Lessons learned from losing weight!

I've learned that water is better for me than what anyone could have told me. I eat less, drink less Diet Coke, feel fuller, and less bloated when I drink water. I also learned that I am a boredom eater, and that I eat out of habit frequently. Drinking water has helped with that a lot. But mostly I've learned that my body is capable of doing a lot when I take care of it.

I'm still on mine and I just posted a gain for the first time (BOO!), but the biggest lesson I've learned is DON'T GIVE UP!

I'm only human. I'm not Superwoman. Some days I will eat my emotions. Some days I will hurt physically and mentally. Some days I will have ultra crap-tastic workouts. Keep pushing. This isn't easy and it's sure as hell not fast. Do not quit.

^What she said!

I have lost 23lbs and feel great worked out everyday and ate great! BUT I was so sore I took two days off and two days grew to be a month . I didn't gain but didn't lose any more either. Getting started again has been hard as hell but a major lesson when you are that far ahead dont quit because it is so hard to get moving again.

I learned that if you had negative uninspiring people in your life when you were overweight...they are still the same *kitten* when you are fitter.

I learned that if you had negative uninspiring people in your life when you were overweight...they are still the same *kitten* when you are fitter.

..

This is the truth!!! My goal is to make them eat their negative words!! Prove their *kitten* wrong!!!

I reward myself with self-loving. And chocolate.

That losing weight is not going to magically fix my self image/self confidence issues overnight.

Wow, so true! I've been learning that too.

I have lost 23lbs and feel great worked out everyday and ate great! BUT I was so sore I took two days off and two days grew to be a month . I didn't gain but didn't lose any more either. Getting started again has been hard as hell but a major lesson when you are that far ahead dont quit because it is so hard to get moving again.

This is why I don't take rest days. If I'm sore, I back off but don't skip completely. I may take an easy stroll down by the river, ride my horse, do some gentle yoga. But I find it important to take some time each day for exercise, otherwise it is too easy to fall out of habit.

I've learned that a bad day, is exactly that. A bad DAY. 24 little hours. In the past I used to have a bad day - and then it would spiral out of control from there - and I'd be back at square one.

Now I live by the mantra: Logged, noted, learned.

I never have 2 bad days in a row anymore .... infact, I hardly have bad days at all now!

i work probably about 1000 times harder then i have to, and the same goes for a lot of people trying to lose weight.

most people would probably benefit more from doing a little less, being more patient, and focusing thier efforts on nutrition.

Can't tell you how much is stung when it finally sunk in that you really can't build muscle and burn fat at the same time.

That you don't have to eat salad & vegetables all day long to lose weight.
That you can in fact eat chocolate on a regular basis and still lose weight.
QUANTITY is where it matters.

Lessons learned:
1) this is a forever change. Not a right now change. Is what I';m doing for myself what I want to continue to do for the rest of my life, or am I just doing it to lose weight?
2) Although everything ends up coming down to the number, you have to choose your battles wisely. Focus on healthy, goal oriented numbers rather than weight. Focus on 5k's, lifting weights, losing inches rather than the scale.
3). Weights look different on different people.
4). I may never be a size 0, or even a size 10. That's ok.
5). No matter how s****y I feel, I NEVER regret a workout.
6). Not every work out has to be 1.5 hours. It's better to move than not move at all. Do SOMETHING rather than nothing.
7). There may be unhealthy things that are yummy, but you will feel better if you change them to be healthier and still get the same flavor affect.
8). Water is an amazing appetite suppressant.

How do I reward myself
1). Pampering in some way NOT food related- manicure, new clothes, massage, new kindle book.
2). Loving talk (this should be done daily... working on it). "Look what you did. You CAN do it... keep it up"

good luck to everyone else

I reward myself with self-loving. And chocolate.

This!!!

I've learned that I have to log everything. When I log everything I consume, I can face my mistakes OR celebrate my victories.

Me too!!!!

I have learned that I CANNOT have "cheat days." Cheat days get me completely off track and then its hard to get back onto it. I have also learned that once I allow myself to eat exercise cals I automatically think I can do it everyday....so i have to be pretty strict on myself!!

It's such a hard thing to balance. I have learned over the years that you have to allow yourself to enjoy food in moderation. Goodness knows I indulge but its unrealistic to never cheat. None of us got fat by simply having one chocolate bar that we shouldn't have. We simply made bad choices a habit instead of something to look forward to. I wouldn't use the word cheat but more of as a reward.