Need to get myself on track! Any advice?

[Susie Sweetz]

I keep attempting to & failing in my attempt to lose weight. I joined a gym and haven't gone. I try to motivate myself but It isn't working.
What got you to stick with it?
:(

[emalia]

I made.. I mean MADE myself go every day for a week... Once you get into it, it is easier.

[Mairi the Herbwench]

Find someone who can be a work out buddy - that way you feel even more guilty if you skip, and it's nice to have a motivator.

[Mairi the Herbwench]

Find someone who can be a work out buddy - that way you feel even more guilty if you skip, and it's nice to have a motivator.

[In Hiding]

As I have said in previous posts, I went with the South Beach Diet. Not only did I NOT have to workout (until the very end) but I hooked up with an online buddy to help keep myself accountable for everything. It was the best thing I've ever done for myself! So I'll have to agree with the buddy thing, but working out alone will not help you lose as much. IMHO

[Susie Sweetz]

Thanks for all the advice. I told the kids we are going the gym later today. They liked that idea.

I haven't thought much about dieting except eating less desserts and drinking more water. My biggest problem seems to be energy. I can never keep it up. So I grab candy to beat the slump.

[shadow]

WOAH NO NO NO

DO NOT i repeat DO NOT use candy as a quick picker upper

it only makes things worse. as the day goes on youll become sulggish and will be more apt to nap or sit down instead of moving. The gym is a wonderful idea.

heres my top 5 things to do to get you started

1 join a class that will get you on a routine
2 eat healthier not the nuts and berrys route but less candy soda and crap foods
3 drink a good amount of water (sometimes what we feel as hunger is only thirst)
4 dont go for longer than 4 hours without eating (but eat sensible and healthy)
5 and NO CARBS 3 hours before bed and 3 hours after waking up ( this forces your body to use the carbs already stored to jump start and power down your metabolism.

the reason for eating every 4 hours is to keep your metabolism moving. A good analogy is an engine...we dont stop the engine everytime we come to a red light we keep it going. If we did stop the engine the gas mileage would sitnk from having to start it up again and again and again. keeping it moving we get more for our money so to speak.

[moira]

honestly, what did it for me was pics of me and my friends at a club. they're on the web and i thought i looked horrible. decided i needed to change. started weight watchers in february, have lost 33 lbs., and have just started going back to the gym. i almost look good in the bikini i bought.

moira

[shadow]

im afraid ill need pictures of you in the bikini moira

just for uhm reference

yeah reference thats it

:twisted:

[moira]

im afraid ill need pictures of you in the bikini moira

just for uhm reference

yeah reference thats it

:twisted:

don't have any of those yet... i said 'i almost look good' in it. so there have been no pics taken yet. sorry.

moira

[FairieTink]

3D if you were close to me I'd say lets go... I paid for a full year up front to curves, andhaven't been since the beg. of May

[Malina]

I'm the same way, no motivation. I keep telling myself I need to go and I know I'll feel better after I get into the routine but I'm just lazy I guess.

Part of it is, I used to be really hard on myself if I gained weight. Now I'm much more accepting of myself as I am. Which is a good thing but it doesn't give me the motivation I need to be healthier.

I'll keep trying. I bought a gym membership in January and haven't been since April. Bad bad girl! :x

[Ariel]

I joined weight watchers a little over a year ago and have lost over 65 pounds. My mom joined and just reached 60 pounds lost. But the great thing about it is the support you get in the meetings and from your leaders. Plus, you can always find someone at the meetings who needs a work out buddy. I don't use a gym, I can't afford it and I don't always want to exercise in a group. I bought a good pair of running shoes and go jogging and walking around my neighborhood, walk the dog and use hand and ankle weights to do weight training in the comfort of my own home. This way I don't feel like I have to exercise or I lose my investment. Plus, I don't have to drive to a gym so I can always fit a work out in. And to stay motivated I think of how much weight I've lost and compare old photos to current ones.

[Susie Sweetz]

All great advice ! Especailly the eating every 4 hours thing. There are times when I get to busy with the kids and don't eat breakfast or lunch & then find myself eating all that junk!

Tink- thanks for your comments. El's given up on me I think. She looks great 'cause she goes to the gym all the time! I need to get my butt there more than once a week.

I've been trying not to over eat or snack too much due to nerves. I just found out last night that my sister's cold is actually asthmatic bronchitis! She is only 19! My mother in law gets bronchitis but she's 74!

[Abigail Fairbottom]

3Dee~
I'll be your online buddy, if you want one. I'm feeling pretty poorly about myself :( and I'm ready to do something about it too.
But, even if you don't want a buddy, here's my best tip to get your nutrition straightened out: Stay away from 'white' food--flours, sugars, anything refined. Takes a little effort in the beginning, but once you get over the slump of not having instant blood sugar spikes, you'll feel a lot better.
Stay strong!
Abagail

[el]

DEE! You WILL go to the gym with me! Do I have to go to your house and drag you there with me???!!!!

Tomorrow, after work...about 6:30 (ish). BE THERE. Or I come and get you.

[Mistress Kristi]

I too am in a slump. I prepaid for curves and i'm getting bored with it. the only reason i still go is because my friend just joined for the summer. i gained about 10 pounds in the past 5 months. this makes me unhappy since i had lost 40. i'm still up... or down i suppose, but i'm discouraged so i rejoined weight watchers. wish me luck all.

[Absinthe d'Accalia]

It is hard to keep up the momentum. I joined weight watchers last year, hit my goal weight and then went over my goal weight on my trip to Chicago. The deep dish pizza & Chicago style hotdogs were just soooo irresistable. :shock: The leader of my ww meetings said that it happens (falling off the wagon, backsliding, etc.) and that we just gotta find the gumption to hop back on the wagon & that it's a lifelong process. Which, in my opinion, is a total pain in the patootie to have to deal with. :roll: I bet, Mistress Kristi, that going back to ww will be the ticket for you. I wish you luck!

[Susie Sweetz]

:D Thanks Abagail! I'd love that!

I went to the gym yesterday. I worked out for an hour. My hubby thinks I should go again tonite. I had a salad for lunch and had fig newtons for a snack instead of crackers & cheese. I even bought some new exercise clothes.

I was weighed by a gym treadmill & discovered I weigh less than I thought so that helped my confidence. I actually didn't die from all that work! that helped too!

Now here's a question- anyway to make water NOT taste like water? It's so blah!

:workout:

[Susie Sweetz]

:?: My 14 year old niece is on weight watchers. Is it good? Do you have to buy their food?

[shadow]

Propel fitness water

Raspberry water
Lemon water

etc etc

Those things have alot of something in them that gives me migraines though so i cant drink alot of them. but usually when i work out i drink water with cutting formula in it....unfortunately i havent been working out lately, just watching what i eat.

[Susie Sweetz]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that water.

[justLori]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try that water.

You can also just squeeze a slice of lemon into the water...or a lime. It's cheaper, and you don't have to worry about the "other" chemicals in the fancy water.

As you shift from soda to water, you get to like the taste. Think of it as weaning off of something bad and on to something good.

just Lori

[Dyeabolical]

I, too, have a huge problem with motivation. I had lost over 60 lbs on Weight Watchers....then I hurt my back and had to have surgery. I was laid up for a while, and I seemed to just lose the momentum I had . I haven't been able to get back in the swing since. I can go for a 25 minute walk, but then my back starts killing me. It did not help that the doctors told me that my only real hope of losing all of the weight I need to is to have a gastric bypass. A GASTRIC BYPASS!!!! I started bawling right in front of the doctor.I cried about it for days, and I am even tearing up while I'm typing this. I then slipped into a huge depression about what I had let happen to myself. I still have a horrible self image problem. My advice? If any of you only have a little weight to lose get to it now! If you are happy with yourself the way you are right now, then bless you and keep it up!

[Absinthe d'Accalia]

3Dee Wrote:

My 14 year old niece is on weight watchers. Is it good? Do you have to buy their food?

3Dee - I found it really helpful. I like structure - knowing how many points I had for each day (and some bonus points for the week) was a good thing. Knowing I HAD to go in and weigh each week made me accountable. If your niece likes using the computer, I'd highly suggest the eTools that WW has available (for an extra monthly fee, of course :roll: ). And no, you don't have to buy their food. That's another good thing about WW - you're not having to rely on frozen entrees or shakes or their food. It teaches you how to make choices when you're out in restaurants or when you're cooking at home, gives you strategies to deal with bbqs/parties/etc. Tell your niece good luck!

Shadow - sometimes those drinks have chromium picolinate (sp?) in them - for some folks that is fine, but in others it can give them pretty severe headaches.

I'm a big fan of just plain old water, with a squeeze of lemon or lime (like justLori suggested). You can always throw in a splash of cranberry juice (Northland makes a good no-sugar-added juice). Or if you wanted to be trendy & chic, a thin slice of cucumber can be refreshing (and is supposed to help your digestion, too). :)

[Morrigan]

I was on Weight Watchers and lost 45 pounds.. then my husband quit going with me and I kinda lost the will to go... but I am working on going back. The thing I love about weight watchers other than the support you get.. it they don't tell you can CAN'T eat something.. if you want it.. you have to work it into your points. And no there isn't any buy thier food... it's all normal grocery store food! *smiles*
I kinda learned to reward myself.. I can't turn on my computer till I work out for 45 minutes. I have to drink 4 32 oz of water before I can have a diet coke.. if I want a coke.. don't drink them much.

Also I have a pic of me from before I started losing weight right next to my computer. That keeps me in check!

GL to you hun...

[Ariel]

The thing about the water...there is a ton of flavored water that is both carbonated and non-carbonated depending on your preference. I enjoy those. Fruit2O makes really tasty fruit flavored waters that have no carbonation. Also, Crystal Light is selling their cold teas all ready made in sports bottles that only have about 10 calories in each bottle. The thing about getting your water intake is that you can have teas and juices instead of just plain old water if that's not your thing. :wink:

[emalia]

Propel fitness water

Raspberry water
Lemon water

etc etc

Those things have alot of something in them that gives me migraines though so i cant drink alot of them. but usually when i work out i drink water with cutting formula in it....unfortunately i havent been working out lately, just watching what i eat.

That's cause I keep him up too late in the night.. :lol:

[Nitestar]

A little trick my mother used to do with our water when we lived in Cali was to add just a little bit of orange or lemon extract in a 2 liter bottle. It gave a hint of flavor, but with nothing bad added.

[In Hiding]

I Wish I could explain to you all how well the South Beach Diet works... It's SO easy because you don't really have to give up anything! If you read the book...or even just have someone tell you, it teaches you how to eat right and not crave the bad stuff!! Look at me and see for yourself! I battled my weight ever since high school... now I am SO happy with myself and I eat WAY better!

Comparison photos: http://www.geocities.com/lucybuckles/compare.html

[justLori]

I Wish I could explain to you all how well the South Beach Diet works... It's SO easy because you don't really have to give up anything! If you read the book...or even just have someone tell you, it teaches you how to eat right and not crave the bad stuff!! Look at me and see for yourself! I battled my weight ever since high school... now I am SO happy with myself and I eat WAY better!

Comparison photos: http://www.geocities.com/lucybuckles/compare.html

WAY TO GO!

You look great. It's good to see such a success story!

Ok, that's it. You are my new mentor. :D I'll think of you as I eat my salads, and fish, and other healthy stuff. You for my meals and and Ysobelle for my exercise--and Rocky for my stress (I have a punching bag that I've needed over the past yeat for sanity.). I'm all set.

just Lori

[Absinthe d'Accalia]

Wow! That is awesome - yep, that's gonna be motivation for me to stick to it! :D

[In Hiding]

:D See? I wasn't lying! :lol: The first two weeks will be a little bit tough because your body go through a sort of "detox" stage. My suggestion? If you need sweets, look to sugar free fudgecicles *sp* and sugar free frozen juice pops. Replace all your sugar with splenda... I personally can barely tell the difference and keep stashes of your favorite nuts EVERYWHERE! After the third day it was pretty easy. By the end of the first two weeks when I was allowed to start adding new stuff into my diet, I almost didn't want to! I had to force myself to do it. And then when I did...I lost MORE! Just don't try to buy clothes while you are losing...I would buy new jeans and get one good wear out of them and when I'd go to wear them again, they'd be too big already! I sold more crap on ebay that way...lol.

And thanks for the compliments! I can't tell you how WONDERFUL I feel now! It was SOOOO worth it! Let me know if you need any info or have any questions about the diet... I'm on AIM a lot. :hi: Good luck on your way to a healthier lifestyle!

[justLori]

:D See? I wasn't lying! :lol: The first two weeks will be a little bit tough because your body go through a sort of "detox" stage. My suggestion? If you need sweets, look to sugar free fudgecicles *sp* and sugar free frozen juice pops. Replace all your sugar with splenda... I personally can barely tell the difference and keep stashes of your favorite nuts EVERYWHERE!

Might I also recommend Bryer's Low-Carb Ice Cream? Their chocolate chip mint is perfect...and their chocolate is lovely with a glass of red wine...

just Lori
(who should go back to the two week re-start, but is having a hard time getting motivated for that darned last 10 pounds...think of Lucy think of Lucy think of Lucy)

[In Hiding]

Oh yes!!! The Carb Smart Breyer's ice creams are wonderful!!! I have a bowl of chocolate almost once a day! :twisted:

I think one of my biggest motivators was seeing my fat butt on TV dancing... oh lord it was bad! Every time I went to grab something illegal, I thought about that...

Oh and also a pic of me standing next to my tiny little sister before her prom...UGH!

:wah:

[Absinthe d'Accalia]

Mistress Lucy - what did you do when you were having the salty/crunchy/chocolate cravings that hit during our moon-cycles? Anything other than almonds that would suffice on South Beach?

[Susie Sweetz]

I've been off line for quite some time lately. I have been busy getting the kids ready for school & myself ready for college. I had fallen off track but now I am attempting to right myself. I found my old weights and jump rope. If it would stop raining for 10 minutes I might actually jump rope! A friend suggested I right down everything I eat to make realize ALL that I eat. I might try that.

We went away for the weekend to visit friends in the Adirondacks. We wnet to a country fair and had bad food to eat but We did walk alot and I tried Splenda. It was good! I think we needed the break.

Today I go to Costco and try to find healthy snacks.