62 pounds gone...But did you have to EXERCISE????

I must be the exact opposite of a lot of people cause I enjoy exercising it's the dieting and eating healthy part I don't care for. I would much rather eat junk food than vegetables, but I know I have to eat healthy and exercise to lose weight cause if I just do one or the other, I'll basically just maintain my current weight and wouldn't get anywhere.

I am exactly the same. I love exercising and would do it all day, but I haaaaate having to limit my calories.

DITTO!!! I'd much rather go to 2 or 3 classes a day at the gym than eat veggies an count calories

One of my family members has about 100 pounds to lose and she's tried many things, but never exercising. She has a bum wrist and is currently trying to get Disability. Her days consist of sitting on the couch and watching TV. She has ordered every single one of those magic diet/weight-loss pills they promise on TV, even the ones that say you don't have to do anything and the little pill melts the fat. She's mad when they don't work but she keeps buying them anyway. When I told her I joined a gym and now I'm counting calories, she doesn't think it will work because of the "commitment". *sigh*

This thing that always bothered me on my first weight loss journey (from 175-133) was people saying they were jealous and that I was "lucky". That irritates me to no end. I know you ALL can relate. We aren't lucky. We're dedicated, we sweat, we forced ourselves to start bettering our bodies. Luck has nothing to do with it. Heart does

Thank heavens i never got that "lucky" comment!!!! I always get the opposite like "wow you must be killing yourself at the gym!!!" People really don't want to put a shoe near the gym's door... Which i find funny and sad at the same time. But the truth is that you don't have to kill yourself at the gym to lose weight and if you do, the endorphins take care of you and make you love it XD.

Well actually, my husband once said that i was lucky to be losing all my extra weight,but he meant it in a different way, like ... I was lucky to have been bitten by the healthy lifestyle bug or something. But he's the only person who truly knows how hard I'm struggling to shed the pounds (or kilos i should say) off, and i wouldn't be here without his support

I couldn't believe it when I was told. It was college friends who just didn't want to run. I started one summer at our track and couldn't even make 1 lap around the 1/4 mile running track. By the end before my injury (stress fractured ankle) I was running 14 laps. It was so hard to get there for a while, and to have it written off to luck just irked me, and not much does!

That's amazing your husband is so supportive! My fiance is the same way. He pushes me to go, or start, and eat well. He's going to school to be a nutritionist so he's quite strict, but it's paying off. If it wasn't for him I don't know how much weight I'd have gained by this point

Weight loss is such a mental thing.

That's the big "secret" right there, in seven words.

Agreed.

Wow that's awesome!!! It's guaranteed you won't regain any weight then, and you won't have to struggle with large amounts of junk food in the fridge, since he'll keep you both on track. My nutritionist once told me that you end up getting obsessed with food sanitary safety, not just nutritional values, so make sure you don't get too obsessed with everything and take good care of each other

Will do! I've been fairly good, he just doesn't let me buy junk food. He pushes healthy lean foods and some protein shakes instead. It was so hard at first, but getting better!

BehindBlueEyes, I completely know where you are coming from. I too have gotten the "lucky" comment before and it irritates me to no end.

The conversation usually goes something like this:

"Wow, you must be really lucky to have gotten so skinny!"

Then I just tell them the facts of how I've done it. Calories in = calories out. I avoid junk food, eat tons of fruits and veggies with real protein and track everything I eat. I also make exercise a priority.

99% of the time folks will usually get this sour look on their face as they are processing in their head. Then they will tell me they don't have time, they have kids, excuse excuse excuse blah blah blah.

Then the conversation ends.

This thing that always bothered me on my first weight loss journey (from 175-133) was people saying they were jealous and that I was "lucky". That irritates me to no end. I know you ALL can relate. We aren't lucky. We're dedicated, we sweat, we forced ourselves to start bettering our bodies. Luck has nothing to do with it. Heart does

I had someone just today tell me I was lucky that I'm young because the weight just melts off me. If only she knew how hard it is for me to say no to ice cream and cake and pasta and cheese she wouldn't be saying I am lucky. I given up those old foods and moved on to new, more fulfilling foods. I've dedicated myself to this weight loss and I am continuing to make over my lifestyle. The only people that don't want to hear about the hard work are the people who can't or won't dedicate themselves to it. I love the support of my MFPers and other like-minded people because they get it!

It always makes me sad when I hear people talk like this......Yes, there will be some effort, yes you will sweat, yes you will be short of breath......for a little while. Then the rest of your day takes on a whole new shine! I have pretty much come to the conclusion that I can exercise every day for a minimum of 30 minutes, or I can be on an anti-depressant. It makes that much of a difference for me! Plus I have greater flexibility, mobility, I feel rejuvenated and de-stressed! Just keep on shining girl and let the new you do the advertising! You don't have to win them over. Sooner or later they are going to be desperate for the fresh beginning that you have!

this is it, right here!

This used to be me. I've lost weight 3 times (a few years after each pregnancy) without ever formally exercising. The truth is I did start moving more each time but I didn't count that. I hated the idea of regular exercise. Sometimes someone would get out for a walk or drag me half heartedly into a gym, but overall I was mentally resistent. I had no concept of skinny fat or skinny fit or body composition. So I was fine and happy with it. It can be done. Weight loss itself IS related to diet. I was even able to maintain it. I happily tell people that. This time something clicked, and yes, it is a mental thing. I decided to include exercise. Exercise has a lot of benefits and I'm happy that my mind is open to it. Some things I do now for fun and other things I do for results. But either way, I'm not in the nails on chalkboard when you mention exercise camp anymore. Everyone is at a different place in their journey.

Psst...looking back I did exercise each time. I just got a pedometer and challenged myself to move more. Don't tell anyone. Ahh, the trickery I used to fool myself. Having said that, I will still tell you if you create a deficit with your diet, you will lose weight.

Yes... I've experienced much of what you all talk about as well... I find it somewhat laughable when people ask because like someone said about hoping for a magic pill... it's truly as if they are disappointed that the answer really is nutrition and fitness.

I think where the hang up comes in... people are consumed with how they look, and don't think about how they FEEL because they can't imagine feeling good about exercising. There was a time I dreaded it too, but now if I miss a walk, or a workout... that's when I get grumpy LOL! I think until someone actually experiences feeling GOOD from exercising... feels their ability increase, maybe it's hard for them to even fathom "liking" it?

I actually have a friend right now that wants to get together to discuss in more detail what I'm "doing" in order to achieve this success... and I really don't think it's a secret at all... the real secret is commitment. If you do only nutrition, your progress will happen, probably slower... but it can happen. If you do only exercise... well... for someone like me, I could easily out eat my progress... and it doesn't feel really good. Finding that perfect balance... that's also a rather personal experience. I like exercising but I don't think I'll ever be to the level I know some people because that would push it too far for me... I like eating healthy, but I also have a bit of a balance there as well.

I think the commentary is what makes a place like this SOOOOOOOOO important to the journey, people who truly understand, support and can encourage.

I always get asked are you exercising? Duh yes I love it can't live without it now. People always give me the same excuse.....Oh well I am too busy I work full time.......yeah and sooo.......I do too and I fit it in everyday....

I frequently hear this these days. There are several camps of people:

1. How did you do it? My answer is by modifying my diet--eating healthy, portion control, and exercise. This results in two responses:
A. Oh, really? Bummer, I'm looking for a "program", ie, a magic pill
B. Really? Cool, that sounds easy! What did you do for exercise? This usually leads to a decent conversation.
2. Do you workout A LOT. Said in a tone of voice that indicates that this is a highly controversial, bad, potentially dangerous thing. Then the excuses (that I didn't ask for) start:
A. I can't work out. I have bad knees, feet, back...insert whatever joint or health problem that would likely improve or resolve with weight loss here.
B. I don't have time/energy/schedule to to this. Like I have a super secret special 26 hour day I'm running on that provides the extra time I need for exercise. Either that, or my life is so boring I don't have anything else I'd rather do.
C. I don't have the money for a gym, treadmill, etc...because we all need a gym to exercise.

For all of these people, I smile and shrug. I don't sweat it; they all have to figure it out on their own, and maybe I've given them something to think about or try.

For the "can't afford a gym" people I always say. Planet Fitness. $10 a month. That's cutting out one meal out a month. And worth it

I am like you I feel so much better when I exercise

^^^Exactly!

My fiance and I always buy a head of lettuce to eat with dinner. It costs $2 and lasts us a couple days. We can get 10 chicken breasts for under $10. Just be smart about purchases is all it takes. Don't go for the fancy things, just the whole things. Fruits, veggies, lean meats. It's all we do and we are on a very limited budget

I've lost 22lbs this year and the over weight women in the office who appear to eat nothing but salad always make throw away comments like '...it's alright for you...' when they see me tucking into cakes/sweets someones bought into work.

'How's It alright for me?' I say, ' I calorie count and exercise 5 days a week', they just look utterly disgusted.