Those who are over halfway to your goal...

Elizabeth_C34

Post one tip here that you wish you knew when you got started.

My tip: You are going to screw up along the way. Just dust yourself off and keep moving forward. Don't give up.

seeeekret

It's OKAY to have "bad" food every once in a while. Cutting out entire food groups only leads to black and white thinking and binging.

Mase3000

TAKE A CHILL PILL!!! LOL! Going to the gym everyday is not a great idea! Your body needs rest so give it some R&R.

Elizabeth_C34

TAKE A CHILL PILL!!! LOL! Going to the gym everyday is not a great idea! Your body needs rest so give it some R&R.

That's a really good one!

One more: Don't forget to celebrate the non-scale victories. Those are the ones that keep you going when the going gets tough.

Sockimobi

Bump for reference and motivation.

Thanks for the tips!

Allie_71

It helps to think about your weight loss goals in small increments. When I thought of losing 85 lbs, it felt....overwhelming and insurmountable.

Small goals, reward yourself, and honour the little victories. You'll get there.

stubbysticks

If you are managing your intake & exercising but the scale number isn't going down, that doesn't mean nothing's happening. Exercise changes your body more than you would expect...yes, even if you're still very large! It took me 10 months to lose 7 lbs but I worked out faithfully the entire time, & was rewarded with a noticeably smaller midsection & a full size decrease in pants size. My arms even got smaller.

My tip: Keep persevering even if you don't think you're getting any results! We also have a way of seeing ourselves differently than others see us...sometimes you can't trust what you see in the mirror every day.



ETA: Ditto what Allie said. Solid advice. Lose over 100 lbs? No one can do that. But lose 5 lbs? I can handle that. I take it 2-5 lbs at a time to get me to my next milestone (85 lbs lost is my next one). Start with the first 5 & worry about the next 5 when you get there. Approaching it this way gives you a bunch of small, achievable goals that can be reached in a relatively short period of time so you have opportunities to feel successful!

Elizabeth_C34

If you are managing your intake & exercising but the scale number isn't going down, that doesn't mean nothing's happening. Exercise changes your body more than you would expect...yes, even if you're still very large! It took me 10 months to lose 7 lbs but I worked out faithfully the entire time, & was rewarded with a noticeably smaller midsection & a full size decrease in pants size. My arms even got smaller.

My tip: Keep persevering even if you don't think you're getting any results! We also have a way of seeing ourselves differently than others see us...sometimes you can't trust what you see in the mirror every day.



ETA: Ditto what Allie said. Solid advice. Lose over 100 lbs? No one can do that. But lose 5 lbs? I can handle that. I take it 2-5 lbs at a time to get me to my next milestone (85 lbs lost is my next one). Start with the first 5 & worry about the next 5 when you get there. Approaching it this way gives you a bunch of small, achievable goals that can be reached in a relatively short period of time so you have opportunities to feel successful!

You look so great! I'm so proud to have watched your progress over the last year! Congrats hon!

jg627

I consider myself kind of lucky, because my doctor gave me a ton of reading material to kickstart my journey as well as handing me over to a good physical therapist and sports med doc to help out as well. I also have a lot friends in the medical community including an MRI technition who has the uncanny ability to consume inhuman quantities of beer.
What I can say is, if you have a long journey ahead of you (translation: you are pretty darn big when you start) you WILL get ridiculed a lot. Do not let it stop you. Just keep looking forward. It won't last forever.

LeanerBeef

When you think you're not running fast enough, or reaching your goal fast enough or you don't think you look as good as you think you should, remember how far you've come since you started.

deadstarsunburn

It's okay to eat more calories lol and exercise more.

pauljsolie

IGNORE THE SCALE, IGNORE THE SCALE, IGNORE THE SCALE, IGNORE THE SCALE, IGNORE THE SCALE, IGNORE THE SCALE. Since I've gone back to work, I've only lost 2 pounds in 5 weeks but lost 3 inches from my waist. The scale means nothing and nobody knows that number but you. Focus on how you look, not some arbitrary number.

sk2775

Some awesome advise from everyone.
Constantly change things around to see what works the best for you. Don't get used to one workout routine, or one type of diet. Try it all and keep the mind and body in constant confusion. And exercise can be fun (if you do the workouts that makes your happy). And know that there will be bad days ahead of you, but don't give up b/c it will get better :-)

gazerofthestars

Screw the scale. Be more active. Experiment, but in healthy ways. Love your lifestyle :-)

PHS7

Be patient. You didn't get your current body shape overnight so don't expect to change it overnight. Also, NSV are more important than being obsessed with the scale.

ChristiH4000

Don't be nervous about trying new classes. Group exercise helps challenge you to keep working hard and keeps you from getting bored. Nobody's judging you negatively for sweating and panting and struggling. Keep it up! It pays off and gets easier.

thelovelyLIZ

Take measurements. They are much more telling than the scale, especially once you get down to those last few pounds.

77tes

Always count how much you've done rather than how far you have still got to go.

Push your limits -- they will MOVE!

Michelleypoo82

Think of this as a lifestyle change. Allow yourself some treats once in a while and don't be hard on yourself. Just keep persevering, and know that every healthy bite you eat and each minute of exercise is adding on to your quality of life. You will get there! Think positively! I'd also second what others have said about not always relying on the scale and switching your food and workout routines. You are in a good place. Stick with us!

TheBraveryLover

Strength training is much more important than you may think. Even if you're starting out in the obese category, lift weights!

missmelissavpk

TAKE PICTURES EVERY 4 WEEKS: front view and side view without a shirt on. No body needs to see them but you. This way, when the number on the scale isn't going anywhere, or your feeling unmotivated, you can compare pics and SEE how much of a difference you have made. No matter what the scale said, my pictures were my biggest motivator.

MoreBean13

None of you are mentioning xenadrine or visalus or hydroxycut?!?


Shocker. :noway:

pineapple1989

The best way to keep committed is to have a little bit of things like chocolate/pizza/beer every once in a while rather than trying to abstain then falling off the wagon. Also to calm down, a digestive biscuit with my tea is not going to make me gain a stone!

wisebadger53

There are healthier ways to prepare almost any food...so don't deprive yourself of things that you want.

...also, save all of the money that you would have spent eating out at restaurants and fast food joints...you will need it for multiple new wardrobes along the way! :drinker:

ZombieSlayer

Eat more!

For the first several months I wasn't eating enough and the weight loss was SLOW! I started eating above my BMR & exercise calories and the weight started dropping.

Bridget28152723

read as many success stories as possible on MFP

malins2

The scale is not important, measure your body!
Strength training is very good for you!

Frantastic5685

You have control over the food you eat. Food does not control you.

Bridget28152723

1) TAKE ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS

measure every month , but more importantly , write down exactly WHERE you measured...
example: left thigh- halfway between the knee and top of thigh OR- " just under the mole" -like me
or a waist example: 2 inches above my belly button
I thought I wouldnt forget but I did so now I make sure I measure it in the exact same spot as the month before

2) Do an exercise you really like: so you do it regularly and dont quit because its boring

3) if you eat badly on day , dont quit, just learn from it and move on

EricNCSU

HAVE FUN!!!!!

If you like running, run.. if you like spinning, spin... if you like Zumba, dance.. if you like lifting, lift..... if you just like to walk then walk!

Exercise CAN be fun.. it doesn't have to be WORK. Take your kids for a walk, take your dog for a walk... just MOVE. Doesn't matter how far or how hard you push yourself.

dakitten2

Try to preplan your day in advance if you can. Then you can see if you are going to be within your goal or not and can make the changes.

Also I carry a measuring tablespoon in my purse and a 1/4 measuring cup for measuring things if I get stuck at a buffet and can log more accurately.

Also if I am going to go eat seafood (lobster), the drawn butter is 350 calories for 1.5 ounces. Instead I carry my "I cant believe it's not butter spray" with ZERO calories.

And if dining out, check the menus online before you go and decide exactly what you are going to eat and you never have to open the menu and be tempted by more decadent offerings.

Plus all the things mentioned above by other posters are great hints and suggestions.

I always give myself rewards at every 10 pounds I lose and generally they are health related, ie new lo-cal cookbooks, new walking shoes, a high tech kitchen scale and bathroom scale, weights for the pool, etc. Last week it was 2 new bathing suits that were 10 sizes smaller than the ones I wore last summer.