What would you tell yourself in the beginning?

13

Replies

  • DakotaKeogh
    DakotaKeogh Posts: 693 Member
    Get all the numbers. Measurements. Body Fat %. You'll wonder later just how far you've really come.

    Don't set a goal weight. Exercise will cause muscle gain. Set a goal of body fat %. The end weight will be what it is.
  • tacticalhippie
    tacticalhippie Posts: 596 Member
    Lift Weights!!!
  • themommie
    themommie Posts: 5,033 Member
    Lift weights
    Mix it up every 3-4 weeks, your body gets used to what you are doing
    Just take it one day at a time
  • Bump- great thread
  • Jenna70
    Jenna70 Posts: 130 Member
    bump... i'm pretty much at the beginning now... and you all have some good advice here!
  • Kenzieb07
    Kenzieb07 Posts: 207 Member
    Thanks dear!! It hasn't been easy, that is for sure!!!
    I would tell myself that it's not going to be easy and to create realistic goals and to NOT compare myself to others. I'm still trying to remind myself of this today, 7 months into this journey!

    You look fantastic!! *pokes abs* :D
  • selfmedicated2
    selfmedicated2 Posts: 37 Member
    Great thread!! Very inspiring for someone 7 weeks in (me).
  • traumacode3
    traumacode3 Posts: 32 Member
    I am answering this on a bittersweet morning. As I get up and prepare to get ready for my last official appointment with my dietitian in a 12 week weight loss program I would tell someone what my dietitian has taught me over 12 weeks.
    1. This is a journey not a race. You didnt get where you are overnight and you won't get where you want to be overnight either.
    2. Control the food. Don't let the food control you.
    3. You will have failures along the way and it won't be easy but learn from those failures and turn them into positives. It's not failure if we learn from it.

    I have learned from both my dietitian and personal trainer in 12 weeks it's one foot in front of the other. While the steps may not be big ones the small ones add up to big ones in the end.
  • DaisyHamilton
    DaisyHamilton Posts: 575 Member
    Don't slip into EDNOS.
  • chinatbag
    chinatbag Posts: 249 Member
    I'd tell myself: the things in life worth doing are not easy, if there it's difficult, it's probably worth looking into.
  • Kari089
    Kari089 Posts: 109 Member
    I would give myself pep talks every time I went out to exercise. I would remind myself I was doing this for me, it was my gift to myself and I alone had the power to change. I also complimented myself daily..a simple hello gorgeous in front of the mirror was enough to get me going.

    I would also keep repeating 'it won't always hurt this bad'..lol And I was right! it has gotten better :) My body is stronger and fitter and I can do so much more now.
  • mogletdeluxe
    mogletdeluxe Posts: 623 Member
    - Don't worry about those who question you. One day, you'll be an effing warrior - a fitness instructor, one of those exercise types, nicknamed 'Guns'. Do not let that be called into any sort of doubt.

    - STOP OBSESSING ABOUT YOUR PCOS-RELATED HAIRLOSS FFS
  • elisabeisme
    elisabeisme Posts: 308 Member
    I would have told myself to find a great outside walking route earlier on in the process. It's seems much easier to increase distance walking outside with stuff to look at than inside on the treadmill. Plus, there are no annoying gym rats around so I feel more comfortable. I now walk along the a river with pretty views of bridges. The sunshine and water make me happy.
  • bump
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    I would tell myself not to get overwhelmed. Baby steps really do work.

    Also, the progress is slow. Working harder does not mean losing weight faster. It just means get frustrated faster. Weight loss is slow, but it doesn't have to be difficult. Just getting off my seat and eating my veggies seems to take me farther than I ever thought it would. It doesn't matter if I walk around the block or work out all day long... I will get my results when I get them.
  • RetiredAndLovingIt
    RetiredAndLovingIt Posts: 1,395 Member
    bump
  • _KrisMarie_
    _KrisMarie_ Posts: 146
    I'd tell myself that you have to keep tracking, even when you're within 5 lbs of your goal weight, and after that as well.
  • mspoopoo
    mspoopoo Posts: 500 Member
    I would have never let myself get overweight in the first place.

    I would have ignored my mother's comments to eat more and that I was too thin. She just wanted someone to eat massive amounts of food with her.

    I would have just ditched the husband that made me so unhappy a lot sooner instead of listening to his constant cruel rages of how pathetic and ugly I was.

    Ditch or dump any mean un-supportive people
  • jkal1979
    jkal1979 Posts: 1,896 Member
    1. Start exercising NOW. Don't buy into the lie that just parking further away and taking the stairs is enough. You are more than capable of pushing yourself and following an actual exercise program.
    2. Take your measurements.
    3. Take pictures.
  • learnerdriver
    learnerdriver Posts: 298 Member
    Exercise, unlike emotional eating, makes you feel better.
  • iheartmy1dog
    iheartmy1dog Posts: 207
    Don't start out on so low of a calorie total......not worth it when your hair starts falling out :sad:

    It will take longer than you think, but it's still more worth it than you could have imagined!

    ^^ 2nd this.
  • GnosisGnosis
    GnosisGnosis Posts: 148
    Do martial arts, exercise profusely, and you can eat whatever the **** you want, stupid. But I probably would have given myself the middle finger, so whatever.
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    No, a full sized bag of chips and energy drink and a chocolate bar is not morning tea, no matter how depressed you are.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Start lifting NOW not later.

    Buy a food scale.

    ETA: and take pictures!
  • TheCaren
    TheCaren Posts: 894 Member
    I would tell me to increase the calories to slow down the weight loss and work on toning along the way so my skin would have the optimum possibility of bouncing back a little better.

    But then, I may be deluding myself. Maybe I'm just old and the skin is just what it was going to be regardless of how I did it... LOL
  • SinomenJen
    SinomenJen Posts: 262 Member
    I would never believe me if I was able to tell me how far I would come! But I would tell me not to start anything I couldnt continue for life, food choices, exercise, are a forever commitment, not a one night stand or summer fling.
  • TheCaren
    TheCaren Posts: 894 Member
    Don't slip into EDNOS.

    ^^^This. :sad:
  • whierd
    whierd Posts: 14,025 Member
    Start lifting NOW not later.

    Buy a food scale.

    ETA: and take pictures!

    This.
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    Eat more protein!

    Don't start out on so low a cut!

    Educate yourself on metabolic adaptation moron!

    Get a food scale!

    Don't have unplanned weekly cheat days idiot!

    Have a plan and reassess your progress weekly, adjust calories based off the scale clown!

    It's all about energy balance you prick!

    I'm hard on myself.
  • RobinsEgg
    RobinsEgg Posts: 3,702 Member
    I'd tell myself to be more aware of the threat of the Christmas Holidays season -all the way thru Valentines Day - was a killer for me the first year. I think I gained 7 or 8 pounds back after I had lost 9 pounds so successfully. It was disasterous. :cry:

    I had been practicing "All or Nothing" behavior so I'd had no treats whatsoever, and then "boom" here comes the sweets and I was done. Now I plan to have something special - I really plan for it though and it is always an exception to my regular daily diet to have the specialty in fact - but I have something different and special, such as a doughnut, about once a week.

    I wish I had learned to eat a more healthy breakfast earlier on. Now I have some protein every morning.

    I wish I had started doing squats sooner. I feel so much stronger in my legs since I started doing them. I went from an utter weaking who'd limped around after a knee replacement to a person who can run up a flight of stairs.