I failed at weight loss for 30 years, then I got it right.

N

New Mike

New member
Hi,

I'm a 50 year old "regular" person. I have no background in fitness or nutrition- and I have zero athletic ability. My point is, I know and believe that if I can learn how to lose weight, anyone can.

Losing weight is like riding a bike. It's a skill you need to learn. Once you do learn, it easy- and then you know how for the rest of your life. I want to make it clear it never used to be easy. I failed at losing weight over 10 times over 30 years. I lost- and gained back somewhere around 300 pounds.

The only thing that works is when you get determined to change your daily habits. You don't need to buy anything to lose weight. Pills, herbs, teas, diets, etc, only make weight loss even harder because they prevent you from learning how to do it right yourself.

That's the biggest irony in weight loss- the short cuts you buy make it take longer- if they help at all. Once you put in the time and learn how to do the right way, it becomes faster and easier than you can imagine.

Yes, I wrote a book about how changing your habits will transform your life. And no, you don't have to buy it. I will be happy to answer any questions and tell anyone exactly how it works.

To your health and success,
Mike Marsh
 
there's really nothing new or earth shattering there -and pretty much what we try to instill in people in this forum...
 
Hi Steve,

Sorry, I was reading a few posts and saw links here and there- didn't know it was an issue.

I still stand by everything I said.

I couldn't lose weight for 30 years, and only when I gave up on all the junk being touted by the diet industry [if ANY product worked would 2 out 3 Americans be overweight or obese?] did I finally learn how to do it right.

I'd be more than happy to share how anyone can learn how to choose their weight down to the pound: [Spam free]

As odd as it sounds, you really have want to do it. Don't go about it with a "what the heck" attitude. It's not rocket science, but it only works ONE way [calorie deficit]. It does not matter how you create this deficit- as long as it's safe and healthy. Everyone loses weight differently. What is a challenge for you might be easy for me.

Everything you need can come from a grocery store- do NOT buy diet products. Like training wheels on your bike, they keep your from learning how to it on your own.

You need to take a VERY honest look at your habits. You can't fix what you refuse to see. It took me about 3 months to give up soda. Only when I took an honest look at that habit- and kicked it to the curb with a few others- did progress really take off.

The mirror and scale will tell you if you're on the right track. If it's not going down [and I think it takes a good 3 weeks or so of healthy habits first] then you only have two choices. Eat fewer calories or get more active. NOTHING else will work.

Do NOT try to go hungry- that fires up emotions that are very difficult to control. Replace calorie dense food with fibrous foods [like fruits and veggies] that fill you up without a lot of calories.

Getting active is not a must, but it will make weight loss about 1000 times easier. The trick is, you have to pick activities that you enjoy and make them part of your daily life. For example, I don't like running. Forcing myself to run would take more discipline than I have. Trying to do things too challenging is what makes a lot of people give up- because it takes time to see results.

Once the scale is going down about a pound or two a week- just keep doing what you've found is the way to lose weight that works for personally. Meaning you're not trying to do the routine of a young fitness professional- you're doing activities that you like and eating natural foods you like.

Weight loss is 99% mental. You have to have a thought [or thoughts] that are more powerful than what bad habit is tempting you. That's why weight loss is a skill you need to learn for yourself. No one knows what it tempting for you- and no one but you knows what thought is going to be more powerful than that temptation.

The self discipline to overcome unhealthy habits gets easier with time. The new habits are like pathways in your mind through tall grass. The more you use that same path, the more permanent it becomes.

Our bodies are designed to be challenged- and to be fed natural food. The more you mess with that design, the harder you going to make weight loss.

Bottom line, it all comes down to your daily habits. Habits that are governed by very powerful emotions. The people that want to sell us junk food and diet scams know how to exploit these emotions. You will find that when you can control these emotions [by acknowledging they are there and taking steps to address the ones that are issues for you] at the same time you are leaning the discipline to accomplish pretty much whatever else you set your mind to.

In other words, learning the discipline to control the emotions that govern your desire for short term gratification [eating poorly and not exercising] makes having the discipline to succeed at other stuff fell easy.

And again, to acquire the discipline, you have to have a thought or emotion that is more powerful than the thought of giving up. What that thought is does not matter, all that matters is that it's powerful enough for you. And just like cutting that path through tall grass, the more you do what works for you, the easier it becomes.

Eventually, those new and better habits become an easy an natural part of your everyday life- and no longer take those special thoughts.

That is why I firmly believe anyone can learn the skill of weight loss. You just have to see things as they really are, and become determined to change them, until your new habits are easy.

I hope this helps.

To your health and success,

Mike Marsh
 
You do realize that you're preaching to the choir? Why not read the stickies and figure out what this community is all about before preaching?

Your words make sense. The problem with them though is they're equivalent to a pre-med student telling a surgeon how to operate. The foundation of no-bullshit, no-gimmick information has been set on this forum. Years ago actually.

If you want to contribute, there are hundreds of members needing specific advice. Find them. Help them.

Rambling on about the basics that this community was built upon years ago doesn't do much though, is all. To be fair, the rambling actually is offensive given the fact that many people invested a lot of time into building the foundation and you're trotting in here assuming different without taking any time to familiarize yourself with your surroundings.
 
That is awesome Mike.. Glad to her you won the war of the bulge.. Some however need a gentle push to get started, then when they form the right eatting habits and weight loss habits, they lose weight and keep it off..
You mentioned that taking certain things slow your progress, I agree to a degree.. but some have healing qualities.. You may not lose weight on it, but they are a great detox.. and can help..
But I'm not going to disagree with anything you said.. I am proud of you.. Keep it up.. I hope I am as sucessfull..

(Mods: Did I say anything wrong here?.. Don't want to get into trouble.. Thanks, have a great day)
 
Sorry, I thought it was quite specific and practical advice, not rambling. If anyone asked me for specific advise, I would use the exact same words.

I apologize to anyone that felt what I had to say wasted their time.
 
New Mike said:
Sorry, I thought it was quite specific and practical advice, not rambling. If anyone asked me for specific advise, I would use the exact same words.

I apologize to anyone that felt what I had to say wasted their time.
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They're just words Mike. I promise if you actually read what I say, they won't hurt you.

How you're missing the point I do not know. I'll spell it out for you.

You're posting quality information. Very general and basic... but quality nonetheless. The problem is, it's directed at a community at large who already has been presented with this information. The foundation is set in stone. Adding to it is great. We support learning. We support new information to improve the foundation we have. But that's not what you're doing.

You're addressing the entire community with 'old news.'

It's not the quality that's a problem. It's the intent and assumptions associated.

If you want to help people, read the forum. Understand what's presented already and add to it where you see fit. If you have nothing new to add, answer specific questions people invariably ask within the various forums.

Addressing us in the manner you are though is equivalent to me running in and telling trapped victims in a burning building that the building is on fire.
 
Mike

Your right all the short cuts do make it harder and you dont learn how to be healty and loseweight properly...I've been trying to figure this thing out Mike...what has worked for you? I'd appreciate any tips or advice that you can give and congrats on your success...
 
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Being a newcomer, I think your advice is good Mike...I haven't had time to fully navigate the site and read a whole lot of info but I do appreciate your effort and advice...and congrats on your book...have a good one a stay focused! :O)
 
I guess I'll eat my own words.

I'm working under the assumption that people actually invest the time into themselves to read the stickies.

I don't know why I would make a stupid assumption like that.
 
Steve said:
I guess I'll eat my own words.

I'm working under the assumption that people actually invest the time into themselves to read the stickies.

I don't know why I would make a stupid assumption like that.
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Half the fun for me has been reading through the countless threads, and other websites to gather the knowledge I now have. And although I know only a fraction of what most probably do, its now concreted in my mind.

I dont believe I would be as successfull with my own loss If someone had just given me all the info in one go. And by that I mean I wouldnt have taken it all in, I most likely wouldnt have had the countless 'lightbulb' moments I have also had.
 
Your assumption is correct...some have taken the time to read the stickies...I thought that was the whole idea of the site...encourage and be encouraged...I have read quite a bit info since I signed up, infact I've logged in everday since I signed up, it's been exciting and a pleasure to talk to people who understand where I'm coming from...
 
Sometimes we get caught up on the specifics of weight loss, when we should get back to the basics. I've read the stickies, but it's nice to be reminded of the big picture, instead of "how often should I weigh myself?" Often if people have read the stickies, they won't think of re-reading them. Thanks for the reminder! Great job on your weight loss!
 
I guess I also assume people don't just read, but comprehend and implement.

But that might be giving way too much credit.
 
Sometimes people comprehend and implement, sometimes they dont....I just want to do what works for me...and any advice or encouragement that can be interchanged along the way is a plus....
 
Well if you'd like for the forum to ease up on spammers, I'll just abc my way out of here. I'm not really down with that and I have other corners of the web I'd rather spend my time, frankly, if that's the direction we're going to go.

If the OP wants to prove me wrong that he's not a spammer, even though his first post on this forum was a pathetic attempt to sell his book, then by all means, I'll be happy.

There are times when being wrong is a good thing and this would be one of them b/c it would mean the OP sticks around and genuinely helps people.

That improves the forum.

Spammers do not.
 
:party: I agree...I don't want spammers here either, I think my spammervision was turned off.....but if the true intent was to be helpful to someone else then cool....I just want to help keep the positive energy flowing...
 
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