Your advice to the old you ...

dawn_westbury · September 2017

Just wondering what all you successful “losers” would have said to yourself at the beginning of your weight loss journey knowing what you know now??

Orphia · September 2017

Get a food scale.
For weight loss, you can eat whatever makes you happy so long as you stick to your calorie limit.
You can run if you try.
You're awesome.

littlebrittlifts · September 2017

Food is NOT the enemy. Eat more protein. Stop obsessing over calories and the scale.

Heather4448 · September 2017

Food scale.

newheavensearth · September 2017

Stop bouncing between plans. Give sufficient time and effort, and if it doesn't fit your lifestyle or give results, move on.

Don't get emotionally invested in one particular method. They're all just means to an end.

You are not getting too thin, they need to let go of their vision of how you should/ used to be.

Lift all the heavy things. Put up the pull up bar already.

rfrenkel77 · September 2017

High fat/moderate protein/very low carb..(look up keto)...is the simplest way because it tunes down food cravings. Too bad I discover that after 5-6 years of a vegetarian diet..
Food scale is a must. Log your stuff in for a few weeks so you know what the portions should be. Break up meat and chicken by weight before cooking, so you are not overeating a designated portion. A serving of meat/fish is 4 oz. not 12oz.
Stick to calorie plan, no cheats.
Weigh in daily in the morning
After 2 month of charting weight and sticking to plan, you will see the graph over time.. now you can deliberately adjust your cal intake if you like. Point is, give your body lots of time before declaring what works and what does not before tweaking the plan.
Weight loss is an irregular process, especially for women, some times its stalls for weeks, during periods, then resumes. Reassess your plan every two months. Also measure your arms, neck, waist. Those will shrink even if weight does not. The scale is not your only marker.
Moderate exercise, an hour every other day will accelerate your ideal body weight.. Make sure you are straining yourself, I see plenty women moving machines with no weight on them, it's not the motion it's the weight resistance that makes effect. Otherwise you wasting an hour. Also don't try to eat up the calories you think you burned in gym, you will always over eat and under burn. You mind will trick you every time.
Alcohol turns into sugars, slowing your progress, minimize it.
No candy, sugar, pops, diet pops, zero cal pops, they all have sweetener that spikes insulin and stores fat. no junk, eat real food.
Love yourself and your body more then the craving of some junk food. It's a mental game. You can reprogram all bad habits.
Good luck.

GlassAngyl · September 2017

Look up keto old me. Try that first!

kmr0293 · September 2017

rfrenkel77 wrote: »

High fat/moderate protein/very low carb..(look up keto)...is the simplest way because it tunes down food cravings. Too bad I discover that after 5-6 years of a vegetarian diet..
Food scale is a must. Log your stuff in for a few weeks so you know what the portions should be. Break up meat and chicken by weight before cooking, so you are not overeating a designated portion. A serving of meat/fish is 4 oz. not 12oz.
Stick to calorie plan, no cheats.
Weigh in daily in the morning
After 2 month of charting weight and sticking to plan, you will see the graph over time.. now you can deliberately adjust your cal intake if you like. Point is, give your body lots of time before declaring what works and what does not before tweaking the plan.
Weight loss is an irregular process, especially for women, some times its stalls for weeks, during periods, then resumes. Reassess your plan every two months. Also measure your arms, neck, waist. Those will shrink even if weight does not. The scale is not your only marker.
Moderate exercise, an hour every other day will accelerate your ideal body weight.. Make sure you are straining yourself, I see plenty women moving machines with no weight on them, it's not the motion it's the weight resistance that makes effect. Otherwise you wasting an hour. Also don't try to eat up the calories you think you burned in gym, you will always over eat and under burn. You mind will trick you every time.
Alcohol turns into sugars, slowing your progress, minimize it.
No candy, sugar, pops, diet pops, zero cal pops, they all have sweetener that spikes insulin and stores fat. no junk, eat real food.
Love yourself and your body more then the craving of some junk food. It's a mental game. You can reprogram all bad habits.
Good luck.

I did not know to weigh meat before cooked. And I was clueless about diet drinks. That part sucks

sardelsa · September 2017

I would tell myself: Start lifting weights NOW.. do not wait

jelly_potato · September 2017

Well, first I'd laugh together with my old self because I turned out to be right. Despite what my mother claimed, going continuously to the gym did not make me like it one bit. Then I'd pat myself on the shoulder and point towards group lessons.

Most importantly I'd tell myself to get my head out of my bum and pay more attention to the people around me. No one cares about or notices my perceived imperfections, they are too busy having their heads stuck in their own bums worrying about their own perceived imperfections. Coming to peace with myself earlier would have saved me a lot of grief and would have led me more quickly to results.

Zeuggma · September 2017

Being physically fit can still mean you're overweight, and eating healthy and being at a healthy weight can still mean you're not physically fit.

Still, they work together for overall healthiness.

rfrenkel77 · September 2017

kmr0293 wrote: »

I did not know to weigh meat before cooked. And I was clueless about diet drinks. That part sucks

It's simple to divide up the ground chuck into 2oz patties. See attached pics, that's ground lamb.

justkeeprunning91 · September 2017

I would tell myself to stop trying to make huge lifestyle changes all at once. And that you don't need to do anything that drastic to successfully lose weight. Just start by making one small change. You'll start seeing results and craving more healthy changes. Before you know it, you'll be living that healthy lifestyle you tried to get to to start with, and it won't feel like you're killing yourself to do it. Those small changes add up!

BernsGyrl · September 2017

I would tell myself as a child to do the back exercise the orthopedic doctor told you to do so your back wouldn't hurt at 40 like he said it would.

BernsGyrl · September 2017

I would tell my 40 something self that cookies only make you feel better for the few minutes the fat satisfaction lasts in your mouth and brain. The sugar consumption will last a lifetime in your fat cells. Better to eat a stick of butter!

timtam163 · September 2017

"Hey take it easy there. Eat something. Good job on the tracking, but stop purposefully overestimating all your serving sizes. Also lift some damn weights!"

zelminashibby · September 2017

You are going to change , and free time is going to be scary. You spend so much time eating (= binging followed by food induced coma ) that you don't even know what to do with your time anymore. Relax, everyone faces this. Time to start the projects you have in mind for years.

The first step to master an art/sport/skillset is to suck at it. Keep on going, you'll be good at it some day.
BTW , your dream came true : you are good at painting .

You are going to become what you despised for years, and that is ok. It is ok to count calories. It is ok to go for hikes in the mountains on weekends. It is ok to become knowledgeable in sport equipment. It is ok to become a gym rat.

The god damn chocolate cookies are not your friends.
Apples and water, everyday.
Portion control is the key.

It is going to take time, but you'll never regret it.

You'll never snore again !

Brabo_Grip · September 2017

I love all the responses. For me:

1. Food scale
2. Warm up properly before training
3. Strength and Conditioning (even though you hate it) to prevent injury - you are almost 40 and though you can hold your own with the young bucks in sparring you get hurt easier and recovery takes longer.

IsabeausRose · September 2017

Eat at maintenance calories, eat more protein, don't get so skinny, and for heaven's sake quit smoking!

getoffin1year · September 2017

That the worst you feel on a good (foods) day is so much better than the best you feel on a bad day

Armywife04_21 · September 2017

Gosh there's so much I would tell my old self but here it is:
1. Be patient, weight loss does not happen overnight
2. Eat! Eating too little is not sustainable
3. Start slow and easy at the gym, pushing yourself too hard will cause you to lose motivation
4. Running takes time! You have to be patient, your body will determine when it is ready to run for longer and faster
5. Lift weights! Don't be shy about going to the weight room when all the guys are there, everyone is there to get fit!
6. Weigh your food! It is awesome to have a food scale in the kitchen
7. It is ok to have cheat meals, don't let guilt take over. It is all about moderation and having things you enjoy will help you keep sane
8. You can pretty much whatever you want as long as you don't go over your calories
9. Sticking to a 1500 calori deficit is totally awesome!
10. You will lose weight as long as you are consistent
11. You will have tons of cravings for junk in the beginning but it'll go away the more you become accustom to eating healthy
12. Look at this as a change in your lifestyle not just a diet
13. You will gain sooooooo much confidence, nothing like putting on old jeans you never thought would fit
14. Be proud for every little milestone and treat yourself with non-food related things when you do accomplish something
15. Keep moving! It doesn't matter what exercise but get off the couch and be active
16. Everyone starts somewhere, don't let your huffing and puffing while working out deter you
17. Purchase protein powder! Super efficient way of getting protein after lifting
18. You'll be plenty sore but it is worth it
19. It is going to take a whole lot of determination
20. It'll be worth it and awesome when you see yourself lose weight!

I've lost 37 lbs from April until Now, and that is what I've learn thus far!

Your advice to the old you ...

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