How did you do it?

evelina90

Seeing all these people who have successfully lost considerable weight is really encouraging!!! For all of us who are just beginning this weight-loss journey, what advice can you give us? What is your #1 tip?

Nteeter

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Nteeter

yogsvr4

Don't let a bad day or two discourage you.

tania2287

A lot of hard work and it is not a diet it is a life change.

ahviendha

slow and steady. don't give up. commitment is the key.

mgobluetx12

I've lost 34lbs since June and my biggest tip would be to eat as clean as you can. If you eat junk, you'll want more junk. Just stay away from it as much as possible. Your calories will also go a lot further eating clean. I just stopped eating junk and I don't miss it at all.

Also, be patient. I only lost 2lbs in all of September. It will eventually come off if you keep doing the right things, so don't give up!!

emma110592

I say be honest to your food entry, it is amazing the amout of food I was consuming. After being true to my food entry, I started seeing results. It is a life change. I feel better than I have in years. Diet and excercise are a daily routine for my success. Good luck in your journey.

Kyrogix

For anyone starting their weight loss and fitness journey....just chip away at your lifestyle and exercise habits until they become habits. I look forward to working out everyday.....which is a big change from not working out in almost two years. Once it's a habit, the weight will come off, you'll feel better and better. Good luck to all!

wrevhn

Keep on keepin on.

And what you put in, you get out. BIG TIME on that one.

Can't complain too much about no results if you put in little to no effort.

At the very least 30 mins everyday of exercise, and lots of water. That be my top two.

Zangpakto

Set a goal and goal for it... best advice....

Take each day as it comes, don't stress, if you need to eat junk, then set a "cheat" day to do so... Not saying eat everything you see kind of cheat day but like if you want burger king, or a pizza or to get drunk... things like that... Allowing every once a week or so makes it SO much easier to not care about the days your being strict...

I was at 93kg start of year after Malaysia holiday... Now am 63kg Of course give or take 63... I just reset my start weight as I kept at 64-67 for 2 months, now want to finish off my weight loss and get it over with...

Tropical_Turtle

Do not let the scale dictate how you feel about yourself or the day. The body fluctuates naturally, so do not give up. One step at a time, one day at a time...

Remember you did not gain it in a day, you will not lose it in a day.

dalgal26

Work it in, or Work it off!:flowerforyou:

mleparton

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Nteeter

Wonderful job!! And I just watched your video....You look Amazing!!

bcattoes

Find exercises you enjoy, or at least don't hate, and do them regularly.

Don't try to be good 100% of the time. Stick to a healthy diet most of the time, and exercise regularly. But don't freak when you have a high calorie day or eat junk food or go a day or two without exercise.

Don't look for tricks or expect that eating or not eating <whatever> to do the work for you. Just eat right and exercise.

rsm1972

A lot of hard work and it is not a diet it is a life change.

Honestly & Totally Agree :) Well Said:):) :flowerforyou:

AmberJo1984

I haven't lost anywhere near what I need to yet... but, I'm on my way... and I am not turning back this time.

For me... it's all about realizing that it's NOT a diet. It's a lifestyle change. I can still have things I like... I just have to use moderation and count calories. AND EXERCISE ALOT!!!! :happy:

You've got this though. Coming here is the first step.:drinker:

NaturalinCO

The ONLY way to reach your goals is to REALLY decide that THIS is what you want for yourself. Realize only YOU can do it, but YOU can do it! And, try to exercise most days/wk. Good luck!!

allisona28

BUMP

sazzydee1

Use digital kitchen scales to weigh everything accurately.

mindygood

Don't make changes you can't live with for the rest of your life. If there is something you have to have build it in... Work out, work out some more and challenge yourself to do things you never thought you could/would. Couch to 5K was mine and now I am running for the first time in my life and I hated to run... Set small goals, making them feels great but know your long term goal. And remember how to eat an elaphant.... one bit at a time. Change won't happen overnight. This is a marathon not a sprint!!

allison_ortiz

A lot of hard work and it is not a diet it is a life change.

this + hard work and dedication!!

you have to stick to it every day is a new day yes, but being true to your goals and not allowing yourself to cheat (that often or unless u earn it with exercise) is the only way to truly be successful and stay successful once you've reach your goal weight!

keralynn89

BUUUMP!:)

happyfeetrebel1

Protein for me is key. Carbs just make me starving. I don't avoid carbs altogether, but I avoid bad ones, like candy, cookie and chips

I try to get out and just MOVE each day, even when I want to just sit in front of the pc..activity keeps me out of trouble

wizbeth1218

What is your #1 tip?

Drink water. A lot of water. Then drink more water.

Every time you draw a breath it's a chance to make another choice. And take it one choice at a time.

This morning at 5:15 I decided not to get up and work out. I'd do it later, I decided.
At 5:16 I decided to get up and work out.

One choice at a time.
And lots and lots of water.

Leothelion88

Always remind yourself your reasons "WHY" you started in the first place.
I always tell myself that we have complete control of what goes into our body and getting up from the couch to exercise

EnchantedEvening

1) Don't let one bad day derail you. I've been at it since May, and I've never had an absolutely "perfect" day. Just get up the next morning and do your best.

2) Don't try to do it all at once. Pick one thing, then another, then another. First I switched to diet soda and walked during my lunch break. Then I stopped drinking diet soda and walked for an hour. Then I started doing more intense workouts and reducing my sodium. I just kept adding baby step after baby step so it wasn't overwhelming. When you learn to swim, you don't jump into an ocean. You start in the shallow end.

3) Keep a blog, even if it's private. I love that I have a journal listing each and every change, all of my emotions, all of my victories, the variances in my weight so I can see that it isn't linear but DOES go down, pictures of my progress, etc. Knowing that people are reading it gives me even more motivation, but you don't have to make it public.

4) You will hear eight million opinions in MFP threads. Do your own research and decide what's best for you.

AmbieSweetz

What is your #1 tip?

Drink water. A lot of water. Then drink more water.

Every time you draw a breath it's a chance to make another choice. And take it one choice at a time.

This morning at 5:15 I decided not to get up and work out. I'd do it later, I decided.
At 5:16 I decided to get up and work out.

One choice at a time.
And lots and lots of water.

DITTTTTTTO! (that's soo me!)

monty619

#1 tip.

its a mindset you need to have. look long term...

not in weeks..not in months...but in years.

if you can get it through to your mind you will make outstanding progress.

you look short term you will be discouraged by lack of progess you make or the quick success you achieve and consistancy may falter.. create a goal of where you want to be and a sight of where you are headed it puts consistancy in retrospect and you dont sweat the small stuff and its much easier. working out and dieting becomes second nature.

it may be easier for me because i am younger and i told myself when i was 18 that i will be at the physique i want to be around 25ish years old (7 years of training and good diet) which seems like forever but i have already build a much better body than i once had and lost lots of body fat.. set the goals far away so even when success is in sight or failure is approached you keep going because you have a time frame in your mind where you will not give up until that goal is reached and ultimately you will surpass your previous expectations of yourself.

kingscrown

Exercise. Plain and simple. I started in November 2011 to prove that exercise wouldn't work for me. Damned if it did.

californiagirl2012

Seeing all these people who have successfully lost considerable weight is really encouraging!!! For all of us who are just beginning this weight-loss journey, what advice can you give us? What is your #1 tip?

There is no mystery to weight loss, everyone thinks something is wrong, their metabolism is broken, they have low thyroid, they have menopause or whatever issue, they are as unique as a snowflake, whatever. I thought a lot of these things once too but once the doctor helped resolve the health issues for me I learned there is still no magic pill. Most people eat more than they need to and are not at good at estimating calories as they think they are. Most people have a lower BMR than they think they do. The only way to know for sure is to go to a lab and have it tested. It doesn't seem fair to have to eat less and feel a little hunger. It's hard to face the truth of it, very hard. It's not fun. It's drudgery at times. But if you learn to enjoy your smaller amounts of food (necessary to lose weight, since the reason we got fat in the first place was eating too much whether we knew it or not), and rejoice in your victories it can be done.

All I can do is share what worked for me. I achieved my goal at age 50 after beating my head against the wall for 15 years. Yeah anyone can do it, but I can tell you that you are up against a lot when you are older and I believe females have some unique issue to face with hormones and such. The sooner you can get a handle on it the better. DO NOT GIVE UP. As I got older and the weight piled on (and I didn't feel I was eating too much!) everyone kept telling me to give up, this is what happens when you get older. I'm small, and I didn't realize how small I was until I lost the weight. Everyone said I had big bones. I looked hefty because I worked out. Once I lost the weight I realized how small I really was and that small people don't need to eat as much as big people. HINT: If you are short you are probably small.

Your body loses weight in chunks, not linear. I have found that you can do everything right and your weight loss seems to plateau but if you are patient and keep exercising and eating at a deficit (however slight) you will lose it, it will suddenly "whoosh". There are so many variables for the scale; water retention, digestion, hormones, allergies, sodium, carbs, water intake, DOMS, inflammation, the list goes on. People mistakenly think they lose or gain weight when they eat more or less because of these fluctuations.

Losing weight requires tremendous patience. You will not lose it when you want it or where you want it. The body does its thing. Some apparent plateaus can last a month or so. You cannot make it happen faster. You must focus on two things; calories and exercise. Nothing else matters. Scales and metrics don't matter. The day in and day out grind of exercise and calories are all that matters. It is not very exciting until things fall into place. You get your victories and you ride one victory to the next.

The scale is a trend tool. The scale is good but put it away and only check once a week and only use it as a trend tool. It will fluctuate, it does not matter. Take front side and back progress pictures at least once a month. You will see differences that the metrics won't tell you and it's that little bit of NSV that will keep you going until the next victory.

To say eat more is wrong.

To say eat less is wrong.

To find the exact calories needed for YOU to be in a healthy sustainable calorie deficit is the right answer. Wait, if you need to adjust by 100 do it, wait, adjust, wait, adjust, wait. The tortoise wins this race.

All that matters is calories. A healthy balanced diet within a calorie budget for a deficit that is right for YOU is all that matters for weight loss. Don't make it complicated.


Also people play mental accounting games with calories just like with finances. Make steps to make sure you are making accurate measurements. Packaged foods can have MORE than they say but not less (they get in trouble if less so they would rather error with MORE).

If you typically intake sodium at a certain rate your body adjusts, but if you make a sudden change then you will see a spike.

Exercise is for making your lean body mass pretty (especially lifting weights) for when the fat is gone. Losing fat with no muscle is ugly and cardio alone will not make you pretty. You cannot out exercise too many calories.

It really is about calories. I tell people this all the time and they say "Well if calories are all that matter why do you eat so clean???!!" Well, because it makes me feel better, sleep better, and perform better at my sports.

Too many changes at once can be hard on some people. I've always eaten healthy so it easy for me to simply eat less. Eating at a calorie deficit is hard on people; even a small deficit puts your body in a state of flux with hormones and such. Everyone is different. Some people can handle a deeper calorie deficit than others, this is not right or wrong, it just is. Stress in your life affects your hunger hormones; lack of sleep, fatigue, job stress, family stress, financial stress, etc. Add in emotional eating issues and it gets even more complicated. Most people can only handle so much change/stress at once, they try to do too much and fail. Sometimes it might be a better strategy to eat at maintenance and make some small changes first, it really depends on how much stress you are taking in at the moment.

What is the exact number of calories for you?

We’ve been trying to figure out an exact NUMBER of calories that everyone should be eating, without recognizing that everyone is slightly different. In truth, the calories aren’t the end game. Your body is. So the EXACT amount of Calories that are right for you is the EXACT amount that will allow you to maintain your ideal bodyweight no matter what some calculator or chart says.

In other words, an online calculator might tell you that you need to eat 2,500 calories
per day to maintain your ideal bodyweight. But the only way to know for sure if this is
the right amount for you is to test it out. If you gain weight or can’t lose weight eating
that much, then you know you need to eat less to lose weight no matter how many
calculators and text books say otherwise.

This doesn’t mean your metabolism is broken, it just means the estimate of your needs
was just a bit off.

-John Barban (The Body Centric Calorie Guide from the Venus Index and Adonis Index Manuals)

The good thing is you don't have to worry about the starvation mode myth if you are fat. Only skinny people have to worry about starvation mode. It does not mean you have the capability to eat at a large calorie deficit if you have emotional eating disorders or other issues going on, but at least you don't have to be afraid of it anymore.

The Theory of Fat Availability:
•There is a set amount of fat that can be released from a fat cell.
•The more fat you have, the more fat can be used as a fuel when dieting.
•The less fat you have, the less fat can be used as a fuel when dieting.
•Towards the end of a transformation, when body fat is extremely low you
may not have enough fat to handle a large caloric deficit anymore.

At the extreme low end, when your body fat cannot ‘keep up’ with the energy deficit
you've imposed on your body, the energy MUST come from SOMEWHERE. This is
when you are at risk of losing lean body mass during dieting (commonly referred to
as ‘starvation mode’). This happens at extremely low levels of body fat, under 6% in
men and 12% in women [Friedl K.E. J Appl Phsiol, 1994].

-Brad Pilon and John Barban (from The Reverse Taper Diet in The Adonis Index and Venus Index manuals)

Lifting weights is KEY. I recently had my DXA scan done and at 51.5 years of age I have the bone density of a super athletic 30 year old. That is a direct result of lifting for over 30 years. Now if that is not scientific proof that lifting weights keeps you younger I don't know what is! Also I believe it is why most people think I look much younger than I really am.

Start lifting now, lift heavy and change it up often, find a lot of weight routines with free weights, make it fun, embrace it, make it part of your life. Only 3 days a week is all it would take. Crank up your tunes and learn to love it, because your body will love it and it will make your quality of life better in many ways, especially when you get older like me.

Because of this I don't have to worry about osteoporosis. If you wait until you are older and your bones start to deteriorate it's a bit too late, you can't get back what you lost, and you can only start a resistance routine that will prevent further damage.

If you are female you don't have the hormones to get big naturally. I lift heavy and I'm still really tiny. My lean body mass is only 104 lbs and that is fairly heavy for a 5'1" female, and quite a bit of this is due to my having very dense bones from 30 years of lifting, not all muscle, and I'm still quite tiny.

My muscles really are not that big, but they show a lot of definition because I'm quite lean. If I gained some fat then I would have a softer more toned look (which is OKAY too!). Then if I gained more fat I would look bulky and hefty like I did most of my life until last year. YOU CAN HAVE WHATEVER YOU WANT. Lean and ripped, soft and toned, or hefty, it all depends on how much fat you leave on your body. Calories are the only thing that changes fat. Exercise is for changing or maintaining your lean body mass only. Lifting weights will give you the best bang for your buck for shaping your body. I finally changed my shape by putting lifting first and cardio 2nd. You cannot out exercise too many calories.

patrox247

I was 320 lbs in December. I made a New Years resolution to lose the weight (aprox 150 lbs) in one year (2012). I signed up for My Fitness Pal and have lost around 135 lbs so far. I did this by simply sticking to my daily calorie counts. Although I haven't eaten as healthy as I should and I have not started exercise yet I have had great weight loss success by trusting the MFP program. Rather than attempting to lose 150 lbs in one big chunk I break up that macro goal into 10 lb miro segments. Step one was getting from 320 down to 310, then it was 310 to 300 and so on. Breaking up the goal into smaller more immediate goals has kept me from cheating on my calorie count to the point that I have not gone over my count even once since I started. Another thing that has helped me stick to it is that I never stopped eating delicious foods that I love. I cut out the fried stuff (I was a total fast food junkie) but to this day I still eat burritos, sandwiches and many other awesome tasting meals. I just take care not to risk going over my daily calorie count. I take that calorie count VERY seriously. I am dedicated to never violating it.