Big Picture

evangemz90
evangemz90 Posts: 107 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
How do I look at the big picture when losing weight when I have a long way to go.

Replies

  • ogtmama
    ogtmama Posts: 1,403 Member
    I had to give up looking at the big picture and break my goals down into smaller, more manageable chunks. Celebrate each step along the way...but not with food ;)
  • alyssa0061
    alyssa0061 Posts: 652 Member
    Well, I actually don't think it's about looking at the big picture. Focus on losing ten pounds. Then another. Focus on walking one block, then two. I believe it was Tolkien who said, "Little by little, one travels far."
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    Remind yourself that maintaining health and fitness, including a healthy weight, is a lifelong process, not a singular event in time. In addition, I would suggest asking long timers here how long it has taken to lose weight, etc. Being realistic about how long a process it is helps me. I was fat and out of shape for 10 years. I have been working to correct that for close to three years. Three years sounds like a long time when viewed on its own but relatively short time when I consider how deep a hole I was in.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • ogtmama
    ogtmama Posts: 1,403 Member
    edited November 2016
    evangemz90 wrote: »
    What about if you have doubts whether you will reach your goal weight.

    Take care of the pennies and the dollars take care of themselves ;)

    I mean don't try to reach any goal other than today's.

    Edited to change pounds to dollars to hopefully clarify
  • vanmep
    vanmep Posts: 410 Member
    I have general goals in mind about how much weight I want to lose, but that's not where I put my focus. Last January I decided to log every single thing for one whole year and assess what had happened by the end of the year. For a while in the summer I was weighing myself frequently and I found that it was driving me a little crazy to have my focus be on that number on the scale. So I rarely weigh myself anymore and I focus on living healthy and meeting my logging goals. And logging Every. Single. Thing. (And for the record, I think I will do the same thing next year as I have loved the changes that have happened in my life this year).
  • luluinca
    luluinca Posts: 2,899 Member
    While I was in weight loss mode I read the success stories here every day. There's so much inspiration as well as great tools in those posts from successful people.

    Also surrounding yourself by a nice group of friends can be really helpful as well. It's nice to have some help on the bad days and someone to celebrate with on the good days.

    Be prepared for a lifetime commitment so don't make changes that will be unsustainable...........baby steps!

    Anything is possible if you believe it!

  • vanmep
    vanmep Posts: 410 Member
    This right here is my favorite thread on all of the message boards. I check it several times a week because it is super motivating.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1275030/whats-your-most-recent-nsv/p1
  • SuperNerd42
    SuperNerd42 Posts: 47 Member
    I agree with the others- the big picture can seem so unattainable! Break it down to a small goal- ten pounds, or a month of logging every day, then celebrate that goal when you hit it!

    Time will pass anyway, might as well use it to try and get where you want to be!
  • siraphine
    siraphine Posts: 185 Member
    Don't think about your goal weight. You'll just make yourself crazy. Set mini goals, and focus on reaching those. For me, it's every 10 pounds. If I lose 10 pounds once, I just have to do that again 9 more times. Then 8 more. Then 7 more. It's a lot less daunting than saying "I have to lose 100 pounds".
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,260 Member
    evangemz90 wrote: »
    What about if you have doubts whether you will reach your goal weight.

    What is your current weight, what's your goal, and what do you see as hurdles you'll need to get over to get there? And, what is your height?
  • ibboykin
    ibboykin Posts: 97 Member
    edited November 2016
    Some great advice in these comments. If you are looking constantly at your ultimate goal, then it will be easy to not succeed and give up. Baby steps. I know it is cliche but one step at a time.
  • Seffell
    Seffell Posts: 2,246 Member
    You don't look into the big picture. You focus on doing one day at a time. After a while it turns into a habit. You can't expect to be motivated everyday for years. You have to count on habit and determination.
  • courtneyfabulous
    courtneyfabulous Posts: 1,863 Member
    evangemz90 wrote: »
    What about if you have doubts whether you will reach your goal weight.

    It's not important to hit a certain ultimate goal weight, it's important to get to a healthy weight. Your goal weight that you've chosen is just a guess, you may or may not ever reach it or you may surpass it.

    One thing that I do is try not to think about my ultimate goal weight, I think of every single pound lost as an accomplishment. Every 5 pounds lost is a milestone, and every 10 pounds is an achievement worth celebrating!

    Try to break it down and focus on the loss you are achieving, not how far you have left to go.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Don't. The big picture is made up of lots of tiny bits. You need to work on every single little bit. Then you'll also be working on the big picture. Every day can make a difference. But no single day will make that difference alone.You don't get fat from one chocolate bar. You don't get skinny from one run.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    evangemz90 wrote: »
    How do I look at the big picture when losing weight when I have a long way to go.

    I think it just depends on how your brain works...I'm a big picture thinker and have to be for the work I do, often looking forward years...so it's pretty easy for me.

    Some people do better taking things in bits...I tend to look at this whole thing as a life long process...the losing weight part was just one tiny bit of the larger process of maintaining a healthy weight, being healthy, improved fitness, etc. Sometimes I have to take a step back and look at the bits...but I tend to look at the long game.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories