People just aren't getting it.

A-frickin'-men.

I've been working my *kitten* off for months to learn proper nutrition and how to exercise properly. Though I've only lost about 20 lb. altogether, I've worked for that and I know that if I had just been working *that much* harder I'd have already lost more. I watched my mom go through enough fad diets and shortcuts that failed every single time to learn nothing but one day at a time, one pound at a time and REALLY changing your habits and implementing new ones got will get you to your goals.

Who cares if this pisses people off? It needs to be said. Sometimes a rude awakening is necessary.

So nice to see all you bright, shiny perfect people here.

Us lesser mortals are so grateful to have you amongst us.

My husband's friend told me I could lose weight by just eating Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. You're telling me that won't work?

Agreed!

What people need to realise is that it's about healthy diet AND exercise.

I see so many people in my office daily who are talking about their latest boot camp exercise class that's really made them ache and they can totally see the weight dropping off - all the time with a chocolate cake or a bag of crisps in their hand. One girl actually lost about a stone and a bit by paying over £1000 to go on a bootcamp residential week only to start eating chocolate and cake as soon as she got back and put it all back on again plus a bit more within a month. What a waste of £1000 for a lot of strenous work and a very short term slimmer figure.

On the flip side of that are the folk who sit on their backside at a desk all day, sit on it in the car to and from work and then sit on it on the sofa with half a bottle of wine BUT they're keeping within their daily 'sins' or 'points' for whatever diet they're on and then they bemoan that they didn't lose anything at weigh in time.

I actually heard across the office yesterday from someone who is supposedly dieting with one regime or another "Billy Bear Ham is awesome!" - Umm... No, it's really not. It's processed shaped meat and it's 60% fat and of that 60%, about another 60% is saturated. Hmmm...

The hard part about acheiving your weight loss goals is doing it. The theory is easy and doesn't require any faddy stuff or diet pills. Just look at the food/drink you're taking in and understand WHY unhealthy foods are unhealthy and make positive changes. Exercise wise, you don't HAVE to kill yourself to reach your goals (depending what your goals are of course) and you'd have to kill yourself even less if you stopped pushing cake and chocolate and nasty fatty foods in your mouth.

Well that's my tuppence worth anyways... Just ranting a bit really... I'm pretty new around here so I can't say I'm sick of seeing these things posted on MFP or anything, just generally hear this kind of thing working in an office full of sedentary women, the majority of whom are trying to lose weight through one 'lose 11 pounds in a week' scheme or another.

Anyway, good post.

From a previous poster:
There are no shortcuts. Just change your diet and exercise.

- Eat a moderate calorie deficit.
- Eat whole foods most of the time
- Exercise (cardio and strength train) 3-4 times per week.

This will work for everyone with no negative side effects.

This and the OP are very true...and we need to focus on the changes we are making that are better for our health than just the vanity of the weight and sizes (something I still struggle with as I feel I work very hard at getting healthier and want quick results, too!) ...we didn't put the weight on overnight - it will take some time and effort to get it off! I would rather get to my optimum size and weight slowly and sustainably and stay that way because I have re-trained my body to crave healthier foods and exercise

Great post! I have lost 80 lbs through good old fashioned diet and hard work when friends ask me how I've lost it I tell them and then they don't want to hear anymore because they actually have to do something!!!

This happens to me to! When I tell them eating healthier and exercise their eyes glaze over and they walk away :laugh:

Couldn't agree more with this post - nothing comes for free in life, if you keep doing what you've always done you'll keep getting what you've always got!

agreed! and to all those lazy people who want to take a pill to lose weight? did they take one to get fat? probably not... so it isnt coming off that way either! don't be worried about all the time that you will have to put in to loosing weight- the time will pass any way, the only question is if you want to spend that time on your *kitten* and miserable or do you want to spend that time bettering your life and your body?? GREAT POST!

Love and agree whole-heartedly with this topic and this thread!
"did they take one to get fat?" LOL! Love it!

The only reason I even remotely get it is my place of employment. When I got hired on at the Dept of Public Health in the Nutrition Program I was all about the drive-thru. It wasn't until after I drank the organic, gluten free, fresh squeezed "kool aid" that I started to get it. My environment began to shape my food choices. The cube walls here are covered with fresh fruits and vegetables. Recipe cards and even cook books are in our break rooms.

If I worked somewhere else I would still be all about the drive thru and skinny fat. Hell I'm still skinny fat with some hella nasty Slim Fast in the cupboard because it was affordable. What I'm saying is people have to start somewhere, farmboy and farmboy band wagon. We all have to crawl before we walk. It is not very enlightened or educated for walkers to look back at crawlers and condemn them for not knowing how to walk yet. This journey called life is individual for a reason.

Lastly, discussion boards are for discussion. Period. Ones we may want to get involved with and ones we may not. Applaud the whiners and us stupid people for even being here. We won't stay stupid forever. I mean damn you didn't, did you?

well said! It reminds me of when I took my son to the school the other day, he is now a sophomore and was laughing at all the new freshmen coming in and how confused and lost they looked. I said to him last year you were one of those lost freshmen, but now you have learned your way. have some patience and help them out.

Hallelujah!

I hear ya. This forum really helps to stay on track with exercise and diet. Even when I mess up it's nice to see how much activity/dietary altering it will take to get back in line.

LOVE IT!!!!! And well said. Thank you

Fully agree, but id like to highlight one point.

Sustainability.

To me, if i forced myself to eat all the veg, cut all chocolate, etc etc, i know i wouldnt keep it going after a few months. With my current setup i could happily do those the rest of my life. I dont feel like im depriving myself of anything, and to me that's the key. I just cant see how i could fall off this now. Daily calorie budget. I want something "extravagant"? Work it into my daily calories. Is it worth it? Yes, i have it. No, i dont have it. Simple!