Needing Inspiration.. Beginner

katycapp wrote: »

Definitely agree that checking out this success board will help you get motivation when you can't muster it yourself. Remind yourself that a small setback is just that, a set back. The trick is to get back on the plan as soon as you realize you drifted. You are worth this!

PS I started a little more than you did and my goal is similar to yours. In 6 1/2 months I have lost 47 pounds by sticking to MFP (most of the time).

jruck371 wrote: »

I'm going to say some things that might be unpopular here.. but its what helped me go from 170 lbs to 130lbs in 2 years and keep it off:

1.Habits
Habits take 3 weeks up to 52 weeks to form.
If you want to make calorie counting, exercise, or anything else a habit you need to stick with it and keep coming back to it when you fall off the wagon. I was not always motivated to go to the gym, but in the beginning I made a pact with myself during weeks when I didn't want to go to the gym but knew I needed to in order to meet my goals that if I hated the exercise I could quit after 3 weeks of dragging my butt to the gym. It never happened. and now I feel weird if I don't go after work

a note on this as well: focus on one habit forming at a time- if you are new to calorie counting, start there. You can add in exercise as well, but focus on forming 1 small change at a time and sticking to it before building on it and adding something new. Change is good! too much change can be overwhelming

2. Grit
There are going to be times you will not be inspired.There are going to be setbacks on your journey, accepting this sooner rather then later is key to keeping weight off. There are going times when you go over your calories, vacations, days miss your workout, weeks you gain weight. The ability to bounce back will be your best friend here. If you mess up be kind to yourself, forgive yourself and get back on track asap. Its tempting to throw a day, weekend, or week away because you messed up but if you want to be successful long term you need to learn how to forgive, forget and make better choices at your next meal, or day at the gym. Also on this- there are going to be times you don't want to eat healthy or workout. For me, I do these things:
-With food: I tell myself I can have it if I still want it after 20 min of waiting or ask if I am hungry for an apple, if yes then I'm probably actually hungry, if no I'm either looking for emotional comfort or bored or have a serious craving
-with working out: I make a pact with myself that I will go to the gym and change into my clothes. If I still want to go home after that then I can

Freakanomics just did a really good podcast on Grit and how to form it- I highly recommend it

3. Find movements you like doing
Not everyone wants to go to the gym day in and day out. While most people will recommend exercise to help with appetite control and weight loss, find a way you enjoy moving! Zumba, dance, weight lifting, running, walking, biking, swimming are all awesome ways to get out there and work up a sweat!

4. Find good weight loss inspiration While Instagram is a great source to look at transformation pics, bikini models, NPC pros and healthy living inspiration, be VERY careful looking at these sites! (I learned this the hard way). Many of these photos are photoshopped or altered and can distort your body image of what you "should" look like. If you click on a profile and it says "online trainer" or has a contact button RUN FAR FAR AWAY. Their photos are basically propaganda at this point- made to draw you in to their cause. You don't need a meal plan from them, calorie counting is a scientifically proven way to lose weight and you get to choose what you want to eat which is huge in long term success- one cannot live off of broccoli and chicken alone.

I LOVE the pod casts by Lift like a girl and Molly Galbraith- there are some amazing knowledge packed into those and they have some very knowledgeable people on their episodes. Jill Coleman is another great resource (I found her listening to the lift like a girl podcast) as is Lift like a girl, Avatar Nutrition, and Body for Wife:

http://mollygalbraith.com/
http://jillfit.com/
http://www.niashanks.com/
http://www.bodyforwife.com/

5. Nutrition
Full disclosure- I am not a dietitian, this is really from trial and error. Any extreme diet that tells you to cut out entire food groups (ie gluten, dairy, sugar.... I could go on) shouldn't be where you start. Unless you are allergic to these foods you do not need to avoid them- especially in the beginning! Focus on moderation though, especially when it comes to sugar.
Start to listen to your body- I struggle with emotional eating vs eating when I'm actually hungry. Starting to tap into my emotions through journaling, meditation, breathing, and awareness really helped me realize when I was actually hungry vs eating my emotions. A good way to start is just to start naming the emotions that come up when you eat with no judgement- Jill Coleman has some really good articles on how to start this on her blog

6. Enjoy the ride
Having an end goal is awesome, but its the day to day that matters- focus on the process, and making the process enjoyable for you because if you want the changes to stick you are really in search of a lifestyle change, not a diet.
Everyone who lost the weigh was at the start at some point in their journey. The key is to put one foot in front of the other day after day until one day you can look back and say "wow, look at how far I came!"

my3bebas wrote: »

What made a big difference for me was taking pictures, and measurements. I don't go by the scale, which can be your best friend one day, your worst enemy the next.