So you just woke up one day and...
JenniferLynWhatx
Posts: 141 Member
So all you successful people just woke up one day, started eating less and working out, and never stopped? I go on again and off again, never manage to lose any weight, and it's extremely discouraging. I've always been big, but then one day my thyroid was like "bye Felicia" and it was like I woke up HUGE. I managed to log every day for over a month. Lost barely 5 lbs... And then, just like all the other times I've tried in my life, I stopped. How do you just wake up one day and change everything forever?
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Dedication.
Self Discipline.
Self Control
Motivation
Inspiration
Its all about your mindset.
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Five pounds in a month is a great loss, at a bit over a pound a week.
I told myself that it was going to take a long time. I figured eighteen months to my goal at the time. In reality, I've been at this since January 2014 and have been off track for the past 8-9 months, so I'm only now buckling down. But I've learned what works for me (moderation) and what doesn't (restriction).
Have you read this thread? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
I woke up in 1988 7lbs overweight
DIETED
Then yoyoed for 28 years
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If you want to achieve your goals, you just do it. You have to want to achieve weight loss more than you want to consume in excess.
There is no magic pill or fairy dust that will make it happen.
It's a long arduous road of hard work and dedication, which is however slightly tempered by the fact that it is a very simple process of consuming less calories than you expend over a sustained period of time.0 -
I was a yo-yo dieter for five years but I know this time it's for good. I went to the doctor for the first time in years and my bloodwork was a little alarming. Everything was 'borderline'. And my son is getting to an age where he wants me to go outside and run around with him all the time and I couldn't do it. It just clicked. I'm down 41 lbs and have 49 to go to get into a healthy weight range.
There was a shift for me where it wasn't about my appearance anymore (whereas in the past I was mainly concerned with looking good and fitting into smaller sizes). Looking thinner is just a side effect for me now. I want to be healthy for my family.0 -
No, there have been times where I took a week or 2 off. There have been days where I ate like a horse, way over my calorie goal. There have been days where I just didn't feel like working out and there have been days where I didn't work out at all. When I have those types of days, I just roll with it for a day or 2 but then I always go right back to my routine. Losing weight isn't about being perfect every day, you're going to have bad days and even bad weeks but you just don't stop.
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Five pounds in a month is a great loss, at a bit over a pound a week.
I told myself that it was going to take a long time. I figured eighteen months to my goal at the time. In reality, I've been at this since January 2014 and have been off track for the past 8-9 months, so I'm only now buckling down. But I've learned what works for me (moderation) and what doesn't (restriction).
Have you read this thread? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
None of that is new information for me... Honestly I don't think there is any "new" information. 5lbs a month isn't enough for someone at my size.
I obviously just don't care enough about myself to do better.
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Yep, just woke up one day and something had clicked, it was time. I stuck to a strict schedule for a couple of months religiously by which time it became habit and it's just a natural part of my life now.
And 5lbs a month is perfect, I've never lost more than that. It may take longer than you'd like but nearly a year later I'm 44lbs down and counting, it all adds up. The time will pass anyway so I may as well just try to be as consistent as possible and see where I end up. So far so good.0 -
Nope.
I took a good look at the fact that I was eating like a moron and stopped doing that--ate less junk and normal portion sizes. Wrote down my food but didn't weigh/measure/calorie count. After a month I started taking walks for exercise a few times a week. A month later I added some bodyweight exercise and started C25k. A month later, when I had stalled for several weeks, I started calorie counting.
I don't recommend changing everything at once. Too many people cut their calories way low, crank their activity up high, and then burn out after a month. They'd be better off taking baby steps.0 -
JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »Five pounds in a month is a great loss, at a bit over a pound a week.
I told myself that it was going to take a long time. I figured eighteen months to my goal at the time. In reality, I've been at this since January 2014 and have been off track for the past 8-9 months, so I'm only now buckling down. But I've learned what works for me (moderation) and what doesn't (restriction).
Have you read this thread? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
None of that is new information for me... Honestly I don't think there is any "new" information. 5lbs a month isn't enough for someone at my size.
I obviously just don't care enough about myself to do better.
Well, that's a negative attitude. You should be proud of ANY progress you've made.
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Mindset and commitment. It's not always easy but it is so worth it! Having great support is key as well. Everyone I have met on here has been wonderful! Add me if you would like
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This is my third stint at doing this , but this time it all clicked into place. I was too obsessed with changing up too many things , that it became restrictive and boring and I gave up too quick.
Now older and wiser I have realised I can still eat the same things just not the same amounts. As I get further in to this journey I'm looking more into nutrition and making better choices without having to deny myself treats.
I also walk more and earn extra calories through exercise.
Take baby steps, and just take each day as it comes, if you mess up just start again at the next meal.
You have to motivate yourself , you have to push yourself , there are no quick fixes
And btw 5lbs loss in a month is great , my first month I lost 8 then the following month 6 .
Weight loss is slow but completely achievable, you just have to want it enough to keep pushing on day after day.
Good luck0 -
JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »So all you successful people just woke up one day, started eating less and working out, and never stopped? I go on again and off again, never manage to lose any weight, and it's extremely discouraging. I've always been big, but then one day my thyroid was like "bye Felicia" and it was like I woke up HUGE. I managed to log every day for over a month. Lost barely 5 lbs... And then, just like all the other times I've tried in my life, I stopped. How do you just wake up one day and change everything forever?
Sort of
I yo yo'd for 3 years at first.
Starting logging here and doing circuit training and wasn't losing as fast as I should have been
Started using a food scale fixed that...
Started lifting
Hit GW of 165...chose to drop another 10...did that...chose to drop another 10...did that
Started walking more, kept lifting, started running, kept lifting
Hit maintenance and gave myself 10lbs (5 either way) and have pretty much been there for a while.
So I don't eat less now (well I do atm at I was travelling a lot last month) but once you are happy with your weight you get to eat more food..
And exercise isn't a requirement but allows for more food which is a good thing.0 -
strong_curves wrote: »JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »Five pounds in a month is a great loss, at a bit over a pound a week.
I told myself that it was going to take a long time. I figured eighteen months to my goal at the time. In reality, I've been at this since January 2014 and have been off track for the past 8-9 months, so I'm only now buckling down. But I've learned what works for me (moderation) and what doesn't (restriction).
Have you read this thread? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
None of that is new information for me... Honestly I don't think there is any "new" information. 5lbs a month isn't enough for someone at my size.
I obviously just don't care enough about myself to do better.
Well, that's a negative attitude. You should be proud of ANY progress you've made.
Negative and a bit dramatic.
Do you want help or do you just wanna whine about any info presented to you. If you KNOW this stuff already then just put it in application. If you want to lose weight you have to put in actual real effort. 5 lbs in a month is good for ANYONE, doesn't matter what size you are. Weight loss isn't a linear thing. Use a food scale and be honest about what you're putting in your mouth. Move more eat less. or even just eat less, you don't even have to move if you don't want to. There's obviously something that you aren't doing quite right.
Quit the woe is me attitude and maybe you'll get somewhere.0 -
Accountability..
That no one but me can make the changes I need.. (Whether I need testing from doctors for thyroid pcos etc, or just eat less move more)
It's all on me. And I deserve this so I'll do it.
Along with lots of great advice above me.0 -
Afraid to say, that I just did exactly that
Woke up one morning and decided that day was the day to change my lifestyle. Found MFP after a couple of weeks and have been logging consistently since then (I'm now on day 211). And I kept with it, even through Christmas and birthdays, weeks of no weight loss, injury, frustration and other barriers.
It's now become such a habit that I feel cheated if I don't get to go out for a daily walk (I walk a minimum of six miles a day, usually more - I think that when I totted it up last, I'd walked nearly 400 miles in four months).
But I have to agree with the comment about mindset - that day I woke up, I knew that I was going to get rid of all my excess weight. I'm nowhere near goal yet but slowly and surely I'm getting there. I estimate it will take another twelve months and I am more than prepared for that. The motivation and determination to achieve come from within. I remember times in my life whereby I thought that I wanted to lose weight but, thinking back on it, I wasn't ready to make the change. This time I am.
That besides, losing 5lbs in a month is pretty good going - I've had some months where I've hardly lost a thing but you just have to keep going with it.0 -
JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »Five pounds in a month is a great loss, at a bit over a pound a week.
I told myself that it was going to take a long time. I figured eighteen months to my goal at the time. In reality, I've been at this since January 2014 and have been off track for the past 8-9 months, so I'm only now buckling down. But I've learned what works for me (moderation) and what doesn't (restriction).
Have you read this thread? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
None of that is new information for me... Honestly I don't think there is any "new" information. 5lbs a month isn't enough for someone at my size.
I obviously just don't care enough about myself to do better.
Five pounds a month is great. You can lose five pounds a month and be 60 pounds lighter by this time next year. Or you can choose not to do anything and be as heavy as you are right now, but a year older with skin that has been stretched out for a year longer and has lost a bit more elasticity, meaning that if you do eventually lose the weight its ability to shrink back is likely to be a bit more diminished.0 -
When I set my mind to something, I never give up.
I agree with iecreamhead--it's a mindset of determination, tenacity, and self discipline. I keep being rewarded for my hard work, so I stay motivated.
I want to be a fit athlete. So I'm behaving like one in training. I want to be slim and sexy. So I'm doing the work to get there. I want to be healthy as I age. So I'm improving my physical health with actions I take every single day.
Wishing gets you nowhere. Action can get you almost anywhere.
My turning point was attending a party with my husband's coworkers and spouses. I felt fat and unattractive, and I'd had ENOUGH.0 -
I didn't wake up one morning and decide to do this. It was at about 12:30 PM in the afternoon at work. Eating a giant lunch, working, mindlessly shoving food into my face, multi-tasking. Somewhere in the back of my mind I assumed that my lunch choice for that day was healthy. A co-worker walked by with the same kind of lunch and said "Oh yeah, I love this kind of food too, but to bad it's so fattening and unhealthy". I stopped what I was doing and I Googled the type of food I was eating. When I actually started reading nutritional values for the first time I realized how wrong I was about my food choice, and how ignorant I was about the information. I began to think about all of my other choices and that was it. I threw my lunch away and did some basic 'getting started' research for the rest of the day. The very next day I started my journey and I never looked back. To keep my motivation I continue to do research and stay up on the latest trends in healthcare and all things nutrition and exercise. I also change my routines (food and exercise) about every 30 days. I seek out and try new products. I research supplements. I enrolled in a program and just earned my nutritionist license, now working on a license for holistic nutrition consulting. It doesn't matter what you know or what you don't know. It doesn't matter how you feel or don't feel. It comes down to your level of readiness to change. If you're truly ready, you'll change. If you have doubts, nothing and no one in the world can make you ready.0
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JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »Five pounds in a month is a great loss, at a bit over a pound a week.
I told myself that it was going to take a long time. I figured eighteen months to my goal at the time. In reality, I've been at this since January 2014 and have been off track for the past 8-9 months, so I'm only now buckling down. But I've learned what works for me (moderation) and what doesn't (restriction).
Have you read this thread? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
None of that is new information for me... Honestly I don't think there is any "new" information. 5lbs a month isn't enough for someone at my size.
I obviously just don't care enough about myself to do better.
and what size is that?
As for your attitude okay so set yourself up for failure one more time and see if that makes it better?
It took me almost 2 years to lose 60lbs here...it wasn't just waking up one day and changing everything it was baby steps for 2 years...now I am a size 4 when I never thought I would be smaller than a size 12...
smh...I don't have a lot of tolerance for this type of attitude actually...so suck it up buttercup...you either want it or you don't.0 -
I doubt many people did wake up one day and change everything forever. Most people have off days or weeks, even months. Most people slip back into old habits now and then. It's shaking those times off and moving on that leads to long term success. Weight control is a lifelong thing, it's neither necessary or normal to be perfect every day.
5 lbs in a month is great! At that rate you'd lose 60 lbs in a year!
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JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »Five pounds in a month is a great loss, at a bit over a pound a week.
I told myself that it was going to take a long time. I figured eighteen months to my goal at the time. In reality, I've been at this since January 2014 and have been off track for the past 8-9 months, so I'm only now buckling down. But I've learned what works for me (moderation) and what doesn't (restriction).
Have you read this thread? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
None of that is new information for me... Honestly I don't think there is any "new" information. 5lbs a month isn't enough for someone at my size.
I obviously just don't care enough about myself to do better.
Yes, it is.0 -
I always want to lose weight. But one day I woke up and decided to do things about it.
Joined weight watchers first, since I'd been successful there before. I also joined curves, a woman's gym. This time, however, weight watchers did not work for me, so I quit, I went to a medical professional, and a dietitian. I had my thyroid tested, and found out I had hypothyroidism, and was put on medication. I also quit Curves because I didn't feel like I was getting enough of a workout, and found an exercise video series that I liked much better. Since I have been going to the diet doctor and dietitian, I have been on a lower carb higher protein and fat diet, and I have been losing weight slowly. I would love to lose 5 pounds in one month, usually for me it's about 2 pounds a month. But I have been losing inches because I have been exercising nearly every day since I started this in July. I did not make all changes at one time. First I stopped eating bread. Then I stopped eating rice, and pasta. Then I had to change the fruits that I was eating, and adding more vegetables to my diet and fiber. I started weighing and measuring my food again to make sure my portions were correct.
It's a lot to do, but to me, it's worth it. It is an ongoing process, that I am still learning about. But I am losing even if it's slowly, and my body is in better shape than it has been in a long time.
Like anything else this is something that you have to learn how To do in order to be successful.0 -
Annnnd..we have some more "tough Love" type posts. Empathy people, empathy!!
I have been through years of "f**k it, pass the pizza, because I didn't care enough. Now there are some things I care about and I had to face up to it. Last year I was ill for four months and then developed a bad back. I had to tell my friends no to so many things and became almost a hermit. I haven't recovered yet (although its a bit better now) but hopefully as the weight goes it will help a bit.
I have to plan any outing meticulously to ensure I can park somewhere close to where I'm going because I can't walk far without being in unbelievable amounts of pain. I don't want to tell people this because I'm embarrassed so I end up not going. I had to ask for an extender belt on a plane last year because I've now got to that point oh how embarrassed was I? Well, I'm 38 years old, I'm single and I don't want to spend my life just working or being on my own all the time. Being fat controls everything I do and is constantly in my thoughts. It has way too much control over my life and that is my motivation.
I would recommend you really face what the extra weight does to your life. It will be very personal to you, but you have to be honest with yourself. Then you might find that reminding yourself of these things helps to keep you motivated for the long haul.
Also really log everything accurately, even if you have gone well over your target for the day. Its worth it to know what you're eating and to be able to put a number to it, it might help your decision making process.0 -
JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »Five pounds in a month is a great loss, at a bit over a pound a week.
I told myself that it was going to take a long time. I figured eighteen months to my goal at the time. In reality, I've been at this since January 2014 and have been off track for the past 8-9 months, so I'm only now buckling down. But I've learned what works for me (moderation) and what doesn't (restriction).
Have you read this thread? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
None of that is new information for me... Honestly I don't think there is any "new" information. 5lbs a month isn't enough for someone at my size.
I obviously just don't care enough about myself to do better.
Two red flags here. Like others have said, 5 pounds in a month is a great loss. If that's never going to be good enough for you, you're going to have a hard time at this. Healthy, sustainable weight loss is a slow process, I don't care what size you are. Yes, some people put up big numbers those first few weeks, but that's mostly water weight and always slows down. This is not a race, it's a lifetime journey.
Caring about yourself doesn't mean losing the most weight in the shortest amount of time. If you didn't care about yourself, you wouldn't be here asking this question. So give yourself a freaking break, ok. There will be times you do everything right, but the scale doesn't budge. That's just how it goes for all of us. And even when you do slip up, you can't beat yourself up about it. Just try and do better tomorrow. Each day is an opportunity to improve.
FWIW, I've lost over 50 pounds since last June. It's been slow, and I've had a couple of minor setbacks (I'm talking to you, Thanksgiving!) but those 8.5 months would have passed anyway. Now instead of being even heavier and feeling worse, I've lost 25% of my body weight and feel fantastic! Like my mom always said, nothing worthwhile ever comes easy.0 -
Annnnd..we have some more "tough Love" type posts. Empathy people, empathy!!
I have been through years of "f**k it, pass the pizza, because I didn't care enough. Now there are some things I care about and I had to face up to it. Last year I was ill for four months and then developed a bad back. I had to tell my friends no to so many things and became almost a hermit. I haven't recovered yet (although its a bit better now) but hopefully as the weight goes it will help a bit.
I have to plan any outing meticulously to ensure I can park somewhere close to where I'm going because I can't walk far without being in unbelievable amounts of pain. I don't want to tell people this because I'm embarrassed so I end up not going. I had to ask for an extender belt on a plane last year because I've now got to that point oh how embarrassed was I? Well, I'm 38 years old, I'm single and I don't want to spend my life just working or being on my own all the time. Being fat controls everything I do and is constantly in my thoughts. It has way too much control over my life and that is my motivation.
I would recommend you really face what the extra weight does to your life. It will be very personal to you, but you have to be honest with yourself. Then you might find that reminding yourself of these things helps to keep you motivated for the long haul.
Also really log everything accurately, even if you have gone well over your target for the day. Its worth it to know what you're eating and to be able to put a number to it, it might help your decision making process.
I have empathy...I was obese (lost 60lbs) but I didn't feel sorry for myself when I lost 5lbs in one month...I was happy that it was working.
I got sick and tired of being sick and tired and it hurting as I walked and being unhealthy.
You will have to excuse me if I don't fall for the posts that are looking for "ah poor thing...." response...not getting it from me.0 -
I didn't just wake up one day motivated. I had to gradually realize that my weight was making me a very unhappy person and I knew very well what would correct that. I just didn't want to do it.
I worked up my resolve and took a baby step. I didn't change anything about the way I eat, but just reduced my portions, weighed them and logged them. I'm still not eating all the vegetables I should or getting the exercise I'm supposed to. Baby steps.
Time will pass whether you do this or not. In a year from now, you could be significantly closer to your goal, if not already there. If you quit, where will you be in a year?
Come on. Just do this. Be relentless.
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JenniferLynWhatx wrote: »Five pounds in a month is a great loss, at a bit over a pound a week.
I told myself that it was going to take a long time. I figured eighteen months to my goal at the time. In reality, I've been at this since January 2014 and have been off track for the past 8-9 months, so I'm only now buckling down. But I've learned what works for me (moderation) and what doesn't (restriction).
Have you read this thread? https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
None of that is new information for me... Honestly I don't think there is any "new" information. 5lbs a month isn't enough for someone at my size.
I obviously just don't care enough about myself to do better.
Huh? Well, you can lose 5lbs a month and be 60 lbs lighter in a year, or you could do nothing and stay the same weight or heavier.
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Oh how little empathy the people on this site have. Smh. I knew better than to post about this. Lesson learned. I hope none of you ever have a bad day, just to have someone say "suck it up." If you don't have anything nice to say....
But thank you to everyone who responded with their experiences and words of encouragement. I sincerely doubt that there has ever been an obese person who never had a moment of self-doubt and self-pity. Smh.0 -
Annnnd..we have some more "tough Love" type posts. Empathy people, empathy!!
I see a lot of "empathy" here in this thread. And good advice.0
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