What is the formula to success? Please tell me!!

tiatiamaria

As I sit here eating my tuna for dinner, I am wondering what the commonality is between all of you who have posted these incredible weight loss pics and also the people we see on the fronts of magazines who have lost half of their size.

I've been on myfitnesspal for a while but have fallen off the wagon a few times and came back January 2nd. I've been reaching my workout goals and staying under my calorie goals daily, but today I had overwhelming feelings that all of this work will not pay off. Or that I will gain it back. Or that my body probably has some kind of disorder which won't allow me to lose weight by counting calories, etc. I do think that I lose much slower than other people. I can be eating low calories and working my butt off and barely lose a pound every few weeks. Anyway, today I had feelings of self doubt and wondered if those feelings are what make me fail each time.

This time is different already in a lot of ways. One, I am making sure I eat enough that I don't feel sick and weak. I am not on some crazy crash plan. Two, in October I successfully gave up eating out for a different reason and that was one of my biggest temptations. Three, I have found endless resources for eating healthy on here, youtube, blogs, etc and I am feeling much more confident that I have the right foods in my house. But I am still not sure this will work...

I've heard a lot of people with success stories say that they just made the decision that 2012 (or whatever year) would be their year and they instantly had a fire lit beneath them. How does that happen? Did you never feel self doubt? Did you never wanna give up when you got on the scale and saw a gain for the week? Did you never feel like you were doing it wrong and you should actually be counting something else? How do you keep the fire lit? Did you never feel like you were going to drop 10 and nothing else would come off?

I really want to share my incredible before and after pics, this time next year.

Danni1585

invest your time of MFP, read the success stories every day and stick with it. There is no easy answer, which is why we are all here. I get great inspiration from other success stories, and like you want to be able to post my story one day. Stick with it, and with us ! Good luck

litatura

Because everyone's body is different, diet and exercise routine vary from person to person, but I strongly believe that the two key factors that are (or should be) the same for everyone are consistency and accountability.

Vercell

Am still learning I have been battling the weight for 7 years up and down alot of self doudt. This time is different because am not in a race its a lifestyle change and am learning to be happy about little things how strong am getting how long my workouts are and how I feel so much better when I workout. The the scale does not show my success all the time how the tape measure is so much kinder. How am learning to eat better. When I do want something I will eat it and I get back on track.

SanteMulberry

I've lost about 50 pounds over two years. I still have 50 to go--even if it takes me another two years or more, that is okay. I think that mindset is what you have to adopt---"Whatever it takes..." It may mean that you have to give up a food(s) that are addictive for you and cause you to lose control of your appetite. Just like alcoholics know that they cannot take even the tiniest bit of alcohol, I know that I cannot eat one bit of sugar---because I will want more. I also find wheat addictive, so I stopped eating that as well. I don't seem to have any trouble controlling my appetite since I did that last May. I've lost about 25 pounds since then. One thing that I notice is that the healthier I get, from eating right and exercising more than I have ever exercised in my life, the less likely I am to sabotage myself. It occurs to me that concentrating on the positive (i.e. building health) rather than the negative ("I just HAVE to starve myself to pare off the fat") will lead to greater long-term success. It is hard to concentrate on the negative for any length of time. When people ask me, "Don't you ever feel deprived?" I can honestly say no because I know that I am properly nourishing my body with good food and exercise. Another key, I think, is to find an exercise that you like---you won't stay with something that you hate. I love the water and always have, so I swim and do water exercise.

kdiamond

Consistency and accountability. Those are the keys to losing and keeping weight off.

TheNewDodge

Eat less. Move more.

Catlady87

The fire got lit underneath me about 1 week ago. Not sure why, or what specifically. I've known I had put weight on, I've not been happy with my shape for ages and my clothes are tight and have been for months.
But some time last week I decided that I was going to do this, and do it properly and Ive been on the straight and narrow ever since. Haven't gone over my daily limit once, I've had wine, beer, chocolate, bacon - but everything has been within my allowance.
I've lost 2lbs already.
You're already 10% of the way towards your weight loss goal, and that's something to be really proud of!
If you think negatively you will fail. Your self doubt will consume you.
You don't have to think positively 100% of the time, just don't think negatively.

sunsnstatheart

Count calories, balance your macros and do some strength training (maybe some cardio). Forget everything else.

All that other stuff will make you go insane and miserable.

taso42

1. Decide
2. Plan
3. Execute

MidwestAngel

1. Decide
2. Plan
3. Execute

With a calorie deficit.

jodfie

1. Decide
2. Plan
3. Execute

With a calorie deficit.

SECRETS to success!

leilaphoenix

Trust that if you burn more than you eat that you will lose weight. Once you start to see weight come off you will start to believe you can do it. I've been at this two years and have had long stalls but always with reason. I've always know I'll get there eventually. It might take 1 year, or 2 years or 3 years but if I keep working I'll get to where I want to be.

Doubt in yourself is a big reason why people fail. Believe in yourself. Trust me, if I can do it, so can you.

With regards to the fire. I found that starting to exercise and realise that I could do things I had never done before, not even when I was slim, was absolutely exhilirating. Running for 5 minutes, running 1 mile, running for 30 minutes, running my first 5k, running for 1 hour, running 10k.... Cycling up that massive hill without having to stop for the first time. Doing a triathlon. There is always another goal (for me perhaps lifting and getting strong). Keeping an exercise goal in mind reminds you why you are doing this. Not just to lose weight but to be healthy. I was the biggest anti-exercise person and changing my attitude and trying things out has been the key to success for so many reasons but mainly because it has kept my motivated through dieting.

trogalicious

1. Decide
2. Plan
3. Execute

With a calorie deficit.

I'd like to add a #4: Forgive.
There will be bumps in the road or days where you fall completely off. Forgive yourself and pick back up, one day off isn't going to destroy you.
One day off and the next 4 days hating yourself for it will do no good. If you realize you've fallen off track, kick your own *kitten* in gear, suck it up, and start the next day fresh.

WilliamsPeggy

Because everyone's body is different, diet and exercise routine vary from person to person, but I strongly believe that the two key factors that are (or should be) the same for everyone are consistency and accountability.

I agree.

sullykat

Be persistant. Don't stress over falling off the wagon for a week or two. Remember that everything you put in your mouth has calories, so be wise. Any movement is better than no movement.

culuriel

Don't think of it as a temporary time of going without (aka a diet). Think of it as the beginning of developing the eating and exercise habits you'll need for the rest of your life (to keep the extra weight off). Individual pounds will matter less and your ability to come up with meals that fit nutrition goals will matter more. Your workouts will matter more as you improve, and you will see them as playtime instead of work.

mitchfergustitus

I know that stress produces corisol, which can help you gain weight. I also know that I did a very successful weight loss program a few years back that I will emulate again. I tried to drink one gallon of water a day, ate 6 small, healthy meals, worked out with weights 3 days a week, and the other days I walked, biked, or did the treadmill for 30 minutes. I made sure I got 6-8 hours of sleep and I took my picture and measurements once a week. It took about 6 weeks for me to start seeing any real noticable results, but then it really took off. I lost 33 lbs in approximately 3 months. I have since fell off the wagon, but I know that if I did it once, I can do it again. The main thing for me was being consistent. I knew that the result would come if I stayed committed to the process. I also tried at each workout to better the previous one by lifting more or running, walking, or biking faster than the previous workout. You can do this! Have some faith in the process and in yourself. Best success to you on your journey

SanteMulberry

Be persistant. Don't stress over falling off the wagon for a week or two. Remember that everything you put in your mouth has calories, so be wise. Any movement is better than no movement.

This is good advice--I used to think that I had to drive myself into the ground with exercise---and I hated exercise because of it. Movement is actually a pleasure once you find the right one for you.

mitchfergustitus

I agree that any movement is better than no movement. A bad workout is much better than no workout. I also agree that we need to make wise food choices.

wells0707

Patience! Some people lose slower than others, but if you stick with it then you will see results.

nxd10

I'll be honest - I try not to think about it that hard. For me - someone with basically good diet habits, who doesn't eat junk, who doesn't have serious health issues, who has a healthy relationship with food and their body - it's just a matter of consistency.

I'm 54. I've never tried to lose weight before. I just ate too much for the last few years and slowly gained a pound a year for 30 years.

I log every single thing I eat. I log all my calories. I hit my calorie goals almost every day - and every single week. I walk.

I don't deprive myself. If I'm dying for something sweet, I have a spoonful or two of ice cream. If I'm hungry before dinner, I eat some cashews.

I look carefully at my log and see where the calories are that I don't care about that much and replace them with foods I really like. 100 calories for a tortilla? Fit and delicious are 50. I can have a cookie.

Toast is 200 calories? I'll have muesli and yoghurt instead.

Who knew that my favorite Panera bagel is 430 calories! I didn't. I stopped eating them.

It's just stubborn hard persistance.

I weigh every day because I jump around all the time so I don't get upset if I go up or down a pound. I just figure if I'm hitting my goals, I'll eventually go down. I have.

I am enjoying my food more than I did before. And I've lost 30 pounds in 30 weeks and dropped to my weight at 25. I wish I'd done this 20 years ago.

Catlady87

Yeah there's a huge hormone thing to do with weight and stress and stuff.
*tries to remember 3rd year of university*
There's stuff about grehlins and leptins? - one tells your brain you're hungry and one tells your brain you're full. But these can be overridden by other hormones, such as cortisol released when you're stressed.

So the more you stress about not losing weight the less weight you will lose, which will cause you more stress an the cycle goes on.
So....calm down a bit, stick to your calorie goal, move more than you normally do and wait. It will not happen overnight, just like your weight gain did not happen overnight.

Mads1997

Consistency

mimiwin

Everybody has doubt but it's about picking yourself up when you fall and keep going !!! You have to focus on the positive you achieve !!
I would say you probably lack trust in yourself but at some point we all do, so you must fight !! We can be our worst enemy but we should really be our own best friend !! Treat yourself, talk to yourself in the same way you would talk to a very close friend Try to love yourself every step of teh way, nobody said it was easy but it's worth it !!! You can achieve anything if you believe strongly enough !!! Good luck and Enjoy the road !!!

CassieReannan

Eat at a deficit and be committed!

Summermint

Pray.
Start very small (ie. 1 min of exercise or 1 glass of water/piece of fruit)...and increase/improve daily.
Celebrate even the very smallest successes.
Stick with it.

GoddessG

Let me tell you a secret. It's something that I've never seen specifically mentioned on any MFP comment or blog.

Enthusiasm is like a sprint. It will only get you so far. You cannot maintain enthusiasm over the long haul any more than you can run at sprint-like speeds for a marathon. It's just not possible. When enthusiasm wanes, so too will your interest in your goal, and you will fall off the wagon. Guaranteed.

Instead, CHOOSE to be who you want to be, then be that. Make it a "life" goal rather than a "diet" goal. (Such as - "it is my life's goal to be self-disciplined") Yes, you can have moments where you are enthused as you watch weight decline, but let enthusiasm go. Learn to release it. Turn instead to being who you want to be.

Nothing but age can prevent a self-disciplined person from achieving any goal that she/he chooses. The longer one waits to be the person they want to be, the more opportunities they shut themselves off from.

myofibril

Be consistent - that's all there is to it.

A sub par plan followed consistently will generate much better results than the world's greatest plan barely followed.

mrso97

surround yourself with mfp friends that will push you when you need it......support is a huge motivator!!!

crimsoncat

Cook your own food most of the time, and find something that you love that will make you move more.