What Other Factors (Besides Nutrition) Help You Succeed?

KristinaPS713 · May 2016

Changing my mentality from scolding myself for eating a dessert or not exercising as much as I "should be" to reminding myself to take it one day at a time, thinking about all the positives, not only the negatives.

Making sure I DRINK WATER.

Setting reasonable goals for myself. Before, I would just suddenly decided I was going to lose XX pounds in one week. Then I would be so disappointed and mad at myself when this didn't happen. Now, I know how to set appropriate goals for my body, which I can attain and be proud of myself for accomplishing!

theportkey · May 2016

As exercise was the missing link for me, I walked almost everyday but nothing happened really.
Then my husband persuaded me to get on the crosstrainer. I do a minimum of 20 minutes a day and it worked.
I need to break into a bit of a sweat to burn my fat.
And what is half hour out of your day. It's half hour less on Hayday lol
I sit on my bum all day in the office. And buying a fitbit made me realise how little I move.
I'm over 2 stone lighter than last year and truthfully I've only lost my 2 stone in the last 3 or 4 months.
So... just make a little effort to sweat and stop eating crisps

bethanyjohnston969 · May 2016

MlleKelly · May 2016

It's not a diet; it's life.

I've had to change my way of thinking, especially about my relationship with food. Yes, cheese and wine and bread are DELICIOUS, but I can't eat large quantities of any of those things every day and lose weight. Eating out is fun, but it's expensive and I can easily overindulge on appetizers, entrees, and again...wine. I had to stop eating every day like I was on vacation, or telling myself that "I earned it". Food is fuel for my body, and yes, it should taste delicious and I shouldn't (and refuse to!) eat things that I don't like, but in moderation. Hopefully, I have 50+ years left on this planet...that's plenty of time to taste sublime foods, drink life-changing wines, take naps, have anniversary and birthday and celebration dinners...but to get there, I have to moderate myself on the normal days.

I've also had to tell myself that exercise is not an option. It's not a hobby. It's a part of life. I have to be physically active to stay fit and be healthy...Not. An. Option. Just like working, just like eating, just like sleeping. Exercise is not an option. That doesn't mean I have to go to the gym and take a class every day, but I go for a nice longs walk, lift weights at home, play Just Dance on the Wii, go for a bike ride, run, jump, play.

I've had to learn to enjoy life by knowing how to prolong it; moderation.

It's not a diet; it's life.

heart4sole · May 2016

Being able, through the grace of God, to go on my daily walks.

12Sarah2015 · May 2016

Self discipline. Competing with my husband-I have 4 kg to go he has 8kg. Saying no to dessert or snacks everywhere I go. Trying to walk at least 8000 steps each day.

Katwin2013 · May 2016

I use to weigh over 300 back in 99 the last several years I have worked constantly to get healthier understand my body and feel good I managed to get down to 170 But I gained 15 pounds back its coming off again I felt like i was in a cage nice to be out

thamesgina · May 2016

Low carbs and calorie restriction was tough, but getting fast and early results was key for me. I lost 8 lbs the first week and have 2-3 per week since.

The journal had kept me accountable every step of the way. I have logged every bite for 18 weeks. Although I have had less than perfect days I at least am aware of my behavior and learn,

JuliaHaleFitness · May 2016

1) Setting SMART Goals and having a plan of action. Can't get somewhere if you don't know where you're going!
2) Drinking a TON of water

3) Taking a moment in the morning to write down what I'm thankful for...so I start my day positively and not negatively

PorcelainCupcakes · May 2016

There's an online calculator tool called BMI-Calculator. Amongst the free tools they have a BMR calculator. I learned what a basic metabolic rate was, how it changes and varies to each person based on gender, age, weight, ecterera.
It's a pretty impressive tool I use in addition to MFP.

overw8gosk8 · May 2016

CrabNebula wrote: »

Self-discipline.

Taking it "one day at a time"

Make each day fun and do something different everyday. Draw faces on your lunch bag/box. Do things in a different order. Rearrange your workout routine each week. Eat something new and/or weird at least once a week. Be silly, have fun and enjoy your life. It's not just weight loss, it is you and your experience.

dahliagrower11 · May 2016

Let me preface this with the fact that I am two months into my journey to get healthy again. My moment of deep discouragement was when I had two days on a shopping trip and basically came out hating myself and how I looked. I then started looking into how to move more each day ... and started logging my food.

I became aware of the fitbit phenomenon. My husband and son went out to get me one at the beginning of May....and now I challenge myself every day to reach my 10,000 steps. On exceptional days I have done 17,000 steps but mostly it's 10-12k range.... I am also a lot more aware of the flights of stairs --- best day was 47 flights (some hill walking) ....

I think these three things will make me reach my goals:
1. log my food - and stick close to my 1200 calories (carefully watching my sodium -set at 1500mg day not the 2500mg)
2. get in my 10,000 steps daily .... or 70,000 per week
3. have a good support network at home and work ..... for food encouragement and activity encouragement

I have also joined the current Biggest Loser Challenge here on MFP and I think it makes me a bit more accountable and aware of the challenges in getting to healthy --- it's not without it's bumps.

AlexFlexes · May 2016

Work ethic... and proving haters wrong

MRBDDB · May 2016

TheChrissyT wrote: »

For me, I think the most important thing I did to lose weight, was to stop hating myself. I was in TERRIBLE emotional disarray. I was 315lbs. Depressed, stressed, angry, bitter, negative, and hopeless. I couldn't stand to look at myself! I wanted to cry every time I saw a picture of myself.

Here's what I did:

Decided that nobody was responsible for my body but me. I had to stop blaming my dudes eating habits, and own that I chose to go out to eat with him and his family. I chose to eat fast food when I was in a hurry and when I was lazy. I chose to drink soda instead of water. I chose to be fat. I can also choose NOT to make unhealthy choices.

I decided that I needed to take care of myself like I took care of everyone else. That I really couldn't keep trying to pour from an empty cup. That by loving myself too, I was providing a good example for my children (which took away the guilt I felt spending money on myself for a gym membership, spending time away from them while I was at the gym, and all of that).

I forced a positive change in perspective. I looked at my workouts as ME time. Time where I was only responsible for myself. I worked for the happy endorphins at the end of the workout, because I loved feeling happy. I thought about the food I was putting in my mouth as feeding my body what it needed/wanted. I told myself that I was beautiful. I thought about how strong I was getting and getting stronger all the time. When I was running, i would imagine I was running behind my future self and imagining how good she looks, how confident she is, how happy she is, how strong, how much endurance she has, and then told myself that I WAS her and I could keep going because I was strong, confident, happy, blah blah blah. Sounds so corny, but it really does work for me. I read tons and tons of cheesy quotes but the ones that stood out to me the most were:

"Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use." Earl Nightingale.. I had so much to lose that I knew it was going to take forever and that was so discouraging. This changed my mindset. The time is going to pass anyway! Do I want to feel like this in a year? In 5 years? NO! I want to feel BETTER! I'll feel better if I only lose 10lbs, I'll feel a lot better if I lose 50... and here I am 87lbs down and I feel great!

"You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great" I had no illusions of grandeur, but I did choose some goals, some I've achieved and some I'm still working on.

"Always go with the choice that scares you the most, because that's the one that's going to help you grow" O.M.G. This is my favorite thing about the changes I've made!!!! I was so anxious when I walked into the gym I thought I was going faint. I KNEW everyone would be judging the fat girl that didn't belong there. I did it anyway... it wasn't true. I still sometimes feel my heart rate go up when I walk in the door, I just tell myself it's excitement. lol But I've gone 3-5x a week for 7 months. I was afraid to lift free weights because I felt like I would do it wrong and people would see me making a fool of myself.... I did it anyway, and I LOVE to feel stronger. I was super afraid to try yoga because I'm over 200lbs and every yoga girl I've ever seen in a stick figure gorgeous person... and many of them are, but they got there somehow! I did it anyway, and I love it! Same thing with Spin class! Same thing with buying my first casual every day dress.... if you feel afraid, and you do it anyway, it gives you SO MUCH CONFIDENCE IN YOURSELF!

This is getting way too long... but it has been a long growing process. Changes don't happen over night. Decide that you're worth it. Dig deep and address the tough stuff that is making you feel like you need food to make you feel good. Challenge yourself to grow as a person. Forgive yourself over and over. Every day is a new day that we are BLESSED to have, and it's a great day to live like the person you know you have always been.

So eloquently written and really inspired me. Thank you so very much!

tmshank18 · May 2016

1. Love yourself no matter what!!!

2. Keeping a food log.
3. Exercising...got a FitBit which motivates me to move more.
4. Drinking water...I try to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
5. Making better food choices...such as less carbs per meal. I eat no more than 30 carbs per meal and 15 carbs per snack and I always eat protein with my carbs.
6. I don't obsess over the scale.... I try to only weigh myself once a month.
7. Have a good support system....love my fitness pal for that.

drpsamin · May 2016

Working out....it makes me want to eat less crap and burns calories.
Keep trigger food out of the house
If I want to eat something unhealthy, really question myself
If I have a bad day, then just move on and try to be better the next day
Not be disappointed with the number on the scale, but try to be proactive into how I can change that

Weight loss is 100 percent mental