Operation "Get In Shape" is now on!

Mrs.Umm · November 2010

I'm so disgusted with how out of shape I've gotten. I hate the idea of having to buy all new clothes, when mine all fit less than a year ago.

DH and I tried Slim-fast for a while, and he lost weight, and I gained. Crying So, I got some new weight watchers recipes and dusted off the exercise bike. It's ON!

What do you to to stay motivated? I know my big problem is that I 'cheat'...a lot! In my mind, those mini snickers don't really count, right? LOL

Honeybee2813 · November 2010

I'm right there with you, but I'm starting tomorrow since I'm going to Bob Evans for breakfast! To stay motivated as far as eating goes, I let myself have a piece of candy, or two, here and there just so I don't feel deprived. Fiber One bars are good for you and they kinda taste like a candy bar . I try to pick out the fruits and veggies that I like so that I'll stick with eating them. Another thing I've learned over the years is to not call it a 'diet' because really healthy eating doesn't start and end at a specific time. In order to lose weight you have to eat healthy and in order to maintain your weight lost you have to continue to eat healthy. GL to you!

kbird426 · November 2010

i just lost 69 lbs, most of it from ww! i also "cheat" a little...i just dont eat my extra 35 points a week and figure those will count for my "cheating" lol im at a total plateau ive lost and gained the same 2 lbs for a month and a half now. i need to workout!

Mrs.Umm · November 2010

LGLDVM:
I know you can do it, Umm!

I don't know about staying motivated, although TTC has helped motivate me since I want to be in the best shape possible if I get pregnant.

I also write everything I eat down. Good, bad or ugly. Accountibility is huge for me and knowing I will have to write it down often keeps me from going too far off track.

I was thinking of this. Do you use a special journal, or just a piece of paper? I would think a random piece of paper would be too easy to just crumple up and throw away on a bad day.

quietvoice · November 2010

Mrs.Umm:
LGLDVM:
I know you can do it, Umm!
I don't know about staying motivated, although TTC has helped motivate me since I want to be in the best shape possible if I get pregnant.
I also write everything I eat down. Good, bad or ugly. Accountibility is huge for me and knowing I will have to write it down often keeps me from going too far off track.
I was thinking of this. Do you use a special journal, or just a piece of paper? I would think a random piece of paper would be too easy to just crumple up and throw away on a bad day.

Both times that I've been successful with weight loss, that was a huge part of it.

Prior to my wedding, I did Jenny Craig and just bought a fairly cheapy little "diary" blank book to track my food.

Currently, I'm on WW, and I use their online tools (which I LOVE) to track food/points.

ETA: I also try to use the apt complex fitness center/treadmill. I'm very slow at running but right now I'm trying to do just one mile a day, whether it's walking, "running", or somewhere in between. One mile only takes 15-20 minutes for me, so theoretically, I always have time to do a mile. Right?

lcking82 · November 2010

I lost about 15# and my husband lost about 40# (and is still losing) doing weight watchers. When my husband and I get serious (which we need to do right now since its the holidays!) we write EVERYTHING down. I use paper, DH uses the online program on the computer.

We also run (I LOVE running). I think doing races keeps me motivated.

jaimelody · November 2010

I'm so with you!! You can do it! I lost about 35 lbs before my wedding in May but am now back on the yoyo and almost up 15 lbs up again. Yuck. DH and I went back to the gym yesterday. I figured CD1 fresh start for weight loss too. Things that worked for me last time were increasing your water intake. Women retain a lot of water as it is. The more you drink the more you let out. Also, whenever we went out to dinner, I would ask for a to-go container right away. Eat about half the size portion that you usually do. And about the snickers- one is not cheating! Lol you can't just cut out everything you love- just lessen it. If you usually eat 3-4 only have 1-2. Sorry no paragraphs on my phone. Good luck!

anhg80 · November 2010

I'm going to be an AW, since I'm almost down 20 lbs right now - yay! (oh, and also boo, since I am just getting back to my wedding weight) - and I'm feeling like bragging. This is what worked for me:

1) Writing everything down. I used fitday, but I think sparkpeople may be easier to use. I had to stick with fitday though because it held the graph of my weight-loss. That was super-motivating. Even during plateaus, it was great to be able to look at a graph to remind myself that a month ago I was several pounds heavier.

2) Reasonable expectations. From fitday, I realized my main problem was portion-size. I slowly reduced portion sizes, so I didn't feel super hungry. Nothing was off limits. I also slowly increased exercise. In the past, I'd get mad if I couldn't do an hour on the elliptical at the highest setting or if I couldn't lift much weight. This time, I started with about 20 minutes on resistance 1, and worked my way up. I also started doing some of the exercises from Self, and didn't need weights to feel bad about

3) Intermittent rewards (non-food). Learning a healthy lifestyle requires patience. If you lose weight in a healthy way, you'll lose 1-2 pounds per week. I took it slower than that even (I had surgery earlier this year that slowed me down). This means that it could take 20 (or more) weeks to lose 20 pounds. My husband and I came up with a deal that I got to get a new book for every pound I lost. This kept me motivated and focused on short-term goals.

Good luck! I figure that losing weight now will only make pregnancy and post-pregnancy a little bit easier - that's also a way to stay motivated

brookelynpaisley · November 2010

I'm doing South Beach. I HAVE to lose weight because of my blood pressure. I did cheat and eat Thanksgiving, but now I'm back at it. Phase 1 sucks, but if I can just get through it, Phase 2 is much easier.

GPhiBGirl · November 2010

I'm right there with you!! I've started putting on my winter clothes from last year and they are very snug. I had my "last supper" tonight and made it a good one because tomorrow it's back to counting points and getting back on the treadmill. We can do it!!