What contributed to your weight loss?

pinkakira1
pinkakira1 Posts: 235 Member
in Success Stories
Hi all. I am trying to really pull things together. I see all these wonderful stories and I wanted to ask what was a major contributing factor to your weight loss?

I noticed people who had 30+ pounds lost drank tons of water like 10 cups plus. What other small things have you changed that you feel really contributed to your loss?
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Replies

  • trevnem
    trevnem Posts: 93 Member
    drinking tons of water, lemon wedges in it most of the time! And Eating! I can actually feel what my body is saying now, even when im not hungry I snack on almonds or starwberrys, just something in between meals and I really think that's helping me, I have more energy and it takes less motivation when I fuel myself its like my body wants to work out!
  • nikkylyn
    nikkylyn Posts: 325 Member
    water is good but mostly determination to stick to my calorie goals. thats what helped most. i didnt want to stay stagnant anymore.
  • MADIABEL
    MADIABEL Posts: 13 Member
    I drink tons of water, watch my carbs and make sure to stay around my calorie intake for the day not to go above or below it too much has really helped. Make sure to just get out there and move for your exercise.
  • grillnchill
    grillnchill Posts: 772 Member
    Drinking more water, cutting out most processed foods and snacks, being more conscious about my portions (bought a food scale last week, one of the best purchases I've made in a while) basically tracking it ALL DOWN. It is a labor of love.
  • mzione904
    mzione904 Posts: 13 Member
    Personally it was finding exercises that I actually enjoyed (i.e. thank God for the C25K app) and modifying the Atkins diet. I also booked myself a celebration trip to Jamaica even though i had not lost one pound yet. The vision of wearing a bikini for the first time in my life really kept me motivated even on the difficult days. Good luck to you! :drinker:
  • Adc7225
    Adc7225 Posts: 1,318 Member
    I listen to my body , , , it tells me when I am eating junk.

    It's nice when people look in my cart at the grocery store and comment "you cook," my cabinets are pretty bare since most of my good are fresh or frozen. I also use a food scale . . . I take pictures of some servings so I can train myself how to visualize what really is a serving size.
  • Ivey05131980
    Ivey05131980 Posts: 1,118 Member
    I don't drink much water at all. Snack often, follow MFP guidelines to the best of your ability and move your butt. It has worked well for me. :wink:
  • viglet
    viglet Posts: 299 Member
    Taking one day at a time was the big changer for me.

    In the past, whenever I had a f-ed up eating day, I would just give up for the rest of the week and then for the rest of the month.
    Now I take it a day or even hour at a time.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    Keeping it simple. Sticking to calorie goals. Not eliminating or restricting certain types of foods. Moderation.
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    Getting control of my diet. Eating in Moderation. Eating smaller portions. Not eating everything in sight. Planning what I eat a day ahead.
  • briabner
    briabner Posts: 427 Member
    drinking 100 ounces upwards of 1 gallon of water per day

    staying within 2500 mg of sodium or less each day - this was probably the biggest thing that has helped me so far, the weight started falling off when I really started paying attention to my sodium

    not eating out but once a week or less, I am now only eating out maybe 2x per month. It has helped with my weight loss as well as with my budget!

    I try to eat at least 1 fruit or vegetable with every meal

    These are just a few. I have lost 47 pounds since January 2013
  • briabner
    briabner Posts: 427 Member
    oh and portion control was HUGE for me!!!! Definitely invest in a food scale.
  • Oscarinmiami
    Oscarinmiami Posts: 326 Member
    I used to drink 6 coca-colas a day and zero water and now i only drink one coke and 4-8 glasses of water....trying to make it zero cokes a day but it's tough, a 45 year addiction to coca-cola and 10 kidney stones later I am still struggling every day
  • cwaters120
    cwaters120 Posts: 354 Member
    In the end, it was my determination to stick to my goals (calorie AND workouts) that got me losing the most. The only one that can get you up off the couch and moving is YOU and the only one making the fork (spoon, fingers, etc) got to your mouth is YOU is what I kept telling myself. In the end it was ME that had to make the decision to change if I didnt' want to stay overweight the rest of my life. :smile:
  • VeroJuly
    VeroJuly Posts: 101 Member
    drink water and eat my exercise calories back! Balance weight training and cardio. Find exercise that you enjoy so that working out doesn't feel like a chore. Have fun :)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I ate at a modest deficit from maintenance...that is all. Along the way I learned a lot about portion control and moderation which both served me well maintaining for 6 months without logging. I'm on another cut now...i will observe a modest calorie deficit...that is all.
  • Snow3y
    Snow3y Posts: 1,412 Member
    The major contributor: Eating under your caloric daily allowance, and lifting to make shiz firm. Cardio isn't even a must, but great for health
  • MillyFleurs
    MillyFleurs Posts: 57 Member
    The first fifteen I wasn't even trying, I just quit eating/drinking empty calories and started eating healthier. Now I eat a nutritious diet (at a deficit) and workout 4-6 times a week.
  • _John_
    _John_ Posts: 8,646 Member
    moving heavy things that didn't move themselves and calorie restriction...

    PERIOD.
  • shirleylmartin
    shirleylmartin Posts: 68 Member
    Nutrition is about 80% of what your results are going to be. You'll find a lot of people here on MFP saying "calories in, calories out". But if you think about it, that is SO UNTRUE!!! 1400 calories of good, whole, REAL food is completely different than 1400 calories of junk like pre-made food, processed food, soda/pop, etc. Just focus on eating clean food; that's a good place to start.
  • Cindyinpg
    Cindyinpg Posts: 3,902 Member
    1. Accuracy: Logging my food everyday on MFP and using a food scale to calculate my intake and using a Bodymedia Fit to calculate my TDEE.
    2. Flexibilty: Incorporating foods I love everyday, after meeting my macro/micro/fiber goals. Never depriving myself and never demonizing any foods. IIFYM rocks!
    3. Cardio: Staying active, finding a cardio exercise that I love. Kickboxing.
    4. Weight training.
  • Mia_RagazzaTosta
    Mia_RagazzaTosta Posts: 4,885 Member
    moving heavy things that didn't move themselves and calorie restriction...

    PERIOD.

    x2

    I cut out soda, gave up carbs, and whatever other fads are out there. Nothing helped until I reigned in my eating, started eating at a true deficit (get a food scale to be sure), and lifting heavy.
  • charliex2202
    charliex2202 Posts: 4,281 Member
    For me personally it was The realisation that I am the ONLY one with the power to change things, by taking control of my life instead of just letting things remain the way they were! this is what motivates me to try harder every day.

    I think this whole process is equal parts a mental change as it is a physical change, if we only change our physical appearance we will eventually fall back into the same pattern we were in before, by understanding how we got there in the first place and accepting challenges, faults and realisations along the way I believe we will be more likely to succeed in getting the weight off and more importantly keeping it off,

    ~charlie
  • markiend
    markiend Posts: 461 Member
    I bought an exercise bike ( cheapy one) stopped stuffing sugary things daily ..cycled 15 miles a day for 3 months and the belly started to shift, slowly but surely

    Now I am trying to get rid of the rest using exercise , weights ( heavy ish) and a calorie deficit coupled with closely monitored nutrition
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    moving heavy things that didn't move themselves and calorie restriction...

    PERIOD.

    x2

    I cut out soda, gave up carbs, and whatever other fads are out there. Nothing helped until I reigned in my eating, started eating at a true deficit (get a food scale to be sure), and lifting heavy.

    All of the above too, except I didn't try fad diets. I usually tried stupid energy pills.
  • mockchoc
    mockchoc Posts: 6,573 Member
    Don't give up carbs, don't give up anything. It's fine to reduce the refined carbs if that is what you want to do but all that really counts is calories in versus calories out. I found walking good as I enjoy it and it's my time to zone out watching the ocean while burning some calories so I can eat more. No need to drink tons of water either, that is an old myth. Of course have some but you do get it from your foods and other drinks too so don't go worrying too much. If it helps though drink it more but no need to drink tons of water because you are hungry. You shouldn't be hungry anyhow while losing weight in the first place if you are eating the right amount of calories for you. DON'T starve yourself for this. You will only end up fat again later on.
  • alterone1982
    alterone1982 Posts: 18 Member
    Love the idea of taking a picture to remember portion sizes!
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Exercise!! Cardio, strength, balance and flexibility exercises. Calories burning (and thus, earning) exercise. For me, it is the proverbial magic potion for weight loss.
  • RealMarkD
    RealMarkD Posts: 92 Member
    Exercise, drinking A LOT of water (2-3 quarts per day), cutting out milk & cheese (thanks, milk allergy!), and cutting WAY back on soda (if I have more than 12 oz of Coke in a month, I've had a lot).
  • rickcote13
    rickcote13 Posts: 20
    Well Stated... Agree 1,000,000 percent... less chemicals = way better...
    Nutrition is about 80% of what your results are going to be. You'll find a lot of people here on MFP saying "calories in, calories out". But if you think about it, that is SO UNTRUE!!! 1400 calories of good, whole, REAL food is completely different than 1400 calories of junk like pre-made food, processed food, soda/pop, etc. Just focus on eating clean food; that's a good place to start.

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