Looking for Tips please

That's right. I have been up and down the scale so many times and I am so sick of it. So, I am curious, what is it that you are doing that makes you stay with it? I am way past the point of being excited and fired up, I would just like to know how people stay consistant with watching what they eat and doing the exercises. I can knuckle down and do it for months and then fall off the wagon for months too. I have health issues and my biggest fear is having a stroke. I have seen what a stroke can do to a person. Yet, even that is not enough to keep me with it. Tips, ideas...anything you have I am more than open to listening!!
Thanks,
Debbie

Replies

  • BR3ANDA
    BR3ANDA Posts: 622 Member
    I have been the same way, I think you just have to get to a point when you are really ready to make a life changing decision. I changed my nutrition standards 2 months ago, pretty much having nothing but whole foods, it took about 2 weeks for the cravings of the bad stuff to go away, but they did. Now I rarely crave junk food. I also found an exercise regimen I ENJOY doing, rather than something I felt I HAD to do, for me, its DDPYoga, I love it. I'm striving now to go 100% clean foods, or whole foods, my body and spirit is really feeling the difference.

    Edited to fix my typos.
  • kittyr77
    kittyr77 Posts: 419 Member
    It is hard, no question about that. Although for me personally, sometimes I am in the right frame of mind, and sometimes I'm just not. I dont know why! This time around I have the motivation, drive, desire....its just there and I can only hope that it stays that way! Ive tried in the past and fallen off the bandwagon pretty quickly, particularly on steroids when the hunger is ravenous and even when I eat well I blow up like a balloon with fluid, that is pretty demoralising. Just now I am concentrating on how good the exercise is making me feel and how good it feels to be getting fitter again, that is the first and foremost and the diet just seems to follow on from that. Everyone is different I guess.
  • My tip... change your focus.

    Don't focus on your weight, FOCUS ON YOUR HEALTH AND FITNESS. Always think healthy. Always think fit.

    I know I used to focus on being fat... fat fat fat. But that didn't help me because I didn't want THAT. I want to be healthy and fit. I changed my focus and it made a big difference. In essence, you feel better and that's what will drive you... feeling better. The rest, actually losing the weight, just falls in line.

    Focus on walking every single day... no excuses. If you can already do 30 minutes, then go for 60 minutes. And it doesn't have to be all at once. You can do 20 minutes in the morning and 40 in the evening... or 20 here, 20 there, and 20 over there. Just get it in, no excuse. Focus.

    If you focus on what you want and what you should do, you'll do it. Instead of focusing on what you don't want.

    My new goal, focus, is to get 5 miles a day... walking, jogging, running, whatever. And my focus is on what I eat. I feel myself up with the healthy stuff so there's no room for anything else.

    And there is lots of research online about food and health. I've learned SO much about food in the last year and a half. Wow! The things I was putting in my body.

    Focus on what you want.

    And yeah, sometimes you have to have a conversation with yourself to get up and get moving. Sometimes I have to say out loud... "get off your *kitten* Sharon!"
  • sandhillsmom
    sandhillsmom Posts: 319 Member
    Remember the commercial years ago of the girl and the bikini hanging there and it's winter? She's eating something, I don't recall what, working out, eating this food and that bikini hanging there a her motivation?? Anyway, I have something similar. I have a dress in my closet I bought 2 years ago when I had dropped to 135. I've never worn it. When I lose that motivation to continue, when I feel like I can't do another push up or sit up or lift another weight. I pull out that dress. It might be a silly little motivation idea but it works for me.

    Another motivator for me is at the gym. I pick up just one 30 pound dumbbell .with both hands, nice and easy. I remind myself this is just half of what I want to lose. I'll look at and pick up a 10 pound bag of toes at the grocery store and realize I've lost much already (I had lost 6 pounds before I started MFP). These physical reminders of what I'm carrying, what I want to lose keep me going. :smile:
  • JulieDerda
    JulieDerda Posts: 163
    motivation for me is I want to have muscle and look the best I ever have. I also tend try to not think about the weight loss and thing about working out more. Think of it as fun. Try to look up new recipes. ETC. jUst try not to focus on the weight so much. I know its hard not do @ all (b/c Lord knows i still do ) but try not to think about it so much.
    YOur not on a diet but a LIFE STYLE change :):flowerforyou:
  • :smile: Thank guys for all the comments and helpful tips. I actually went walking tonight with my dog. I have to remember that walking makes me feel better for many different reasons. Debbie :smile:
  • hailzp
    hailzp Posts: 903 Member
    Read 'Becks diet solution' it changed my out look on it, and I have stuck to it for about 8 months now, the weight is coming of slow and steady and I am better equipped to deal with sabotaging thoughts and no motivation. :D
  • madivp
    madivp Posts: 112 Member
    I know how it feels to be a yoyo dieter I left mfp and gained 30 pounds so i have started from behind now. I started Dr Mcdougall plan 2 weeks ago and have lost 10 pounds. I am not hungry I have no craving because I am full. It is a whole food diet. don't want to say vegan to loud. But for me right now it is working wonders. I exercise 5 days a week min. I do just as much as I can but don't push to where I will hurt myself. I lift light weights, walk the treadmill, and ride the bike. My routine takes about a hour an half. I have been exercising for going on two months now, so it is pretty routine for me. I do it the same time every day so I don't make up excuses why I don't want to go I just do it.
  • _Sara_A_
    _Sara_A_ Posts: 113 Member
    What keeps me going is the fact I met an amazing guy at my heaviest, and he likes me for me. I want to be able to lose weight to prove to me, him, and everyone else out there that I can do it. I also want to go out with him and have ppl be like man he's got a hot gf. lol is that kind of superficial? yes, but it works for me. another reason I do it, he loves play fighting, and I seriously want to kick his *kitten* one of these times and him go where did that strength come from?
  • Thanks guys,
    I appreciate everyone that has taken the time out to comment. It is nice to be able to ask questions like this and get answers.