Moderation and portion control were the way to go for me!

gailashton

I have learned to accept who I am. That I can do anything I put my mind to. That the number on the scale does not definte me or the size that I wear. I am a hard worker and very determined. That I can stop at a little or just say no if I have to. Food is fuel! That no matter how hard I work there is only so much I can change about my body. An obese childhood, 52 years of yoyo dieting, battling eating disorders, tanning, nursing babies, smoking, drinking, etc. takes a toll on you - skin is not always your friend - but it's oK, that's what spanx are for. I don't need to wear a bikini to be sexy, it comes from within!

militarydreams

I learned that losing fat didn't change the person that being fat made me... that came from inside, not my apperance. I still wouldn't change the way I feel for the world though

azazelrabbit

I have learned that I feel so much more confident, even after lossing a little bit of weight.

I have learned that I can break my addiction to milk chocolate, having not had any for over a week.

I have learned that Coffee is the solution to everything.

I have learned that it isn't the end of the world to go over your calories.

I have learned that there are some really amazing people on MFP.

CoryIda

- losing my built-in insulation is the only bad part about no longer being fat - I'm always COLD!
- it takes a lot less effort to carry around 130+ pounds less of me. No wonder I was always so tired before!
- I will always have thick legs, but muscles are awesome so I don't care anymore.

shanlynt

- exercise makes you feel awesome
- I can do what I set my mind to

LorinaLynn

I learned that losing fat and keeping muscle doesn't result in as dramatic a weight loss as far as pounds, but makes for one helluva transformation.

I learned that pizza, bagels, pasta and garlic bread are not my enemies and don't have to be avoided.

I learned that it's a lot easier than I ever thought it should be... that there's such a thing as trying too hard and it's the equivalent of spinning your wheels. Better to go slower and shift it into low gear.

BIGJIMMYU

I have learned that people notice. Having lost 45 lbs(42 before coming here and three since), people that haven't seen me in awhile tell me great motivating things!

TrophyWifeSass

My body can do things I never thought possible.

I can be strong at 42.

I love myself enough to care.

sunkisses

Nothing profound. Life's just nicer and easier when you're not heavy. My body no longer inhibits me from doing physical things I want to do (kayaking, camping, sex...the important stuff).

estitom

I have learned that I can succeed, that I can accomplish anything if I just put my mind into it. But the most important thing I've learned is that people care about me and love me.

christy_frank

That I'm sexy & I know it....because I work out

Rynoman2k3

^^ LOL!

I've learned the power of will power mainly. We went to Red Robin yesterday and i didn't touch any of the fries, It was really hard not too but it was worth it.

Also losing weight isn't easy!

SassyCalyGirl

I've learned how dedicated I can be. Set your mind to it and anything is possible!

rc630

I've learned the broken cookies don't have any calories because they all fall out when they break.

But really, I've learned that the number on the scale matters so much less than how you look.

jennilovesryan

i like zumba, apples, and mirrors.

1953Judith

I just started a topic with what I had learned about the mental component of weightloss, but it probably fits here better. Sorry for the duplication.

I am posting this because there may be a few others who would benefit from viewing being fit as going beyond diet and exercise.

I've seen factoids about the ratio of diet and exercise to the success of weight loss and want to note for me the biggest component of making a wholescale change in diet and exercise has been in retraining myself mentally and emotionally. I discovered this during my efforts toward fitness, which have resulted in eliminating high cholesterol, lowering blood pressure to the normal range, losing over 17 inches from my waist (and equally satisfactory inches elsewhere) and moving from obese to slightly overweight.

To turn around my declining health on a permanent and long-term basis, I needed to work my brain differently as I approached day-to-day living. Some of these aspects of thinking (almost in order of my growth as a fit person) include:

1) Identifying and addressing the emotional underpinnings of my eating to excess
2) Identifying long-standing personal habits standing in the way of my fitness
3) Identifying techniques to change/modify the habits
4) Learning to analyze and assess scientific studies/pronouncements as to possibly validity and applicability to my own unique body and life

For those of you using this site and other tools to facilitate your fitness goals, I encourage you to consider whether adding your own cognitive skills would be an additional powerful tool.

samhelen

Nothing profound. Life's just nicer and easier when you're not heavy. My body no longer inhibits me from doing physical things I want to do (kayaking, camping, sex...the important stuff).

I totally LOVE that sex came after kayaking and camping... that made me smile -- I've learned that although I was never uncomfortable in my own skin even at my heaviest of 319, 40 lbs less weight (and still going) makes a huge difference in my motion and sleep.

sjtreely

I've learned the less I become, the more I have to offer.

And, it's way more fun to sit in an airplane seat than it used to be.

kbmnurse

I have to keep a food diary.
I feel sexier
guilty if I don't exercise (not my favorite thing to do, but I do)
better spirits
positive outlook