new and need tips for success!

Leila2289
Leila2289 Posts: 23 Member
edited December 2024 in Getting Started
Hi all. I currently weigh 151 lbs, smallest weight 115 lbs highest 164 lbs I am 5'2. I really want to get down to at least 125 to be healthier. Are then any strategies you guys use to be most successful? Do you plan your meals for the week? Cook them in advance? What works best so it is not as easy for me to just say screw it and eat garbage?

Replies

  • illyich
    illyich Posts: 195 Member
    Cooking in advance is nice - there are thousands of videos on YouTube on how to meal prep. The single biggest thing that many people overlook is to weigh ALL your solid foods. If you measure out a 1/2 cup of brown rice and I measure out a 1/2 cup of brown rice, they will all be different amounts. But if we both measure out 90g of brown rice, that is the exact same amount. Get a digital food scale and weigh your food in grams.

    Also, lift weights. Not machines, go to the free weights and lift those suckers. If you don't have any serious knee or back injuries, you should be squatting and deadlifting.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Focus on what you need to do to get results. Get to know the problem first, then find the solution. Don't start by looking for a problem to match a solution. Identify when and where and why things go wrong, and find strategies to avoid that. Losing weight and keeping it off takes an effort, so be sure you pick the easiest (and/or most fun) method that will help you achieve your goal. Don't start a lot of random measures without a clear idea about how they are going to help you. Meal prepping can be great if you can tolerate reheated foods, and you have some free time to cook a batch, and/or don't have any time at all to cook through the week - or alternatively, you could just plan your meals and make sure you have all the ingredients to make them, or just make sure you have enough food you like so that you can assemble acceptable meals on short notice.

    Portion control is important. Preferably, buy and use a food scale.

    Then get moving ;)
  • chrislo2691
    chrislo2691 Posts: 1,084 Member
    Never give up even when it seems like it is all going wrong. If you go off track pick yourself back up and get back to it. That is the best advice I can give you. What you eat, what exercise you do is more to personal preference.
    I have a slightly cranky food strategy, but it works for me. I dance 6 nights a week which keeps me fit. Running, cycling dancing whatever you do stick at it. Then plan for what you do when you reach your goal because if you do not have a maintenance strategy you can end up going back up again.
  • Tophers_Motivation
    Tophers_Motivation Posts: 39 Member
    Calorie deficits and WATER. LOTS of water.
  • CoachJen71
    CoachJen71 Posts: 1,200 Member
    Good advice above. I would add that I found having an activity tracker (Fitbit) also helped me.
  • abitofbliss
    abitofbliss Posts: 198 Member
    Definitely planning meals ahead and meal prepping! Like others said, not giving up when you feel like you've messed up. I've lost 40 lbs since April and I can assure you I've had some really 'bad' days. Either drank too much or ate too much. What has helped me succeed is not letting it ruin everything I've done and my determination of what I will do. I generally enter my food and exercise into MFP the night before and it helps me stay accountable to what I planned for my day. Also, experimenting with activities (exercise) and food so you can enjoy your new lifestyle.

    And the biggest thing that I struggle with pretty much every day is patience. I want it all to happen overnight. I know it's not going to so I keep working towards my goal but getting the right mind set has been helping me.
  • Leila2289
    Leila2289 Posts: 23 Member
    Congrats abitofbliss! That's fantastic! And thanks everyone for the advice. I am on day 2 and I keep trying to make myself wait in between eating meals and I have been eating so poorly for so long that I am not used to it. But I am keeping busy and was successful yesterday and I got to just make it through the end of this day.
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