For those who lost a significant amount of weight

How did you start......I have in the past but I just feel like I have absolutely NO energy or motivation.

Was it a combo of changes you did at one time or was it one significant thing that you changed at first?

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

First thing- you have to want to do it. You have to dedicate yourself to losing weight. If your heart isn't in it, it will be very diffcult.

I started out trying to write down what I ate and eating less. It was very slow and wasn't working as well as I hoped. So I joined Weight Watchers. The changes weren't overally drastic- mostly portion control and making the right choices. In the end, I lost 60lbs.

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

I don't know if it's considered significant, but I lost 30 lbs 8 years ago and have kept it off.

I had a health scare. During a checkup the doctor saw sugar in my urine and thought I had diabetes. It turned out I didn't, but I never wanted to feel that way again, so I started the South Beach diet. The main thing I did was cut out carbs. I didn't even start exercising until after I had lost a good bit of weight. It was good for me because it was easy. I knew what I had to do, so I could eat anywhere as long as I avoided carbs. It was also nice to not count calories. Now I'm trying to lose the last 30 lbs to get to my goal weight, so I've started doing the SB diet again. I don't have the health aspect to motivate me anymore (I have about 15 lbs to go until I"m a healthy weight and the last 15 are vanity lbs), but I'm hoping I will be as successful as the last time.

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

I'm on WW currently have lost over 50lbs. I also lost 60+ lbs before my wedding doing WW.

I started in January with just doing WW. I followed it very strictly. Once I had lost a little weight I joined the gym. This was the end of Feb.

Now I'm still doing WW and I go to Zumba at the gym 3/4 times a week. I also did the Couch to 5K program for 7 weeks but hurt my knee so I stopped. Now I'm doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD 6 nights a week and I really like it.

I started with my eating first because I really needed to get that under control before I took on anything else.

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

You have to want it and be as dedicated as you can.

I lost about 60lbs in the last year on WW. Love the program!

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

I forced myself to pay attention to my body first. Full length mirror after the shower. Pictures and videos of me running around with the dogs in shorts. Basically, I disgusted myself!

I also considered how it was affecting my health, my husband, my life. Once I was truly honest, I knew it was time to do something but for good, not just for now.

I started slow, counting calories and keeping stats on things, reading labels, learning about affects of good things like protein on my body. Learning about calories. Then I started looking for fun exercise. I chose things that weren't torture for me but I still had to push myself to stay on track.

It got easier, I got a heartrate monitor and track my progress now. I'm no angel and it's slow going but it's going and it's a part of my life now, not a "diet". Good luck with your journey, you CAN do it but you have to force yourself to.

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

Definitely have to want it and committed to it. I lost 50 lbs doing WW. I needed to be held accountable and WW did that for me.

Message edited 7/8/2011 1:51:17 PM.

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

I get this question all the time. It is beyond wanting it. It is beyond visioning it. It is beyond saying it.

You have to be willing to work for it. Start small. Change one thing or one meal. When you mastered that, look to another bad habit and change that. Once you're mastered that, look to something else.

Losing weight is not hard work, it's science. Dedicating time and energy to the things that it takes to lose weight...THAT'S the tough part. Always remember your goal. When you want to make an excuse, remind yourself about how you feel right now. And push forward toward your goal.

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

I haven't lost a lot of weight per se (and I don't think I am really overweight anyways), however, I am more fit and tone and watch what I eat more.

For me though, it WAS a lifestyle change and finding a form of exercise I enjoyed, that didn't seem like "work" to me.

It is a huge committment though, but something that is worth it to me at the same time.

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

I've lost about 40 lbs total over time (don't talk to me about the 5 I gained back on my HM!).

You definitely have to want it and be dedicated, but I think the most important thing is that you have to restructure your life around weight loss.

That will mean different things for different people. For me, that means I have to take time each week to sit with my Weight Watchers online and cookbooks, plan my meals and go shopping, and cook healthy, filling, meals several nights a week. I've learned a lot of "go to" recipes this way, but I also find dieting fun and exciting because I am always trying new recipes and never bored. Last night we had a work meeting and my boss wanted me to bring home the leftover pizza and I didn't even WANT to for a SECOND because I want to eat the delicious tofu provencal recipe I'm going to try tonight!

It may also mean you have to clean our your pantry and stop buying certain things. I know for me, sometimes I can eat way too much of a bag of salty snacks like chips, so I need to either not buy them, or parcel them out into servings in ziplock bags as soon as I buy them.

It may mean being willing to throw away leftovers. I find I have a hard time with this. Sometimes I'll eat at restaurant, or I'll order in something that's not too WW friendly, but I budgeted to eat it once. Since I never finsih anything, I end up getting 2-3 meals out of it, but then I'm eating that fattening food 2--3 times in one week. I need to learn to be willing to eat what I'm going to eat that one time and toss or give away the rest.

It can also mean making time to exercise and making time to de-stress.

You need to make the people around you aware of your journey an get buy in if you can. DH is very happy to eat the WW meals I cook (they're actually so good you don't know it's WW!).

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

In case it wasn't clear above. I LOVE WW. I think it's the best diet program out there because you an make it fit into your lifestyle and you're eating REAL food. I think I would do better if I went to actual meetings, but I do love the program.

Re: For those who lost a significant amount of weight

For me, it was small changes over a ten year span of time. I was almost 200 lbs.. And it took me 10 yrs to lose 70. Just when I thought I hit a plateau, I would lose another ten.... Very slowly. It took me 4 yrs to lose twenty pounds from having a baby.... Bu once its gone.... It's GONE!