I can't get started...

Until you truly want it, you won't be ready to hear it.


Just try to change ONE thing this week. Don't try to 1.) Eat "right" 2.) Exercise an hour a day 3.) Log everything 4.) Eat only whole foods 5.) Join a gym 6.) Buy exercise DVDs 7.) Buy new workout clothes 8.) Buy a Heart Rate Monitor 9.) Join a Biggest Loser contest

etc.

Doing everything at once will lead you to frustration and you'll feel overwhelmed, and will most likely give up. This process of getting healthy will mean you have to make a lot of changes. Change is always difficult. It's a process.

You do a little bit at a time. Not everythingallatonce. You have to learn about yourself.

I don't have a smart phone, so i know it is darn near impossible to log EVERYTHING you eat! I try to keep a tally of my calories (roughly) and put that in at the end of the day, or even the next day if you have to (you can edit previous days). Also, in terms of getting started, i had to actually write the entire day down, make SURE that i have time to work out, and clean one cabinet out and only put the food for that day in it. Yes, it is only one day, but once you do that for one day it is a ton easier to keep it up! Also, if you can, make the food before the day and have it ready to eat. This is not a science and there is no end all be all for getting started, anyway you do it is still really HARD! But you can do it! Best Wishes!

Two years ago, I ran a 5 k, then I ran another. I was getting fit, wasn't loosing a lot of weight, but I was getting stronger. Then last June/July I hurt my foot and went through alot of different types of therapy for the injury. Finally, in April I had to have surgery. In my mind, I was going to have the surgery and be back in the gym the next day. Crazy person! In reality, I was able to make it back in the gym two weeks ago and start going on short walks last week. It ain't easy, but I am learning a few things.

1. Show up. - Stop with the excuse's and just get there. No matter what.
2. I do strength training first, then cardio - like the elipitcal and the stationary bike. With my injury, I can go on the eliptical for a short time - the first day I did 5 mins. now I am up to 20mins.
3. Listen to your body. Your body knows its' limits - then push a little more.
4. Set a goal. For instance, I need a haircut, but I am not getting one tell I reach a short goal.
5. You didn't get where you are overnight. It takes time.
6. Take the word 'can't' out of your vocabulary. It is a downer.
7. Make a menu of what you would like to eat on any given day and stick to the plan. My breakfast - oatmeal - snack - apple's, lunch (haven't figured it out yet) dinner - chicken or fish with just Lawrys seasoning, brown rice and veggies.
8. Drink lots of water. In fact, drink a glass of H2O first before you eat. It helps.
9. Most importantly I think is not to look at the big picture (or the skinny people as they pass), realize where you are and a LONG TERM goal of where you want to be, but set short term goals to get you there.
10. When I start any exercise - I do my goal - such as - eliptical for 5mins - then I do 5mins more for me. It is all for me, but when I change that mindset at the end, it really helps.

I tried to do it with the most strict set of rules. it did not work.

i then started backwards; basically took 100 calories away from my daily max to maintain my weight, and guess what it worked and is working. I am now pretty much doing 300-400 calories from my max allowed per day, and still losing weight.

patience and persistence ,in baby steps

I would definitely say start with the simplest...Log EVERYTHING! This is what I did. It makes the decision that much easier once you can actually see what you're eating and how or where you can slowly start to cut some calories. My first log I believe had over 2K Cal after looking at it I gradually got down to 1500 then to 1200. It was a process but a less traumatic way of "jumping in" :-) Good luck, Hun!

Hugs a few weeks ago I fel like you. In the back of mind I was always going to start "Tomorrow" or I'd make some excuse as to why I couldn't Today.
I finally just said RIGHT Now I am making XYZ changes..>i will log my food, I will work out every day, and i will finish P90X. I started 2 weeks ago this past monday and I haven't felt better. My first week was a little messy, missed some work outs, didn't log every thing, made a mess of my diet.
Last week was perfect, I ate well worked out right...and I AM HERE!!!! I am going to just keep going and going.

Just start...say for this meal I am eating XYZ calories, I am going to log it on MFP, and today I am going to walk for 15 minutes. Then you are DONE for the day.

Wake up tomorrow and say...today I am going to stay in my calorie range, and take another short walk.

Good Luck though.

Denise

Just log everything you eat. Possibly seeing the actual calorie intake will motivate you to make one small change at a time, ie; instead of the candy bar for a snack that hs 200+ calories, drink a bottle of water and have a bowl of grapes.

I started by not changing anything, I just logged what I did. I ate what I wanted, and the only excercise I did was yard work, and playing with the kids. After a while, I started making better food choices because I was tired of seeing so many big numbers on my log.

Don't set your calorie goal to lose anything, just set it to maintain. After you get in the habit of logging, try to add in some excercise a couple of times a week. Then change your goal to lose 1/2 a pound a week, once you are comfortable with that you can change it again. Things will slowly come around. Don't try to change everything about your life at once.

What I do to get started is go grocery shopping after I have borrowed a great cookbook from the library. I rarely get time to myself with a 2yr old. So I get something good like Back To Nature cherry, almond, and patachio and add chocolate chips and pb chips to it. I measure it out and place them in baggies to eat during the week. Getting myself organized first makes it too easy not to fail. I often shop at night too. I love fresh fruits in small containers in the fridge. This helps me stay on plan. I am hoping to lose 40lbs by September! Good luck girly!

Actually, it might take a couple "starts" before you really get started. But if you are thinking about your health and actually trying, that is a good change and is what it takes! Good luck and keep post-its reminding your of how awesome you are and that you can do it!

I agree with everyone else....baby steps. I would start with logging everything daily. You can see what things you can change or find alternatives for the foods that are high in calories and it's easier to hold yourself accountable when you see the numbers. Then gradually work yourself into some cardio...start just by walking and work your way up to something more. Then start with your strength training.

Don't say you'll start "today". Tell yourself today that you will start after memorial day weekend. Then, you have time to mentally prepare, get rid of any junk, etc. I do this anytime I need to "restart" or get back on track.

You can't get started b/c maybe you're not ready. Not saying it to be mean but before I joined MFP I was always saying today I will start, today this today that. Finally I made up my mind and I just did it.

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. There is something about your current lifestyle that you aren't willing to give up yet. When I first joined this site I had someone tell me the exact same thing after I sent her a long PM will all of the reasons why I couldn't fit consistent exercise into my crazy busy schedule. After hearing her say I wasn't ready, a switch flipped and next thing you knew, I was finding ways to fit in exercise throughout the week. It can be hard to balance everything so just take it one day at a time!

You have to be ready. No words of advice will help you be ready. It's a decision you have to make for yourself. You have to WANT IT!