What would you tell yourself in the beginning?

The rules do actually apply to me.

I was in denial that I had to actually eat better and exercise to lose weight. As if I had some kind of magical short cut that made the rule not apply to me. LOL

I think it's called being in denial. :blushing:

This applies to when I first started exercising and lifting weights 4 years ago (when I initially dropped to 172):

Lose the diet soda. I dont care if it says 0 calories, it'll leave you bloated and it'll increase your sugar cravings.

Drink more water.

The people who lift in the gym are not steroid infused meatheads. You'll discover that they are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Most are always happy to answer short questions you may have (Keep the questions brief. After all, they are there to work out too). I've had an easier time asking about exercises and using correct form in my gym than I've had asking someone at a gas station for directions!!!

Dont be afraid to push yourself in the gym. You'll be surprised about the limits your body can achieve.

Be patient. You didn't develop this out of shape body overnight, you wont fix it overnight either.

When I was first starting out, and I didnt feel like exercising, I would tell myself, "Just 10 minutes, if I feel like quitting after 10 min I can." Who quits 10 min into a workout? I never did. If I was 10 min in, I just finished, since I was moving anyway.

I dont have something I would go back and change per se, just something I found that really helped get moving when I really didnt want to.

1. Don't drink your calories (sugary drinks are a big weakness).

2. Keep the long-term in the back of your mind, but don't focus on it. Needing to lose 70(ish) pounds is overwhelming. Don't think about that. Think about today and think about your next weigh-in in 2 weeks. A loss of at least 2 pounds is a win, and 2 pounds is doable.

I could have started so much sooner than I did if I'd kept those 2 things in mind.

Focus more on weight training!

You can do this, day 1 is the hardest, the first weekend is harder. Learn patience! Now I am in month 5 and 30 pds lighter. SO HAPPY I stuck it out and didnt cave. I too am addicted to MFP nad I am addicted to my fitbit. Now I walk about 70 miles a week, I am also addicted to that. So all is great here.

Just because you could drink all the time and be skinny when you were younger doesn't mean you can now. The ice cream does not taste better than getting healthy. When it feels difficult, it means you're doing it right.
haha

Make yourself and exercise a priority and don't call your new lifestyle a diet. If you want a cupcake, eat ONE! Make sugar free cupcakes instead of regular. Stop drinking Diet or regular soda. Find exercise that you really enjoy, for me it's water aerobics, swimming laps and riding bikes with my girls.

I'd say

Chill the Fk out Nicole! You can't just go from putine and pizza to turnip, carrots and tofu overnight!

GO TO THE PARTY! Don't restrict your life because of food and drink

Slow Down! Couch to 5K should not happen overnight!

Oh, that 'friend' doesn't support your journey? Get rid of them now, and save yourself the trouble later..


Many things, and I'm only 3 months into this

come on!! get up and move!!! once you start you find there are others out there with the same goals...not everyone will try to drag you down! you can be someone else's motivation!

I'm pretty happy with my approach and my results. I think it worked well. I'd probably warn myself that MFP is completely addictive though!

definately addictive!!!

If I could go back to the beginning? I would tell myself then to go back further and kick myself in the butt earlier.

Yep.

And that it will take longer than you/I want and feel better than you/I expect.

All of this! I would make myself start losing after high school, before I was overweight, before the stretch marks! I would look amazing by now. I thought when I started this a yr ago that I would be where I wanted in a yr, boy was I wrong. It takes longer than u think.

This doesn't have to be such an emotional journey. Don't cry, because you can do it, and in fact you can do better than you ever thought you could.

Also, excerise can be fun, zumba anyone?

I always plan to lose for summer, but really pick up momentum after summer ends! lol I really need to be more focused in spring.

Focus more on weight training!

This, I lost 80 pounds on diet and cardio alone, and now I"m going to spend years getting that muscle back that I could have just held on to... :sad: