Well Good Morning everyone! I am new to this forum and Im hoping you guys can help me out here... I live on my own, and have a full schedule... so as far as free time goes, I dont have any....I struggle a lot with eating when I am bored, and lack of physical activity besides working.... I have a lot of vices, and am not perfect...I've gotten to the point where I dont like going out in public in a "fun" outfit.. let alone a swimsuit at the beach.. one of my biggest issues is that this is really starting to effect my love life with my current boyfriend... am I going totally crazy here? I feel like Im trapped in a hole, and don't know how to get out... I've tried dieting before, loose the weight, and then gain it back again... typical...yeah I know... I've always been overweight... right now I am currently 20 lbs overweight, and I want to get rid of it, and start to finally enjoy my life... I'm trying hoodia at the moment, I just started a few days ago...does anyone have any suggestions.. or am I just totally off base here?
Yeah... so... I'm new here...
- Thread starter Vikette
- Start date
Twenty pounds is not a big deal at all IMO, as long as you get the right dietary and training protocals laid out.
I know it is tough to consider adding more to your hectic schedule, but it comes down to what you truly desire. If you REALLY want to lose this weight, you will find a way to make time for it. I, myself, work 2 jobs, own a home, am in school, and have a busy social life. That said, I get my workouts and meals in at every scheduled time. I do this, b/c I rank my health and physique very high on the priority list in life.
The main area of focus to lose the 20 lbs is going to be nutritionally based. What are you currently eating? Do you have any idea how many calories? What types of food? Would you mind giving your stats?
I look forward to hearing from you.
I know it is tough to consider adding more to your hectic schedule, but it comes down to what you truly desire. If you REALLY want to lose this weight, you will find a way to make time for it. I, myself, work 2 jobs, own a home, am in school, and have a busy social life. That said, I get my workouts and meals in at every scheduled time. I do this, b/c I rank my health and physique very high on the priority list in life.
The main area of focus to lose the 20 lbs is going to be nutritionally based. What are you currently eating? Do you have any idea how many calories? What types of food? Would you mind giving your stats?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Welcome.
The info above is absolutely right. While people usually associate weight loss with exercise, the main factor is what you eat. Just modifying what you eat, the times you eat, and how much you eat can provide weight loss.
The info above is absolutely right. While people usually associate weight loss with exercise, the main factor is what you eat. Just modifying what you eat, the times you eat, and how much you eat can provide weight loss.
Alright..
Im sure 20 pounds seems like no big deal... and as far as right dietary training??... I have none... I was raised on the whole "you cant leave the table until you finish everything on your plate" ideal... I eat what I can afford.. and make what I can when I have the time..my downfall is that I love red meat... give me a juicy tenderloin and I will be the happiest woman in the world! (just make sure its medium rare! ) But also, I am the type of person who never got into eating breakfast, (im working on that).. also, if Im not hungry, I just wont eat... my I dont have a very consistant eating routine...Main vice.. Diet Soda... I just can't help it! I figure no calories no problem.. but there is.. Im obsessed!
As far as the time issue goes, I could make the time, I just dont know where to start.. I was in cross country my senior year in high school, and towards the end of the season, i had gotten tendonitis to the extreme... my whole lower half of my body would go NUMB! It was crazy.... the doctors told me, I was just not built to run..no matter how much I loved it... it discouraged me from that activity ever since.. I was thinking about taking up swimming? But once again, I dont know how to start on it..
I've never counted calories... I never thought I would have to.. but Im thinking youre trying to tell me that I AM going to have to..
As far as stats go... No problem... what do I have to loose by telling ya?..
I'm 5'2'' and weigh in at 147.. I know im not tiny, and not that Im not attractive... I just dont feel as good about myself as I should.. and as far as 20 lbs goes...I dont know if i need to loose that much, I just want to get to the point where I am comfortable in my own skin and feel sexy about myself... I feel looking at it that way doesnt put so much pressure on the weight over the feeling... I dont care what size I am.. just as long as I feel good, thats all that matters to me right now...
Alright, so what are your two cents on that?
(haha, bare with me... Im just a sarcastic piece of work! )
Im sure 20 pounds seems like no big deal... and as far as right dietary training??... I have none... I was raised on the whole "you cant leave the table until you finish everything on your plate" ideal... I eat what I can afford.. and make what I can when I have the time..my downfall is that I love red meat... give me a juicy tenderloin and I will be the happiest woman in the world! (just make sure its medium rare!
) But also, I am the type of person who never got into eating breakfast, (im working on that).. also, if Im not hungry, I just wont eat... my I dont have a very consistant eating routine...Main vice.. Diet Soda... I just can't help it! I figure no calories no problem.. but there is.. Im obsessed!As far as the time issue goes, I could make the time, I just dont know where to start.. I was in cross country my senior year in high school, and towards the end of the season, i had gotten tendonitis to the extreme... my whole lower half of my body would go NUMB! It was crazy.... the doctors told me, I was just not built to run..no matter how much I loved it... it discouraged me from that activity ever since.. I was thinking about taking up swimming? But once again, I dont know how to start on it..
I've never counted calories... I never thought I would have to.. but Im thinking youre trying to tell me that I AM going to have to..
As far as stats go... No problem... what do I have to loose by telling ya?..
I'm 5'2'' and weigh in at 147.. I know im not tiny, and not that Im not attractive... I just dont feel as good about myself as I should.. and as far as 20 lbs goes...I dont know if i need to loose that much, I just want to get to the point where I am comfortable in my own skin and feel sexy about myself... I feel looking at it that way doesnt put so much pressure on the weight over the feeling... I dont care what size I am.. just as long as I feel good, thats all that matters to me right now...
Alright, so what are your two cents on that?
(haha, bare with me... Im just a sarcastic piece of work!
)Noone here is going to judge you by your stats. Many of the people here are here for the same reason as you.
You say you want to start swimming but dont know where to start, well the answer is to just get into the pool. If you're not doing any physical activity now, start by just swimming and splashing around. As your cardiovascular capability increases, move to a certain amount of laps. The main key to exercise is do something fun.
As far as diet, breakfast isnt the most important meal of the day for nothing. Many people arent breakfast people, I used to be one of them. Now I cant survive without it.
I have included this link that I think will help get you started, please check it out.
You say you want to start swimming but dont know where to start, well the answer is to just get into the pool. If you're not doing any physical activity now, start by just swimming and splashing around. As your cardiovascular capability increases, move to a certain amount of laps. The main key to exercise is do something fun.
As far as diet, breakfast isnt the most important meal of the day for nothing. Many people arent breakfast people, I used to be one of them. Now I cant survive without it.
I have included this link that I think will help get you started, please check it out.
M2M
New member
Hi Vikette,
I just wanted to welcome you to the WLF and say that the absolutely HARDEST part, is just getting started.
You've done that
Now it's just one step at a time. Pounds all come off the same way, one at a time.
These guys posting above me, have great, and specific info to help! Just know that who you are is NOT how much you weigh. It's a part of you, yes, just like your eye color - but it is NOT who you are. You are much, much more!
Take losing weight one day at a time, sometimes one meal at a time. or are both good resources for tracking calories, nutrition and fitness. It really *does* help knowing exactly how much is going in!
Best of luck to you,
I just wanted to welcome you to the WLF and say that the absolutely HARDEST part, is just getting started.
You've done that
Now it's just one step at a time. Pounds all come off the same way, one at a time.
These guys posting above me, have great, and specific info to help! Just know that who you are is NOT how much you weigh. It's a part of you, yes, just like your eye color - but it is NOT who you are. You are much, much more!
Take losing weight one day at a time, sometimes one meal at a time. or are both good resources for tracking calories, nutrition and fitness. It really *does* help knowing exactly how much is going in!
Best of luck to you,
Congrats!
Good for you for joining this forum. I just started, too.
One thing that helps me is writing down what I eat. I keep a notepad on my counter and just add to it. (I stay at home, so maybe you'd need to carry it in a purse). Even just that helps, believe it or not. I look at the list of food, and don't want to see the whole thing filled with non-nutritious food.
I don't know how you are on fruit & veggies, but having stuff to grab quickly when you're heading out the door is useful. Bananas are my thing, also baby carrots. You can get little packettes of apple slices (I think they're made for kids' snacks, but whatever!).
Exercise is REALLY hard for me. I just drag my feet. One thing to help me get moving, is I've decided to put on some Rock n Roll and jive around to it for awhile. Any moving is better than none...Right?
Start with a few tiny things, and success will help with another tiny step.
Good luck!
Have a great day.
Cheryl
Good for you for joining this forum. I just started, too.
One thing that helps me is writing down what I eat. I keep a notepad on my counter and just add to it. (I stay at home, so maybe you'd need to carry it in a purse). Even just that helps, believe it or not. I look at the list of food, and don't want to see the whole thing filled with non-nutritious food.
I don't know how you are on fruit & veggies, but having stuff to grab quickly when you're heading out the door is useful. Bananas are my thing, also baby carrots. You can get little packettes of apple slices (I think they're made for kids' snacks, but whatever!).
Exercise is REALLY hard for me. I just drag my feet. One thing to help me get moving, is I've decided to put on some Rock n Roll and jive around to it for awhile. Any moving is better than none...Right?
Start with a few tiny things, and success will help with another tiny step.
Good luck!
Have a great day.
Cheryl
Accountability...
Thanks for all of your inspiring words all.... Now all I need to do is inspire a little bit more to get up and go out there and do it... I know I can sit here and talk about it, but talking doesnt do anything... its the DOING part that does something...
As far as caloric intake... what should I be aiming for?
Now M2M and cool cat.. how do you ladies stay so motivated? If given a choice between sleeping in or going for a walk by myself? I would rather stay in bed... how do you do it and stay so positive throughout the whole experience? I have been let down so many times, I dont know how to stay positive and have patience...but Im working on it.. I jsut find that if i dont see anything after a while, i get discouraged.. Would you ladies mind keeping me up beat on this time around? (and hopefully my last)...
I need to be held accountable...and Im willing to hold others accountable.. anyone interested?
Thanks for all of your inspiring words all.... Now all I need to do is inspire a little bit more to get up and go out there and do it... I know I can sit here and talk about it, but talking doesnt do anything... its the DOING part that does something...
As far as caloric intake... what should I be aiming for?
Now M2M and cool cat.. how do you ladies stay so motivated? If given a choice between sleeping in or going for a walk by myself? I would rather stay in bed... how do you do it and stay so positive throughout the whole experience? I have been let down so many times, I dont know how to stay positive and have patience...but Im working on it.. I jsut find that if i dont see anything after a while, i get discouraged.. Would you ladies mind keeping me up beat on this time around? (and hopefully my last)...
I need to be held accountable...and Im willing to hold others accountable.. anyone interested?
Scared...
M2M- Im just afraid Im setting myself up for a let down once again.. Not to sound negative.. I have just never been great at the whole weight loss thing. I just actually got done talking with one of the guys here at our shop, and he informed me that he was trying the Atkins because it has worked for him... Been there, tried that.. didnt like it... I just need an extra push.. you think that my own insecurities would be enough.. but my own push just takes longer then I would like...
Those ticker things are pretty neat.. maybe I will have to get myself one of those... that means I have to get on the scale then huh? ha.. no, thats not a problem, My foreman and I weigh together in the mornings...he is pushing me in the way that if i dont lose the weight I want by my birthday (march 24)... I owe him a $100..... other one of my friends and I have another bet going...im not going to go into it... but Im finding that If I set goals/make bets with something that I would never really do...it pushes so then I know I wont have to do it... so its a negative motivator per say... I dont know if thats a good way to go about it... but its the approach I am taking..
M2M- Im just afraid Im setting myself up for a let down once again.. Not to sound negative.. I have just never been great at the whole weight loss thing. I just actually got done talking with one of the guys here at our shop, and he informed me that he was trying the Atkins because it has worked for him... Been there, tried that.. didnt like it... I just need an extra push.. you think that my own insecurities would be enough.. but my own push just takes longer then I would like...
Those ticker things are pretty neat.. maybe I will have to get myself one of those... that means I have to get on the scale then huh?
ha.. no, thats not a problem, My foreman and I weigh together in the mornings...he is pushing me in the way that if i dont lose the weight I want by my birthday (march 24)... I owe him a $100..... other one of my friends and I have another bet going...im not going to go into it... but Im finding that If I set goals/make bets with something that I would never really do...it pushes so then I know I wont have to do it... so its a negative motivator per say... I dont know if thats a good way to go about it... but its the approach I am taking..
M2M
New member
Hi Vikette,
Just remember that past performance isn't indicative of future results.
If it hasn't worked in the past, it doesn't mean it can't work in the future.
The trick is consistency - this is a day by day process. One day, one meal one pound at a time! You can DO that
For me, I found that I could not "go on a diet" I had to learn to incorporate the foods I love, that my family eats into a regular lifestyle - and the only way I can do that is through calorie counting. I know what I need ever day and I work to get it in. It's not always perfect, some weeks & days are better then others - but taken one at a time over a long time, those old habits disappear, and better ones are formed.
The majority of my weight loss has been nutritionally based. I get my butt out of the house and move because I now love it - it took time to get to that point.
As for negative motivation, it's not something that works for me, nor is artifical positive motivation. I prefer simply natural consequences - losing weight is the natural consequence of better living.
I once read a book that changed my perception of what motivates people - it's called "Punished By Rewards, The Trouble with A's, Praise And Other Bribes" by Alfie Kohn - it was an amazing eye opener.
You CAN do this
Just remember that past performance isn't indicative of future results.
If it hasn't worked in the past, it doesn't mean it can't work in the future.
The trick is consistency - this is a day by day process. One day, one meal one pound at a time! You can DO that
For me, I found that I could not "go on a diet" I had to learn to incorporate the foods I love, that my family eats into a regular lifestyle - and the only way I can do that is through calorie counting. I know what I need ever day and I work to get it in. It's not always perfect, some weeks & days are better then others - but taken one at a time over a long time, those old habits disappear, and better ones are formed.
The majority of my weight loss has been nutritionally based. I get my butt out of the house and move because I now love it - it took time to get to that point.
As for negative motivation, it's not something that works for me, nor is artifical positive motivation. I prefer simply natural consequences - losing weight is the natural consequence of better living.
I once read a book that changed my perception of what motivates people - it's called "Punished By Rewards, The Trouble with A's, Praise And Other Bribes" by Alfie Kohn - it was an amazing eye opener.
You CAN do this
Here's my little motivational things I say to myself. . .
1) If I quit eating healthy and exercising, I definitely won't lose weight. At least, by trying (imperfectly at that) I stand a chance to lose something.
2) Make excuses or Make Progress
I agree with what everyone else has been saying. Once I established that I needed to fit exercise into my day, it became as important as eating, sleeping, and showering. Somedays, it just doesn't happen and that's okay.
As far as food goes, sparkpeople has really been a lifesaver at our house. My diet-illiterate husband has really taken to using the site. Every evening he enters the food he ate and the exercise he did. It's absolutely free and really easy.
Also, start a journal. It has been the 'difference' for me this time. Being surround by successful, knowledgeable, and caring people will really make the journey so much better.
1) If I quit eating healthy and exercising, I definitely won't lose weight. At least, by trying (imperfectly at that) I stand a chance to lose something.
2) Make excuses or Make Progress
I agree with what everyone else has been saying. Once I established that I needed to fit exercise into my day, it became as important as eating, sleeping, and showering. Somedays, it just doesn't happen and that's okay.
As far as food goes, sparkpeople has really been a lifesaver at our house. My diet-illiterate husband has really taken to using the site. Every evening he enters the food he ate and the exercise he did. It's absolutely free and really easy.
Also, start a journal. It has been the 'difference' for me this time. Being surround by successful, knowledgeable, and caring people will really make the journey so much better.
You've probably never been good at the "whole dieting thing" because you were never given the right tools to accomplish the task. Please check out that link I posted above.
Tony- You absolutly right on that one.. I am going to check out the link that you provided for me ( thank you by the way!)
Plus side of this whole thing... Since I have moved out on my own.. I went from 180 lbs down to 148 (where i sit now.. I just weighed myself!) since August of 2005.. I must be doing something right..not to make excuses, but maybe the way I am now has something to do with how I was raised as far as meals go... Now that Im on my own, I find myself eating less... but mroe frequent.. I dont know if thats good or not... who knows..
Im going to concetrate more on cardio versus weight training, I have a fairly muscular build.. I made the mistake of bulking up minus the cardio.. wasnt good..maybe that was the wrong thing to say.. I should say something more like, I didnt get the results I was looking for.. I trained improperly..whoops... but now I know, so... here I go!?
Plus side of this whole thing... Since I have moved out on my own.. I went from 180 lbs down to 148 (where i sit now.. I just weighed myself!
) since August of 2005.. I must be doing something right..not to make excuses, but maybe the way I am now has something to do with how I was raised as far as meals go... Now that Im on my own, I find myself eating less... but mroe frequent.. I dont know if thats good or not... who knows..Im going to concetrate more on cardio versus weight training, I have a fairly muscular build.. I made the mistake of bulking up minus the cardio.. wasnt good..maybe that was the wrong thing to say.. I should say something more like, I didnt get the results I was looking for.. I trained improperly..whoops... but now I know, so... here I go!?
Dont neglect strength training. Muscle burns calories, so the more muscle you have=the more calories you burn. Strength training can actually burn more calories after the exercise session, as where standard aerobic training (cardio) doesnt.
Is resisitance training considered weight training... My point I am trying to make is that I am as bulky as I would like to be... I just want to tone down and define what I have already, and I was under the impression that if you work more on aerobic activities, that is what uses the muscle to burn the fat... is that not true? Or am I just confusing myself here...