Lessons learned - What DIDN'T work for you?
tbullucks06
Posts: 128
Hi All,
This is my 2nd real time around so to speak. I lost 50 lbs two years ago. I decided to give myself a "break" back then thinking I could get back on the horse and I ended up gaining 40 of the 50lbs back. I have learned some things along the way that I'd like to share. I hope you share yours too!
1) Obviously - NO BREAKS! I've decided that it's ok to take a day off here and there but no more than that! NEVER STOP TRYING!
2) I have learned that weighing myself once a week wasn't working for me. If I didn't see a decent loss I would get discoraged and want to quit. I blame the Biggest Loser television show for this. Even though it's not realistic, losing a large amount of weight in one week can be done. So crazy me would think about that every weigh in week. I now weigh once a month to ensure I will see a decent (not crazy) loss.
3) I still get stressed and I still binge from time to time. When I binge, I make sure I weigh myself the next morning regardless to show myself the effects of it. It helps me to get back on track. I never did this before.
4) Doesn't matter if it's healthy, low calorie or whatever. If I can't control myself around it, I cannot have it in the house PERIOD. Sorry chips and salsa.
Ok, yeah - so I thought this list would be longer. Leaves plenty more to learn. I would love to hear what you have learned about yourselves! Please share.
This is my 2nd real time around so to speak. I lost 50 lbs two years ago. I decided to give myself a "break" back then thinking I could get back on the horse and I ended up gaining 40 of the 50lbs back. I have learned some things along the way that I'd like to share. I hope you share yours too!
1) Obviously - NO BREAKS! I've decided that it's ok to take a day off here and there but no more than that! NEVER STOP TRYING!
2) I have learned that weighing myself once a week wasn't working for me. If I didn't see a decent loss I would get discoraged and want to quit. I blame the Biggest Loser television show for this. Even though it's not realistic, losing a large amount of weight in one week can be done. So crazy me would think about that every weigh in week. I now weigh once a month to ensure I will see a decent (not crazy) loss.
3) I still get stressed and I still binge from time to time. When I binge, I make sure I weigh myself the next morning regardless to show myself the effects of it. It helps me to get back on track. I never did this before.
4) Doesn't matter if it's healthy, low calorie or whatever. If I can't control myself around it, I cannot have it in the house PERIOD. Sorry chips and salsa.
Ok, yeah - so I thought this list would be longer. Leaves plenty more to learn. I would love to hear what you have learned about yourselves! Please share.
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Replies
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I can't just will myself away from food - I have to distract myself. I've been doing well by staying out later in the evenings (I live by myself, so nobody misses me, lol) and I try to give myself tasks to finish, even if it's finishing a puzzle. No idleness! It can be fun stuff, but I can't just sit.0
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Lesson 1 (for me) ..... exercise has to be FOREVER.
I have always been a yo-yo dieter. I'm good ..... when I'm on a "diet." I exercise .......when I'm on a "diet." After that I slack off. I know that exercise is not the complete picture .... but it has to be in the picture or I will be "dieting" for the rest of my life. Exercise gives me some breathing room so to speak.
What doesn't work (for me) ...... diets that exclude stuff. I'm not going to be sugar-free for the rest of my life .... so I have to learn how to deal with it ..... sooner .... or later.0 -
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- ME EITHER!What doesn't work (for me) ...... diets that exclude stuff.0 -
Being in a minset of punishment, guilt, anger with myself etc, I find in that mindset that any slight transgression is like a psychological block. If I eat 200 extra cals it's so hard not to write off the day and think "well I failed, might as well lean into it" and then just eat a ton of junk food.
If I don't beat myself up about it and relax a little... today is another day. I'll just go for a walk or dance around the living room or something to burn off a few more calories. I'll skip dessert the next time I'm out somewhere. It's as easy to swerve those calories as it is to occasionally give in and just let yourself have a cookie without wasting time beating yourself up about it. I mean who wants to be that person where one bite of a cookie dictates the rest of your day, your mood, your choices?!
Trust me I WAS that person.
And now it's like meeehh not worth it. It's not a manic race to the bottom, it's about taking the long view and being happy with something sustainable.0 -
D I E T - I don't even use the word anymore. I am changing permanently not stopping or starting some temporary eating plan. That nasty 4 letter word just doesn't work for me.0
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Eating less than 600 calories before, previously being ill never worked for me. Sure, I lost weight, but I was no where near as healthy as I am now that I have a correct diet, and I am losing weight healthily, and allowing myself things I love in moderation! I'm a lot happier and a lot more motivated 0
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D I E T.....tried all sorts of diets.....all lasting from a day to a week.....
what worked:
scheduling exercise at the same time.....even if i have to drag myself to the gym i do it....
planning my meals so i carry my lunch and snacks to work to avoid raiding the vending machines or eating out with colleagues
increasing my protein so im not hungry n wont graze
not buying junk food....if its not in the house then i wont eat it
measuring out portions
im still a work in progress and im learning every day0 -
Not logging. Logging will have to be a forever thing for me. The moment I stopped logging, I lose control and I stop caring. Something about seeing the #'s on the screen and making me accountable even if I go way over keeps me in check. I can gain 60+ lbs in less than 6 months when I don't log. So, this will be a forever thing. God (Mike?), please don't ever take this site away.0
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Eating less than 600 calories before, previously being ill never worked for me. Sure, I lost weight, but I was no where near as healthy as I am now that I have a correct diet, and I am losing weight healthily, and allowing myself things I love in moderation! I'm a lot happier and a lot more motivated
Glad you stopped that girl!!!!!! I think that's the biggest misconception in losing weight. People think they need to absolutely STARVE themselves and it does more harm than good.0 -
God (Mike?), please don't ever take this site away.
I know, right? I would be LOST without it!0 -
What doesn't work for me is "eating what your body wants, when you feel hungry".
If I seriously just listened to my body even NOW when I've learned to eat better and have much healthier habits in general, I would probably eat around 800-1,000 calories per day of too much fat and WAY, way too much sugar. My body's over here like "I just want an egg and toast in the morning, snack of cheddar cheese, venti Starbucks with whip, and a Snickers for dinner".
So yeah, no. lol0 -
I could not stick to my diet when I cut out the things I loved to eat and make.
I found my self sitting and obsessing over eating a cookie or some chips. Which made me binge on them later. Now I just chill out. Have a few of what I want and really, really enjoy them.0 -
Having no motivational people. I goto the gym with my boyfriend, (my gym lacks on the ac so it is always hot). he gives up after a bit and it makes me not want to continue my workout.0
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What didn't work? Starving myself (i.e. netting less than BMR) and working out too much (yes, there is such a thing). Generally speaking, those are the only things that didn't work. I could get into the minutiae of what doesn't work for specific goals, but that's probably not what you're asking for here.0
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listening to people on internet forums...
I did my own research.0 -
Procrastinating workouts. Doing workout on a whim not a routine. Not progressive.
Case of ****arounditis.
Days off are important don't underestimate the power of rest.for the mind and building muscle.0 -
I also learned that if I want to eat more, then I have to workout. Sure 1200 calories is enough but some days I WANT more than that. If I want to lose weight then that's the only way I can HAVE more.0
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listening to people on internet forums...
I did my own research.
This. I had to make up my mind that I was going to lose weight. No more rationalizing, no more self delusion. It's part of being "selfish" and putting me first. NO more punishing my body by withholding food by skipping meals, if I'm too tired to exercise, I don't. I take a nap or I go to bed early.
I don't tell anyone else what they can or can not eat, that only applies to me.
Only foods that I WILL binge on are off-limits.0 -
Eating too little. I lose weight faster when I eat around 1400-1500 calories a day. MFP suggested 1200 but that isn't sustainable for me. I felt like I was dieting and that isn't how I want to live my life.0
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Not logging. Logging will have to be a forever thing for me. The moment I stopped logging, I lose control and I stop caring. Something about seeing the #'s on the screen and making me accountable even if I go way over keeps me in check. I can gain 60+ lbs in less than 6 months when I don't log. So, this will be a forever thing. God (Mike?), please don't ever take this site away.
ditto this....the power of logging....ive had to accept its going to be for forever too0 -
RUNNING didn't work for me. I am new to exercise this time around. I would always try running because I saw it as the ultimate weight loss exercise, since to many people that I knew who were successful with weight loss did it. I, however, hated every second of every run or jog. I joke about how quitting running was the best thing I ever did for my health, but it is true! I have found other just as effective methods of exercise that I love SO much more. Spin class (with weights) is one.
In the past I would be successful with weight loss by JUST eating healthy...but I had to be super strict and was very unhappy. This did not work. While learning to move have been an unbelievable challenge, it has made all of the difference in the world to me.0 -
What doesn't work for me...
1) Snake Oil (cleanses, flushes, magic pills/drinks, ketones, etc)
2) Confusing weight loss goals with fitness goals...they are mutually exclusive for me
3) Relying on a bunch of other people's bro-science. I've done a ton of research on health, nutrition, and fitness.
4) Failing to properly fuel my body
5) Deprivation0 -
For many years I tried Weight Watchers...over and over and over again. I finally realized it was never going to work for me.
Calorie cycling also did not work for me - the cycling was low calorie days and lower calorie days determined by an online calculator. I could not even complete my workouts & ended up falling face-first into many vats of Ben & Jerry's.
High carb, low fat, all healthy, unprocessed foods did not work for me. I actually followed a paid online plan (included a metabolism healing phase) with very specific, customized daily nutrients. Got my money back.0 -
Low or No carbs diet are the devil! I lost 20 lbs doing that, but once i stopped i gained them back and another 10!0
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form is very important makes such a big difference0
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As others have said: Not logging. If I don't track everything all the time, I lose serious focus. I will be tracking calories and exercise for the rest of my life; and I'm okay with that!0
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I will be tracking calories and exercise for the rest of my life; and I'm okay with that!
Love this!0 -
Love this topic!
What didn't work for me was NOT being fully comiitted. This is the first time for me actually being serious, committed and making THE DECISION to get fit. If you're not fully committed to make a life style change, if you have not actually decided... you will always go back to your old ways. I learned that it has to be when YOU are ready.0 -
Just because I'm eating clean does not mean I can over eat....calories are still calories - even from leafy greens!
It's hard finding that "sweet spot". I have a tendency to work out way too much and then not eat enough. Not balancing them has caused a lot of issues for me.
Figuring out WHY I'm over eating has been a bigger struggle than the actual over eating. I'm an emotional eater - I like to eat when I'm bored or depressed or angry - you name it. I know that dealing with those issues is as important as logging my food.
Understanding that I have a medical issue (hypothyroidism) and knowing that it may make it harder but it is not an excuse.0 -
Understanding that I have a medical issue (hypothyroidism) and knowing that it may make it harder but it is not an excuse.
I have hypothyroidism too. Its harder but not impossible.0
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