Why have you succeeded this time?

daneejela · April 2017

I might be wrong, but I'll assume that manny of you who have successfully lost weight have some previous fail attempts..what was different this time? Why have you succeeded this time?
Did you knew at the beginning that this time you are going to the end?
Were you sure that you'll make it or you have moments of self doubt?

I am asking because I think it can be helpful to a beginners like me

I really admire you guys&girls here!

andst5001 · April 2017

I've had many failed attempts, but I'm so glad I never gave up. As of today I have lost 120 lbs in just under a year! This time around was different. I'm not sure exactly why. I just really put in the effort to find what worked for me. I found exercise classes I love and really made a huge shift in my diet. It wasn't easy at first but eventually it became a lifestyle. I had doubts along the way for sure; I think that's normal, but the difference was that I didn't let it take over. There were times where the scale didn't change, but I didn't let that stop me. I just keep telling myself to kep going. I've come too far to go back. I knew I was on the right track. My advice to you would be to not give up. Even if you fall off the wagon, just get back on and keep going. A year from now you'll be glad you started. Good luck!

teeenabeana · April 2017

I've had many failed attempts also, but what really worked for me was to do this with someone! About 6 years ago, my boss and I started counting calories and exercising together and I lost 20 lbs! She lost 60 lbs! Over the years I've gained some of the weight back, which is why I'm on MFP. I'm hoping the positive community on here will encourage me to keep going!

JeromeBarry1 · April 2017

1. It's free.
2. It's a free online calorie counting resource.
3. It's a free online support system.

Penthesilea514 · April 2017

I am not a complete success story at this time, but I feel differently about my health and relationship with food. Before I had this vague "I should lose weight because I am fat" thing that wasn't motivating- it felt negative and in some ways dieting then was more like "punishment". But I had a few things happen 1) a health realization within the family and 2) that I should focus more on what eating healthier and exercising more ADDED to my life, rather than what I had to give up. I feel better, have more energy, have met amazing people, set/met goals I never thought I would do- overall I feel more positive towards myself, even when I have setbacks. Because this whole thing is something I want as a forever part of my life, not a quick few month detox quick loss and then gain it back because my habits weren't sustainable.

It is individual to everyone, we all have different reasons for wanting to make these changes.

rsclause · April 2017

I have been re-trained on how to eat a proper amount of good quality food.

Geocitiesuser · April 2017

I'm succeeding this time because I'm not on bodybuilding dot com forum anymore. All through college those idiots had me trying to cut at 2500 cals. Sure I got very strong but never got lean. Now that I'm older independent and less interested in "gains" I discovered the truth: calories needed to be lower. I'm succeeding now because I'm eating less than I ever have, and I'm not losing all my muscle or anything. I'm quickly getting quite fit.

bensmom555 · April 2017

I'm in my 60s and yes, I've had a lifetime of gaining and loosing. I really did believe all the myths that abound, so I tried every "diet" out there looking for the "magic" one. I was convinced I didn't eat "that much" and so I just had the kind of body that was resistant to loosing weight and so no matter what I tried, I would be doomed.

Someone who I admired as eating healthy and looking fit recommended this site to me. Once I started reading the forums, I was literally SHOCKED! Had I really spent my whole life believing all the lies out there and not realizing that it's as simple as CICO (not easy, but simple). I was in awe of all of you that had succeeded - people just like me, and you were doing it!

I knew as soon as I started tracking that this would be different, that I was now in control of my life, not looking elsewhere for the answers! It took me a while to get proficient at tracking, but I was loosing right from the beginning and still going, although much slower.

It's been almost a year and I have lost 66 pounds. Major acomplishment for me that I thought was impossible.
But the reality is that ALL OF US can do it! It's hard at times, but it's simple, and it's all up to me, NO EXCUSES!

I will NEVER be that old weight again! I have given all those old clothes away, something I never did in the past because I knew in my heart that if I lost I would just gain it back (and did many times)! But this time, I don't feel that way and know this is for the rest of my life. I'm realistic enough to know I may have some ups and downs as life happens, but, still, I am in control and I am strong!

Love each one of you for being part of this community and for inspiring people like me! Thank YOU!

boopster99 · April 2017

I felt like I was running out of time! Okay, that's a bit lame, I'm only 52

! But the reality of my changing body and my (sometimes) lousy care of it struck home recently when my daughter had her first child and I became grandma! I knew at that moment that I needed to do better for me, for this precious new man in our lives. I want to see him grow & be there to watch his grad, his wedding, his children. I only have one shot at this game and I intend to play it as long as possible.

Lizzypb88 · April 2017

I was more motivated- I think everyone has to have that breaking point or thing that makes them realize this HAS to be done, and go in giving 100%
I finally became sick of feeling sick and unable to do things because of my weight, one day I just had enough and instead of sticking with it for a week or two, I've been on my journey for almost 2 years now. I also think that if you can make it past those difficult first 2 weeks it gets easier!

320sycamore · April 2017

@andst5001, that is an incredible amount of weight to lose in less than a year - congratulations! How did you lose 2.5 pounds a week every single week for 50+ weeks? Were you eating an obscene amount of calories prior to embarking on your weight loss journey (e.g., fast food every meal)? I'm eating 1,200 calories a day and losing 1 to 1 1/2 pounds a week, but I know that I will not lose 100 pounds at the end of 52 weeks. Just trying to figure out how you sustained that rate of loss for that amount of time, and whether I might emulate it.

Machka9 · April 2017

I have succeeded every time I wanted to lose weight.

Looking back, it seems that during times when I have a serious medical issue (i.e. surgery, DVT) and I'm moving house all around the same time, I put on a bit of weight. I'm less focused on what I eat and exercising less.

Once things have settled, I lose that weight ... usually quite soon after. And then I maintain for a while.

The first time this happened was in my early 20s. Went up and just into "overweight" after a major surgery and a move 2 provinces over. Lost it as soon as things were settled, and maintained that for the next 20 years.

I've never tried a "fad diet" ... always just CICO.

hoorayselma · April 2017

Good question

ericabalko · April 2017

Hi! Mesomorph here. Knowing that I'm a mesomorph made a huge difference on why this time is working/different than other attempts. Also, I learned my pattern by looking at my tracking from before. I learned 1)moderate is key! (12000 cals is to low for me) 1370 is right and no more super intense 6-7 dy/wk workout protocol. 2) I lose for 3 days then hold for 4. Knowing that helps my morale. I know not to panic and quit or tweak anything just stay the course. Hth! I am happy to talk if you have questions. Mesomorphs bulk easy so have to be careful not to go too low on cals and high on exercise or starvation mode hits! Too high on cals and bulking hits.

cwolfman13 · April 2017

I never had any other attempts...I lost 40 Lbs about 4 years ago and have more or less maintained my weight (I put on a little every winter and take it off in the spring when my normal riding habits take over). I am interested in being healthy and fit...so I do the things that healthy and fit people do...I eat well and train regularly.

WilliamAndersonLMHC · April 2017

Behavior therapy. I was overweight and obese from age 7 to age 33 and yo-yoed many times with dieting schemes. In 1985, my training in psychotherapy together with what I learned through experience led me to be able to apply effective behavior therapy. I finally lost 140 pounds in 1985 and have maintained 180, within 10 pounds, since. Within a month of beginning this newest approach, I knew I would never have the problem again. My new addiction was better than the old one.

FitOldMomma · April 2017

Because I wanted to live to see my 60s. Seriously- I was almost 300 pounds and I smoked 3 packs of Marlboro's each day. I was on high blood pressure meds and so close to diabetes.
Through the encouragement and advise of my fabulous doctor, I knew it had to be a total lifestyle makeover and it would have to be forever.
Of course there were a hundred more reasons for wanting to lose weight and become fit.
Was it, is it hard? Well, I'd say some times it is difficult..but I know it's worth it. I have splurges once in awhile.

But what's made it successful?

First off, finding and utilizing MFP every single day! I'll be logging my food and exercise forever. That's my accountability to myself. It's just a habit now.

From living a fit and active life! I now KNOW how incredible being fit feels! And it's awesome!
The activities I now do were unthinkable when I weighed 296 pounds! I bike, hike, swim, jog, and walk...all things that were soooo hard to do before. Next up is learning to kayak and then...wind surf!

Life can be fabulous when you're healthy and fit! That's my daily reward and my incentive to keep at it.

*Determination
*Dedication
*Discipline

MaggieGirl135 · April 2017

Not unlike Harry Potter fans would do it: destination, determination, deliberation

buffalogal42 · May 2017

Once I realized that losing weight is simply math (simple does NOT mean easy) ... and I knew I could rock math ... the weight came off and keeps coming off.

jenilla1 · May 2017

I actually had never attempted to lose weight before MFP. This has been my first, only, last attempt. I've always been a healthy weight, but several years ago I noticed that as I was aging, the weight was creeping up into the upper levels of the healthy range. So I came here to reverse the trend and lose the extra pounds. It was simple and straightforward, so I've stuck with it for 6 years now (over 5 years in maintenance.) Logging and tracking on MFP is a lot like a game to me. It's fun and easy so I have no reason not to keep doing it.

YenVerhoeven · May 2017

I went to a dietician to find out what my resting metabolic rate (RMR) was. My RMR tells me how many calories I can consume per day without gaining or losing weight. After knowing my RMR, I have been eating under that, and using this site to track calories. However, my RMR is pitifully low, because I'm a small person. Knowing my RMR was like knowing the truth - I couldn't deceive myself into eating a bit more or over, because what I burn is really what I burn, and if I eat over, well... as some people have mentioned, it comes down to simple math - you either eat under to lose, or over to gain. It's simple math, but as others have said, it's not easy AT ALL. So, to be able to eat more, I exercise, and use my fitness tracker to let me know approximately how many calories I've burned. Then, I add that onto the number of calories I can consume for that day.

Why have you succeeded this time?

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