first time doing it the healthy way

symphony1317
symphony1317 Posts: 2
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello, my name is sam and I am quite downtrodden at the moment. looking at myself in the mirror is making me want to cry and I think that makes this the final straw.
I think I know how to do this but I would love some advise or encouragement. I have tried to get my friends interested in exercising and eating right with me but it hasn't work and it is so hard doing it on my own.
I eat to much junk food, that's for sure. but do I really have to cut out all white bread/ rice, I don't really know what is ok and what needs to be avoided at all costs?
I have a gym membership and I enjoy the gym, but the motivation to get me their either in the morning before work or in the evening after is pretty much non-existent. I don't even know if i am exercising right. I use the elliptical for 30 minutes and then do core strengthening and then alternate between different body groups for additional toning.

Does this sound ok? any tips?
thanks everyone.

Replies

  • Stage14
    Stage14 Posts: 1,046 Member
    Welcome!

    No you don't have to cut anything out completely, unless your doctor Tells you to for medical reasons. As long as you're eating at a calorie deficit (which MFP automatically sets for you) you'll lose weight.

    As for the gym, I take my gym bag with me to work and stop on the way home. If I set foot in the house first, I'll find reasons not to go and morning workouts are just a big fat no for me. If I'm feeling especially unmotivated one day, I'll change into my workout clothes before I leave my job and listen to my workout playlist on the drive. Don't ask me why, but it helps.
  • PinkCoconut
    PinkCoconut Posts: 655 Member
    First of all, congrats on doing this the RIGHT way! Creating a healthier LIFESTYLE is definitely the way to go over temporary and ineffective diets!

    You don't have to cut anything out, for sure! Just be mindful of the food you're eating, track your food daily and gradually working on replacing your unhealthier eating choices with healthier eating choices.

    Your fitness routine sounds pretty good but if you're lacking motivation it may be that you're just not enjoying what it is that you're doing. Have you thought to try some classes? Many people find that group classes help them get the motivation and accountability they need as they start to meet and make friends with people in the class! When it comes to working out, the best thing you can do is find a workout that you really enjoy. To find that you'll have "date around" and try lots of different activities. The upswing of this trial and error process is that you're still getting fit while doing it! :)

    Does that make sense?
  • mybonnieliesovertheocean
    mybonnieliesovertheocean Posts: 47 Member
    well, i've been on here for a little over 2 months and i'm 14 lbs down!

    for me, i revamped my diet and i start my day off everyday with some kind of exercise.

    there are so many tips out there but here are a few to get started on:

    -do your muscle building exercise before your cardio... this is a tip from my old trainer who helped me drop 2 dress sizes

    -make 1 change per week in your diet... going cold turkey on everything is going to make you bonkers!

    -yes, brown rice and whole grains are better for you than the white versions (slower sugar release which keeps you fuller longer)

    -increase your fresh fruit and veg intake (my complexion and waste are thanking me for it)

    -develop a good support system... if your friends and family don't want to do this with you, that's okay, there are tons of people here who do. hearing a "hoorah" from anyone for your hard work is incredible encouragement. feel free to friend me if you need an extra moral boost.

    good luck on your weight loss journey. YOU CAN DO THIS!
  • april1445
    april1445 Posts: 334
    Come on here every day and you will find that you slowly learn and incorporate new things into your lifestyle, and you will make changes. Why do you need your friends to come along with you? It's your body.
  • Hildy_J
    Hildy_J Posts: 1,050 Member
    Sam! You can DO this!

    Agree with everything said above....

    I would start by logging every last little thing you eat and get a handle on your calorie intake.. then take it from there with the exercise and diet aspects.

    Go for it! xx
  • symphony1317
    symphony1317 Posts: 2
    Thanks so much guys, I am feeling a lot better about it now and it doesn't seem quite so scary as before!
  • cherryblossomrose
    cherryblossomrose Posts: 41
    Hi there,

    First bit of advice I would give is - don't beat yourself up about the exercise. I started with just keeping a calorie deficit using MFP. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy! Well, sort of. You will have good days, and not so good days. If I have a bad day, I aim for a weekly deficit, which I usually manage, no trouble.

    I only introduced exercise after a couple of months. I walked already, so I suppose that is exercise that I did not really count (going to/from work each day). It has taken me months to find what exercise works best for my lifestyle. My trick is to find a good tele programme and do press ups, leg raises, sit up and anything else I can really work at with the tele on. I also have a set of handweights, so will do arm exercises for 5 mins and then do my legs again, depending on my mood. This is because I care for elderly relative at home and cannot leave her in evenings, so fits in best for me. I just set the timer on my iPod and log it on MPF.

    Good luck. It is possible to fit some form of exercise in, no matter what your lifestyle.

    PS I have lost 10kg over 6 months and now maintaining and I have not set foot in a gym in all that time. Focus for me now is continuing to tone up.

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