How to start, really start?

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Replies

  • LVCeltGirl
    LVCeltGirl Posts: 473
    Baby steps, read what was suggested (it's all very informative). Focus on the small goals, and you'll find the larger ones attained.

    As everyone has said, one day at a time and the realization that this is a lifetime journey. You'll have the journey change as you progress but it's never over. It's going to have it's ups and downs (and not only on the scale). But you're searched and asked for help so you're trying to build a support group to encourage you during the "downs" of the journey and cheer you when you're on the "ups" of the journey.

    You can do this! It all starts with that first step.
  • rosy_08
    rosy_08 Posts: 51 Member
    I agree with everyone who says take it one day at a time and set small goals. Seriously, set the tiniest of goals that you know you can do and once you start achieving that you can step it up more. It's going to take a lot of patience with yourself. You will have "bad" days but once it's done, it's done. You learn from it and move on.

    I started working on a healthier me (again...) this month. I started off with a goal I knew I could do. Go to the gym at least 3 times that first week. While there I did a simple 20-30 minute workout and as sore as I was, I felt great! It made me think about the future - about the day that I'd be able to do that workout without feeling like I was about to die. It was definitely motivating. Then I worked on eating less fast food and making healthier meals at home. The pounds have slowly started coming off and I have broken down and eaten unhealthily a few times, but I keep working at it. It's a process.

    Just get started. Do one thing that puts you on a healthier path right now (or at least sometime TODAY!) :happy:
  • Sharon_C
    Sharon_C Posts: 2,132 Member
    I set smaller goals. For instance when I first started I just wanted to lose 5 pounds so my jeans didn't fit so tightly. When I reached that goal I decided I could afford to lose another 5 pounds. When I reached that I decided I could do 10 pounds and so on. It worked well for me to look at it in small increments.

    I didn't make all the changes at once. At first I concentrated on eating smaller portions and learning to log my calories. Then I started making better food choices--that change just evolved on its own. After I lost almost all of my weight I decided it was time to exercise. If you do a little at a time it won't seem so overwhelming.

    Read the guide to sexy pants that someone else posted.

    And this blog post is really inspirational. Basically it tells you not to give up if you have one bad day. As long as the good days outweigh the bad days you are good. http://jamesclear.com/plan-failure

    Also, remember this is about you, not your husband or anyone else. If he can't work out on a certain day that's his problem, not yours. You keep going because this is a journey you have to take on your own. I work out 4x/week. My husband maybe works out one day a week. He complains about not being able to make it to the gym. I make it a priority to make it to the gym and don't let myself get side tracked.
  • AnitaCRice
    AnitaCRice Posts: 114 Member
    I agree with what everyone else has said, except that it's the government's and society's fault that you're overweight. I'm pretty sure I'm overweight because I like to eat!

    It took trying something new to get me motivated to stick to a plan. I bought a Fitbit annd joied MFP. I had success with Weight Watchers in the past, which absolutely works, but I needed something new. Good luck!
  • Krohnie
    Krohnie Posts: 286 Member
    Thanks guys. I really appreciate the support. Time to get started. Not tomorrow, now. Too bad the weather stinks! Maybe I'll try one of those DVDs!
  • chele1028
    chele1028 Posts: 248 Member
    Yes, just want it bad enough, that is what worked for me. Break it down in 5 lb goals if 45 sounds overwhelming. I had twice as much to lose, and I would always shoot for ten lb increments. Just don't give up, trust me if you keep with it, you will be so glad you stuck with it as those lbs start coming off. Don't let excuses derail you. You can do this, tell yourself that every day! Best wishes!
  • LoosingMyLast15
    LoosingMyLast15 Posts: 1,457 Member
    it sounds to me like you might just be ready to start. breath and commit to one day just one. stop looking at the BIG PICTURE and just look at one day. what can you do today that will aide in your desire to become healthy. going to the grocery store today - park in the very last spot and walk to the doors. swap out one unhealthy food item for something that's a bit healthier. if you normally take 2 big scoops of pasta have 1 and make a small salad to go along with it. no one's home - do a few jumping jacks. you mentioned dvds - try one even if you just do it for 15 minutes. you don't have to do the whole thing if you can't.

    you know it's time. you're on here right.
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    Time to get started. Not tomorrow, now.

    LOVE this. It's key! "I'll start Monday" never works. I started mid-day actually :)
  • eimaj5575
    eimaj5575 Posts: 278 Member
    Well the first thing you should remember is it doesnt matter how long it will take you. If your changing your life style this will be a life long thing. There is no finish line bc you will continue to live this way for life.
  • thavoice
    thavoice Posts: 1,326 Member
    Any thoughts on how to start? How to not get so distracted by how long it's going to take to lose 45 lbs, and how last year it was only 35 lbs? How do I move forward and decide I'm sick of my fat pants being tight and my size 40 bra being too tight? How do I get past being the fat girl in the family and become the girl who dies something about it? How do I get past a hubby who's responses to my exercise plan are "well, you won't be able to that on these days?" When do I crash into the bottom, stand up and say I'm so sick of it and decide to make changes that last longer than a month? How do I decide to just get going, how do I decide which plan is "right". How do I give up putting faith and money into gadgets and DVDs that don't work if you don't do them. How do I get the girl in the mirror and those ugly family photos to match the image I have of myself in my head ? I'm just so overwhelmed, but doing nothing is getting more overwhelming by the minute!
    Keep it simple. If you look at the whole journey then it may overwhelm you.
    Take it meal by meal. Day by Day.
    . You dont need gadgets, you dont need special pills. YOu dont need alot of money (matter of fact a weight loss journey will fatten your wallet). You dont need videos. YOu dont need a gym.

    ALl you need is a belief in yourself that you are worth it.

    When you think of it, weight loss is a simple mathematics formula that you learned in grade school. Calories out need to be more than calories in.

    Simple.

    Use Mother Nature's vast playground to walk, run, lunges, etc.

    You can do it if you truly want to.
  • MikePXstream
    MikePXstream Posts: 965 Member
    Any thoughts on how to start? How to not get so distracted by how long it's going to take to lose 45 lbs, and how last year it was only 35 lbs? How do I move forward and decide I'm sick of my fat pants being tight and my size 40 bra being too tight? How do I get past being the fat girl in the family and become the girl who dies something about it? How do I get past a hubby who's responses to my exercise plan are "well, you won't be able to that on these days?" When do I crash into the bottom, stand up and say I'm so sick of it and decide to make changes that last longer than a month? How do I decide to just get going, how do I decide which plan is "right". How do I give up putting faith and money into gadgets and DVDs that don't work if you don't do them. How do I get the girl in the mirror and those ugly family photos to match the image I have of myself in my head ? I'm just so overwhelmed, but doing nothing is getting more overwhelming by the minute!

    You have already started - by getting on here, sharing your frustrations, and deciding that you want to make a change for the better. As many others have said, take it one day at a time. I am a big advocate for identifying your true "why". Why do you want to be healthier? Why do you want to make a lifestyle change for the better. I recently wrote an article in here titled "What is your why" Take a look at it. It just might be something that will help you. when you truly know your deeper reasoning why you want to change for the better, it will give you the fuel to push harder and farther, bringing you to the results you desire.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1261159-what-is-your-why
  • Deena_Bean
    Deena_Bean Posts: 906 Member
    You're on your way now by getting this post rolling. Everyone's given you some great tips, too. My ex-husband wasn't super supportive and didn't want to take walks or anything with me (not often anyways) and I have twins who are in elementary school so evenings of course were crazy as hell and no time for working out. I was determined though and I signed up here and started logging my food. I should add that we were so broke at the time, too, that my "healthy food" options were limited...but not impossible. I could cook the same meal for everyone in a healthier way and nobody seemed to care or really notice, actually. I also started getting up SUPER early to work out. I was already a member of the YMCA because my kids went there for before/after care for school - so I made use of their free classes. They had boot camp at 5:30am M-W-F. I worked up the nerve and joined. And I loved it. And it didn't interfere with any of these "you can't do that at these times" issues. It caused other issues, but that's neither here nor there since my former marriage is not your current. If you can't join early classes/gyms, get up early and do a workout DVD at home before the house starts moving. There is a way to do it, you just have to be willing to do it and commit to it. I did it when I was broke as hell and miserable...you can do it, too! I promise :flowerforyou:

    p.s. I don't do boot camp anymore because of the divorce/moving, etc., but now I walk or run on the treadmill I got for Christmas...free apps for workouts using minimal equipment...I'm finding a way where I can! :drinker:
  • sweeneyn14
    sweeneyn14 Posts: 5 Member
    Something's got to set you off. For me it was watching my 85 year old mother go through surgical foot amputations this summer because she's a diabetic. Our family has sugar issues but the diabetes we tend towards is adult on-set and treatable, if done early enough, with diet and exercise. I looked at how they were chopping Mom from the bottom up and then I looked at: my BMI: Obese; blood sugar: at the high end of the prediabetic range; my cholesterol: way too high. I saw myself in Mom's position in a few years and then I said "oh no I WONT - not ME!" My Mom literally begged me saying I should do something now while I still can. It's too late for her. She's lost a lot but her pancreas can no longer be healed. I'm just over halfway through the 60 pounds I need to lose and it's taken me 7.5 months to go this far. It's a really long road, that can be frustratingly slow, but I'm transforming and I know it's okay to go slow. BTW, my blood sugar is now normal (yay!) and my cholesterol is MUCH improved.

    If you don't want to have a horrible old-age, change NOW! You still have time and then not only will YOU not have to go through this stuff but your children also will not have to watch you suffer. Do it for yourself AND do it for them!
  • smooshe
    smooshe Posts: 8 Member
    one small change every day and eventually everything is different!! I know you can do it!!
  • beamer0821
    beamer0821 Posts: 488 Member
    echoing most of what everyone else has stated.
    baby steps.
    go easier on yourself. it was a revelation to me that when i stopped putting pressure on myself to LOSE THE WEIGHT, i lost the weight.
    a more easier, layed back approach mentally is key for me. i ate a cupcake? so what it was good. i recorded it and moved on. BEFORE, i would have beaten myself up thought my diet was over, etc. etc. etc. and then eat the whole tray of cupcakes....
    not good.

    take all the pressure off.
    i like to start with a healthy breakfast, forget about the rest of the day. just start with breakfast for a couple of weeks. then move on to the other meals.

    go for a walk, don't pressure yourself to hit the gym or a DVD. just go for a brisk walk...thats it. get an audiobook.

    good luck!
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    Its not about the gadgets or DVDs or meal kits. Its about lifestyle change and you can't go back, ever. Eat at a deficit and don't cheat or it will take longer. No starvation required, Eat at a deficit that will have you lose 1 or 2 pounds a week. If you exercise you get to eat more. I found this to be very motivating. Another great place to start is to shed the unhealthy foods and get your percentages of carbs, fats and proteins in order. Get started now!
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    This is everything you need to know, starting out.

    Relax and enjoy the process. :)

    +1
  • Heliconia
    Heliconia Posts: 166 Member
    I don't believe in baby steps. For me and this is my opinion people, doing everything at the same time makes it easier. You need to see some good results in order to stay motivated. Only changing say breakfast will not give you enough of an emotional boost to keep you going. Set your goals to 2 pounds a week and make sure you are under your calories every day. No cheat days. You have had enough of them. Sometime in the future but not now. What you eat is more important than how much you exercise. Eat good wholesome food, making sure you are getting enough protein (I advocate low carb but that is not your question) and you will see results. Good luck!

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