What Other Factors (Besides Nutrition) Help You Succeed?

Katzedernacht · July 2016

Not going with the mainstream of CI=CO

I still prefer to choose whole , more nutritious food than those that just fit my macros. cool for people who do it! but it's not for me,no sir.
Weight lifting

Jackie_Paper · July 2016

getting rid of an "all or nothing" mentality that frequently had caused me to fall off the wagon of logging. now i log every day, even if it's not perfect.
...ie my food log contains mcdonalds and pizza but when i lay it out for myself i see where i can balance it with healthier foods and if i go over goal on a day, i dont get mad at myself/life and just give up like i used to. Basically just participating and making an effort has led to losing some fluff so at the end of every day i dont go to bed being exasperated at my fatness. Instead i think "well i actually tried today" almost 50 day streak!

also going on more walks outdoors

vllarson1 · July 2016

Lost 30 pound in 3 months

Eating slooowly
Tracking emotion and stress levels

phyllisann26 · July 2016

Great info!!!

Livematthew25 · July 2016

drycountyguilt wrote: »

Having a wonderful partner at home that goes to the gym with you and helps you make awesome, healthy meals. Support at home is #1.

For some, getting beyond this is key. When I finally stopped relying on other people to motivate or support me, and decided that Jesus and I got this with or without them, is how I stuck with it through the good and bad and lost 85 pounds.

Livematthew25 · July 2016

DanSTL82 wrote: »

My computer wallpaper is a rotation of guys who have the body I am striving to have myself. When I get the craving for ordering a pizza, then I see the six-pack guy on my desktop and think maybe I shouldn't. Google "Ryan Reynolds body" and see the kind of images I'm talking about. Sounds corny but it's good motivation.

When I made it beyond that is when I lost 85 pounds. Fighting for freedom, not a certain look.

humblestumble · July 2016

At my heaviest, I was probably around 170, but I stopped weighing myself once I was creeping up to 150-160 range. I'm only 5 feet tall. I've come down to 120 now, and just a few months ago I was at 115 (pre wedding.) I'm working to get back to that, and this is how I do it and what works for me.

Keeping a physical journal and having a set plan for every day ahead of time. Having clean workout clothes, and putting together food for the WHOLE next day on the previous night - and sticking to it. I like checking things off my list that I have set for myself.

I also really like having a streak on my fitness pal. I log my food and water here every day throughout the day. I also have a fitbit and seeing the green as often as I can gets me excited. I'm not competitive except for with my own personal best, so I like to see if I can beat that as well.

I also don't like giving myself slack to make excuses. If I don't work out one day, I try to make up for it the next, but I only add 30 min to my workout. If I miss two days, I do NOT stack. I cut myself a little slack and just add 30 min to the next days workout. It's good to be kind to yourself and not beat yourself up for not sticking to a goal 100%. For over a year, I was chanting, to myself, "right now is a fresh start" so that I would not get caught up in "oh well, I ate Burger King, so now I can eat bad all day."

Now, I just always try to choose the healthiest option because it's the healthy thing to do, and I am learning to cook healthy foods in tasty ways. That REALLY helps. Pinterest also helps to find "bad" foods which are made "good"... like healthy chocolate chip cookie dough recipes - stuff that mimics the bad. I limit stuff like that to twice per week, and I allot it in my calories. I also eat every few hours.

I guess I have a lot of things that keep me on track! The best thing to do is just to monitor it - at least for me

Monitor and try not to judge! Just adjust!

Anabug81 · July 2016

Having a supportive spouse
Being self motivated
Being the type of person who sets goals and accomplishes them.

rightoncommander · July 2016

Key for me was finding exercise that I enjoy for its own sake, and not as a means to an end to lose weight. I now exercise vigorously about 5 times more than I used to, and I know that I am in shape.

I needed to track in order to lose, and by tracking I spotted a couple of unhealthy eating habits that I eliminated (snacking after my evening meal and packing too much in my lunchbox), but I doubt I would have kept off 30lbs without the exercise habit that is now just part of my life.

LinCharpentier · July 2016

Throw out the negative. Let the positive in. Keep telling yourself I can and i will do this.

ddeeema · July 2016

The main thing to succeed in your diet is to change the wrong food loving into loving the right one and to not take the diet as if you were in jail away from the junk food so when you see junk food you be like i'm on a diet I want that food but I can't get it you have to hate that junk food because food is needed to live not to enjoy the taste of it cause you take only few seconds to enjoy the taste but it affects your health by a good or a bad way for as lobg as you live so you are like okay I get it but how can I hate the food that I like! I know it's a hard way believe me i've been through all of this well for a start when you see a junk food while you are on a diet don't tell yourself "i want it but I can't have it" but change it into "I can have it but I don't want it" and day by day you'll truly hate junk food as I am now! I hope that would help you like it helped me and I apologize for my weak English i'm really sorry but English isn't my main language.

stephenearllucas · July 2016

1. Very supportive wife. 2. Getting to throw out / recycle clothes that are now too big. 3. Daily cardio, weights, and stretching at the gym. 4. Logging everything, and becoming increasingly accurate with logging. 5. Pre-logging everything for the day at breakfast. 6. Logging my wife's homemade cookies first (dessert) and working back through the day to make sure I can "afford" them in my daily calorie budget.

marty_smith · July 2016

1) Patience. Patience. Patience.

2) My advice is simple. Work out how many calories your body needs and take 1000 calories off it. Measure to the ultimate best the amount of calories every food that enters your mouth for just 28 days and you will be on your way. Accept that at least twice a week you will go over your calories, and however bad it is doesn't really matter.

3)After 28 you be so much more knowledgeable on they type of foods and meals that help you stay under your calorie goal that you won't need to count every calorie you consume, plus your diary saves every food you input so after a while you just copy each meal.

4) Still wat all the foods you want, at whatever time of day you want them. Just try to stick to your calorie goal the best you can. Breakfasts can be eaten later in the morning too to delay your first meal. This leaves your less hungry for lunch therefore saving your calories for dinner.

4) Add exercise after 2/3 weeks. You will want to by this point purely because you will be feeling move motivated after the inevitable success in these 2/3 weeks.

5) Accept that some weeks will be worse then others. You won't exercise one week or you'll have a real bad week.. Start again the following week even more determined.

6) Its not forever, keep going. Give yourself a week off every now and then (over the period of 3 months say).

I did exactly this over 4 months and lost 2.5 stone. You'll be suprised how even just a half hour walk 3 times a week helps.

hneagle1 · July 2016

I'd saying...the first factor is understanding I am human. I make mistakes. I have bad days. I have good days. I learn to treasure both days and live in the present. I am truly trying to create a lifestyle rather than a diet. I do what I love in terms of physical fitness. I think living healthy is more about living and less about restriction.

ItsyBitsy246 · July 2016

For inspiration- Ernestine Shepherd.

mgholloway · July 2016

I'm all In and not giving myself an inch to negotiate with myself for that tortilla, pasta or sugary item. Once I allow negotiation I will repeat that behavior over and over again. I also have built in accountability on many fronts and that encourages me to keep on track.
1. Face book health challenge with 88 other ladies with daily check ins.
2. MFP for tracking my macronutrients special emphasis on getting enough protein.
3. Fitbit. Emphasis on burning 3500 calories a day at 15k steps. And I'm always in a challenge with a group of friends.
4. I basically am attacking weight loss like its my full time job.
5. I have a very supportive husband who will ask me great questions and encourage me on my health journey.

tech_kitten · July 2016

Start slow, and don't do anything drastic. It may make progress slow, but it's more sustainable.

Jcole05 · July 2016

I've been doing Beachbody challenge groups, and they keep me motivated and on track because I have daily support from others

Gallowmere1984 · July 2016

Anger and self-loathing were great drivers for me to fix my *kitten*.

beverlyjlarson · July 2016

usmcmp wrote: »

Simplifying the process was the biggest one to me. As soon as I stopped worrying about eating the right foods or doing the right exercises I was able to make it work. I ate things I enjoyed that kept me full and did exercises I enjoyed.

Second biggest was to stop trying to lose weight so fast. Two pounds per week didn't give me nearly enough calories and once I decided on slower weight loss I was able to stick to it.

Thank you for this . I have been on a roller-coaster for years. Every time I have started out wonderfully but get bored of the foods or am always hungry. This time I'm going to take it slow and easy.

chalerine88 · July 2016

Awareness and planning ahead were huge for me. I've always enjoyed eating vegetables, taking brisk walks, and never had much of a sweet tooth whatsoever, but I've just been so busy for the past ~3 years (finishing school, several moves, and starting 2 different jobs) and more often than not would end up eating out because I didn't have any nutritious food in my house. I don't feel super restrictive on my "diet" at all - basically the only changes I've made (besides logging on MFP) include actually getting off my butt to go to the store, making some effort to plan meals, and yes, counting my steps, and I've lost 4 pounds in the first week. (I'm not planning on doing this every single week, because my husband is a chef and I'm not giving up restaurant meals cold-turkey

, but an average of about 1-2 pounds per week is just fine with me.) Although I do not agree with the organization as a whole, I firmly believe in one of the mottos of Food Addicts Anonymous: "If you fail to plan, you have planned to fail."

LifetimeSkinnygirl · July 2016

Logging and pre-tracking with MFP.

ridiculous59 · July 2016

I had to accept that this isn't just a "diet"...I have to eat like this for the rest of my life. I've lost 60 pounds before, twice, and gained it back. This time I was determined not to let that happen. Its taken 2.5 years but so far I've lost 80 pounds. Slow and sure. Not fast. Not starving myself. Just logging every mouthful, good and bad, and never going more than two days without exercising. Did I fall off the wagon over Christmas? Yes. But not like in years past. Do I have a couple of glasses of wine on a Friday night? Of course. But on Saturday I get right back on top of things. That's a huge difference for me. In the past, if I ate excessively, I just carried on the next day. Now, if I go out for dinner and have some wine, I'll compensate by eating less the following day. I'm 57 years old and feel like I'm 25 again. I belong to a MFP group and we check in every day and tell each other how things are going. I couldn't have done this without my MFP buddies. I'm nearly at my goal. Another 5 pounds for sure, 10 maybe. Its been an awesome journey and I'm so thankful for this site.

Oh, and if you're an older person, read the book "What Makes Olga Run". It truly inspired me to get out and exercise more.

Eleted · July 2016

Ridiculous 59. Good advice. Which MFP group do you check in with every day? That sounds like good support!

jhnbwh · July 2016

The realization that this is a Lifestyle change......not a diet....been living healthy for 3 years now with one set back due to injury....I let it get me down.....back on track now looking to get in the best shape of my life...... BEAST UP PEOPLE

blndhrbrneyes · July 2016

Drink more water, try to not let things get me stressed, and don't wait to eat if hungry.

amyoung78 · July 2016

Accountability really helps me succeed. I like stepping on the scale every Sunday morning and logging in my losses (and sometimes gains). I know it will show up on my feed and my friends will see it posted there.
Also, pre-planning my meals have helped me a lot! No more binging when I am starving. Now at meal or snack time, I just reach for my already portioned out food.

marc8686 · July 2016

Focusing on my State of Mind. We all have an eye gate and an ear gate (eyes and ears) which every minute we are awake accept input from the world around us. If success of my goal is like driving in a car down a highway in a straight line, there are things EVERY day usually dozens or hundreds of times a day that come in through your eye gate and ear gate and YANK the steering wheel trying to throw you into a ditch or make you take an off-ramp (going the wrong direction from your goal. Its a proven fact that what you focus on is what you will think about. Facebook news feeds, other social media, useless TV shows, nonstop movies, etc are all enemies to the single-mindedness it may take to accomplish your goals. Instead, reading a success book, watching workout videos, researching fitness, or lordy crazy idea....if bored then go to the gym instead of watching tv.

#2 is focusing on self-respect and self image. thinking of every decision's impact on my self respect and self image rather than the factual exterior impact of that decision (one cheat or skipped workout doesn't have much of an impact in the grand scheme of things if you don't let it de-rail you, but most derails start with that ONE cheat. but that one cheat could have a major impact on your self respect due to not following through) i think of it similar to a bank account. the account balance is your level of self respect and self image. every decision is either a deposit into this account (self respect goes up) or a withdrawal (self respect goes down). I think some of us have walked around with a negative balance in this account and it's time to just string a bunch of decisions together that we are proud of and start building a positive balance in our self respect bank. for me, i know the better i feel about myself the easier it is to avoid making bad decisions and make good ones. when i feel bad about myself it seems MUCH easier to just go off the rails

RitchieEats · August 2016

-shop around the perimeter of the grocery store and try to buy only whole foods as opposed to processed
-meal plan and write out a grocery list before you go shopping
-if eating out, ask for sauces on the side when possible and don't be afraid to modify the dish
-if cooking at home, plate your vegetables first then your protein then your carbs
-having half your plate as veggies really makes a big difference in how your body naturally metabolizes the foods you consume
-out smart your meds, my meds make me always want to go back for seconds, so after you've finished your first serving realize you've had your portion and resist the urge to go back for more. Remember the choice is yours to go back for more. You are smarter than your drugs.
-if you're really wanting a second serving, try drinking a glass of water to calm the sensation or chew a stick of gum
-distract yourself, instead of hanging out at home on the couch, go for a twenty minute walk around the neighbourhood
-keep an accurate food journal, don't neglect items like condiments or cooking oils

concrete_daisies · August 2016

OlyCapitalChick wrote: »

1) removing toxic horribly abusive people from my life
2) changing jobs
3) 10k steps a day
4) joining a gym and hiring coaches/personal trainers
5) MFP app using macros and going lowish carb high protein
6) daily vitamin
7) haven't watch TV in 2 years (except for seahawks at the bar)
8) learning to like myself and being alone
9)therapy
10) lots of self work

I really like your list

There's so much more to being health than counting calories

What Other Factors (Besides Nutrition) Help You Succeed?

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