Thread: Determined To Win In 2010

Angels what you have just thought, just said, just sent out into the universe is your first step to a whole new life of feeling good about yourself that is right there , has been there and was just waiting for you to show up

About 4 years ago, I sat at the edge of my bed and looked at myself in the mirror, as I had done countless times before but had spent some time avoiding in the years leading up to that day. My back ached. I had no energy. And I couldn't even recognize myself in that mirror. Somewhere along the way food had become my best friend too. Comfort when I was sad, celebration when I was happy, company when I was lonely, entertainment when I was bored.

Now I sit here typing this to you 4 years later, I've lost a great deal of weight and went from not fitting into a size 26 to a size 5 (not with surgery, not with 'magic' pills... but with just the same conviction to make a change in my life that you have right now. Its been more than 3 years now since I've lost that weight, but I can remember the day I started my journey like it was yesterday.

If you are like me you have probably tried a diet here or there along the way or many of them or all of them, but didn't flip the switch in your head that said you were ready to dedicate some time each day to making your life longer, healthier and most importantly... happier.

I suggest you start with a food journal. Go out and get a 99 cent little paper notebook and keep track every single day of when you eat, what you ate and how much you ate. Keep track of the calories consumed. There are several websites that list the calories for anything and everything that will make it easy to do this. It will seem like a pain at first, but its crucial for accountability and tracking your progress.

Weigh yourself weekly. Just once per week. Daily leads to frustration over water fluctuation etc. Weighing weekly will give you an accurate reflection of your progress.

Talk your doctor about what would be a safe calorie consumption for your body to take daily to lose wieght. They may want to run a couple blood tests depending on your age, current weight and medical history to make sure that you do this safely.

Once you know how many calories a day you should be giving your body in order to lose weight, but still provide the nourishment you need , find foods that are filling (lots of volume) that have less calories to eat before and with your meals to help you to eat less of things with higher cals.

Drink LOTS of water. All day long. Not only does it help keep your mind off food, it nourishes your body and helps facilitate weightloss.

Depending on your fitness level start doing something every day. Even if its just a 15 min , 20 min walk... speed is irrelevent, getting started moving is key. Build up your workout, again talk to your doctor about what they think would be safe for you, I don't know your current weight or medical history.

NEVER skip breakfast and avoid skipping meals. In order to get your metabolism on track you have to fuel inject it with food. Start your day off right and cut the food off at least 2 hours before bed.

Get rid of everything that is tempting, get it out of your house. Enlist the help of everyone and anyone living with you. Let them know that keeping foods that set you off is no different than keeping booze in the house with an alcoholic. If they must keep bad foods around ask them to keep it in locations that wont put them in your mind the instant you see them. Covering their leftovers with foil so you aren't tempted by them, etc.

No matter how much you have to lose, if its a few pounds or many...each and every day will bring you closer to your goal. Don't worry about tomarrow or next week. One day at a time. Wake up every morning telling yourself you will get through this day, this hour, this minute without binging on food.

Find things that will keep your head busy when you are thinking about eating. Call a friend, come online and type here or anywhere, go for a walk. Read a book. Have a list of things to turn to instead of food when the mood strikes you.

If you have to be somewhere that the smells of food may entice you (I'd avoid these places for a month or more until you are more set in your new lifestyle) keep healthy snacks on you to tide you over and some peppermint gum so you have that just brushed your teeth don't want to eat feeling as you walk past a food court in a mall etc.

No diet, no exercise program, no pill, nothing.... will push you in the right direction more than you're own will to get there. It sounds like you now have that. And I wish the best for you

Great advice! Do exactly what she said.

Take it one day at a time too. When I look at my "big" goal and see how far it is I get depressed. But small goals, small steps lead to the big goals and big steps. I am in the same boat as you. Started today and we'll get through this together.