So what is it that some succeed and others fail?

For me it just clicked one day. I woke up and thought it's today or never and haven't looked back. That was over four months and 60 lbs ago. I've tried countless times before and failed. I'm not sure what makes this journey different. Maybe it was being told I was prediabetic. Maybe it was the fact I couldn't make it up a flight of stairs without heavy breathing. Maybe it was not being able to do anything with the kids because I was constantly tired. Maybe all that together just compounded into a more powerful pull than pizza had over me. Whatever the reason, I'm thankful for it. I can now run a mile, stairs no longer scare me, I'm a new person who may still have a long journey ahead but the goal is a lot closer now and everyday I succeed is just that much more motivation to continue to reach for that goal. There may be bumps, stalls, or temptations but they are not as strong as we are, we just have to find out just how strong we truly are and hold on to that strength as of our life depended on it because it indeed does.

Change happens when the pain of staying the same exceeds that of making a change.

For me, I just stopped accepting my own (BS) excuses for why I couldn't succeed, and made it a priority to do whatever it takes. I'm tired of living a life that makes me unhappy, tired of feeling like crap when I eat crappy foods, or being unable to go for a walk without feeling tired and winded.

When you decide that nutrition and fitness are important to you and you make these things as much a part of your life as anything else then you will succeed.

Personally for me I always thought it would happen in its own time and just sort of waited. For several reasons I was okay with being overweight - it provided me with a sort of buffer from the world. At the point when I realized I really didn't want to become like my mother, with the supersized pill caddy, I walked into the gym and went from there. I think changing ones lifestyle to focus on health requires a lot of dedication and education and that is different for everyone.

I think learning to be disciplined is similar to learning to replace bad habits with healthy ones. Some people aren't mentally prepared to "go the distance" the first time they decide to make a change. You have to teach yourself how to keep on track, and every failure is one step closer to success AS LONG AS YOU NEVER GIVE UP.

For me it was when my health finally became more important to me then the instant gratification I received from consuming an entire bag of cookies in one sitting. If you want it badly enough, you will do it and be successful at it.

momofamadhouse wrote: »

I think learning to be disciplined is similar to learning to replace bad habits with healthy ones. Some people aren't mentally prepared to "go the distance" the first time they decide to make a change. You have to teach yourself how to keep on track, and every failure is one step closer to success AS LONG AS YOU NEVER GIVE UP.

Yes, this - every failure teaches you something that didn't work, so you can look for something else that does work for you!

I think the mental challenge of losing weight and getting healthy is just as big, if not more so, than the physical one. And if you'd told me six months ago that I would ever turn into the sort of person who can look at a bar of chocolate and not eat any because she didn't want it right then, I would have thought you were mad. I guess that now, I'm just in the right place mentally to stick with it, stop making excuses, and get my weight down for good.

If you mess up one day, do better the next.

Ask yourself, do you want to reach your goal, or not?

Basically, don't stop.

hypodonthaveme wrote: »

If you want it bad enough, nothing will stop you from getting it. You will do what it takes.

Agree

Not sure but I believe it was a combination of the ease of using the site along with just changing small habits at first and then when I would get used to those then change one or two more things. I had tried MFP a couple of times before it finally clicked, and I would get frustrated with all of the items in the database and finding the right measurement for it and figuring our how to convert what I was eating to what it said, etc- and I found another app that allows me to simply enter the weight in grams and it will tell me exactly the calorie count, so I use that and just enter MFP calories as quick add. Works for me- simple, easy, accurate. Before when I was on here I didn't visit the forums much or have more than 1-2 friends- now I have many and visit often. I also found an exercise that I enjoy and can do often with my husband, plus in the winter months I have a gym I go to (which is fairly new in town). So a combination of things- oh and I'm an empty nester. I think it's difficult to lose weight when you have teenagers and their friends over a lot plus you have all of these school events, games, etc with no time to eat anywhere except the concession stand or grabbing something quick (not impossible to lose this way but more difficult and less convenient). All of this and forgiving myself for a day of slipping up and not letting it turn into a week or a month of slipping up- like Dory says- just keep swimming!