THINGS I WISH I KNEW WHEN I STARTED LOSING WEIGHT

ColeSlaw1234
ColeSlaw1234 Posts: 47 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I may occasionally add to this but these are just some things I wish I knew before my weight loss.
You can actually be more flexible with what you eat. While you should not only eat processed foods, losing weight has more to do with simply Calories in vs Calories out. While one can from over consumption and eating unhealthy to eating healthy on a caloric deficit, (what I did) it important to realize as long as ur burning more than u consume, u will gradually lose weight

Replies

  • ColeSlaw1234
    ColeSlaw1234 Posts: 47 Member
    Also...not as relevant at the start. But as you begin to lose a lot of weight, switch ur focus to burning fat more and not just weight. It can sound complicated and it sometimes is, but losing weight is easier than specially losing fat
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    How important lifting was in order to retain muscle and change my body composition as I lost.
  • jessicalys
    jessicalys Posts: 27 Member
    1. Small changes really do add up. Making one small change at a time really does make it easier, instead of trying to do a complete overhaul all at once.
    2. I agree, you can be much more flexible with what you eat. As long as I get enough protein, I just try to make my choices as healthy as possible.
    3. One bad day isn't a good reason to have another bad day...or a bad week. Getting back on track is much easier than starting all over again.
    4. Things won't always turn out how you plan. You have to adjust your plan and know that it's about progress not perfection.
  • seltzermint555
    seltzermint555 Posts: 10,740 Member
    This is kind of a silly answer but I wish I'd known that buying "goal" items was pointless for me because I would change shape in different ways than expected and end at a smaller size than expected. Fortunately I only bought inexpensive thrifted "goal" things, anything more expensive was stuff to fit at the current time when I bought it.
  • ColeSlaw1234
    ColeSlaw1234 Posts: 47 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    How important lifting was in order to retain muscle and change my body composition as I lost.

    Very true! I didn't realize until after I lost weight that I had to shift to body composition and not just low numbers! Working hard now though ^_^
  • ColeSlaw1234
    ColeSlaw1234 Posts: 47 Member
    Danp wrote: »
    It took me a long while to come to the conclusion that much of my success this time round is that I began to view it as 'weight management' rather than 'weight loss'.

    This has had a few really positive impacts.

    To begin with it makes what I'm doing a lifelong thing rather than just a thing I'm doing to get to a goal. 'Weight loss' ends when you hit your goal/healthy weight which can lead to 'taking your foot off the pedal' and going back where you started. 'Weight Management' on the other hand makes it clear that this isn't just a temporary thing I'm doing.

    Further 'Weight Management' allows for flexibility in living my life without feeling deprived or like I have to miss out on the good things. 'Weight Management' means managing weight gain as well as weight loss and weight maintenance. Weight Management means that I can happily plan to put in 5kg while on holiday by sipping rich cocktails at the pool bar and eating decadent meals every night knowing full well that I can manage my weight back down again when I get home and into my normal routine.

    It also takes away some of the pressure that comes with 'weight loss'. A "bad" week meals a failure for 'Weight Loss' whereas when approached as "Weight Management" it not a failure, just a need for a course correction, something that needs to be addressed and adjusted for.

    I agree! I had to stop using the term diet and weight loss and say things like lifestyle changes!
  • ColeSlaw1234
    ColeSlaw1234 Posts: 47 Member
    jessicalys wrote: »
    1. Small changes really do add up. Making one small change at a time really does make it easier, instead of trying to do a complete overhaul all at once.
    2. I agree, you can be much more flexible with what you eat. As long as I get enough protein, I just try to make my choices as healthy as possible.
    3. One bad day isn't a good reason to have another bad day...or a bad week. Getting back on track is much easier than starting all over again.
    4. Things won't always turn out how you plan. You have to adjust your plan and know that it's about progress not perfection.

    Good advice!
  • ColeSlaw1234
    ColeSlaw1234 Posts: 47 Member
    apullum wrote: »
    I wish I'd known years ago that I could actually lose weight. I spent a very long time being absolutely sure that I couldn't do it. At some point, I even found a short list of "dream goals" I wrote in my early 20s--things I wished I could do but didn't think were really possible. One of the things on the list was "lose 100 pounds."

    I have now completed two of the things on the list.

    I also wish I had started strength training sooner.

    I agree! I had accepted I would just look a certain way and wouldn't improve. So it took me forever to get started. Congrats on ur progress!
  • ColeSlaw1234
    ColeSlaw1234 Posts: 47 Member
    pyrusangeles wrote: »
    I love and agree with all of this.

    I wish I'd known the effects it would have on my brain. I feel sharper, calmer, and more productive. That is huge with the job I have, and now I feel I can handle the stress much better than before.

    I wish I could help others to get out of that headspace where they yo-yo and feel like a gain/binge/"bad" day is the end of the world. Changing that mentality to one of seeing fitness as a lifelong pursuit really did change the game. It made me happier with who I am right now.

    Same! I underestimated how much it helped me to exercise and try and be better. It has helped me mentally a lot. I wish I could help more people too. Losing weight didn't make make me love myself, but it showed me I could work to better myself. Which is what I am proud of

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