How do you keep motivated while reducing weight?
By leeloo
@leeloo (1492)
Portugal
June 30, 2009 12:27pm CST
I have been trying to loose weight with the simple rule 'Do a little more, eat a little less'(Heard this on Supersize/superskinny) great moto. A few years ago I lost 18 kilogram over more than a year, by starting to exercise slowly I started with 10 crunches 2 times a day increasing each day by 10 until I got to 100 then I only did it once a day and after a few months was doing 400, in conjunction with cardio vascular and other exercises and having reduced my meat intake increased my fish and vegetable intake, all this was done very gradually one meal at a time. The more I excercised and the healthier I ate the better I felt, then I went to visit family for the holidays and when I got back I put off my excercises for one day then a week then a month, my food habits too deteriorated rapidly and since then I have regained most of the weight. Now I know that this regime works for me, that I will feel better the problem is getting started. Every month or so for a couple of days I set my focus on getting into shape and start with the excercise, eat properly 3 to 5 times a day at about the same times thereby setting a routine even if it's a snack bar never staying too long without eating, this reduces portions at the main meal time. Then I start skipping a meal, then skipping excercise and next thing you know I'm back where I started. I need advise. How to keep focus long enough for it to become a habit something you don't even think about and then start getting results?
9 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
30 Jun 09
I wish I knew, because I do the same thing. I have good intentions and do well for a few days, then I slack off. I usually feel better when I exercise more and pay attention to what I eat, so you'd think I would keep it up, but it's so easy to skip "just this time" or to eat something I shouldn't "just once."
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
30 Jun 09
The problem is when, I was eating healthy I could basically eat anything I wanted even chocolate and junk food once in a while as the next day I would burn it off, now I swear I just need to look at food and I put on weight. I hope you have more success then I have until now, next time you try.
@drdivu (1011)
• India
30 Jun 09
well, difficult question though..!! i m too m lazy at getting started off for anything..though i would say, keep a target of wearing a particular pair of pants or shirt or anything u like..have to lose weight to wear that..!! that might help..!!
2. also u can try, that U FORCE URSELF TO GIVE 15MIN PER DAY FOR URSELF, BE IT BEAUTY OR EXERCISE BUT WITH URSELF..!! hope these ways help u...
good luck...
@leeloo (1492)
• Portugal
30 Jun 09
Thanks, for the advice, I have a pair of pants I bought when I finally lost weight those years back, that I love and have them in my cupboard, that is the reason why every month I start to exercise, the problem is then I give up after
a while again. Thanks for the advice though.
@aidenofthetower (1814)
• United States
1 Jul 09
Motivation really isn't the thing that you (or most of us need). It is discipline and positive habits. You had a good thing going when you were in the habit of doing what was good for you. When you broke that habit is when you struggled to loose additional weight, eat well, and exercise. Try to get into the habit again.
@piya84 (2580)
• India
1 Jul 09
Duhh i keep doing same thing.I had lost 5-6 kg 3 months ago.then my brother came home for holidays.He said lets enjoy.We had lot of pizzas,icecreams,burgers and all blah blah.My weight is again up 5-6 kg.So overall effect is zero.
@sblossom (2168)
•
1 Jul 09
it's very difficult to keep a good habit to loose weight.
This week I started my diet plan again.
I'm trying to keep the rule you mentioned: eat less, do more exercise. It's not difficult if i eat by myself. Just when i go out with friends it becomes difficult.
Also i try more vegetables and fruits, less meat.
Wish i can keep on the diet.
@busky5 (3164)
• Thailand
1 Jul 09
For me, fast loss weight is bad because my behavior acquainted to eat more, so i should slow reduce snack for 1 pack to a half pack instead. Time to eat snack is lunch. The last dinner is about 5-6 pm aftertime not eat everything except water.I exercise everyday about 30 mins such as running machine, shaking machine belt, i feel good and slowly change my behavior to be routine.
@nitu1952 (286)
• India
1 Jul 09
As motivation is something which one really wants to accomplish some task which we think we can't able to do.while reducing weight it is necessary to keep ourselves motivated because this is really helpful in accompalishing our tasks. just think that when one reduces the weight one's personal aPPEARECE IAS BETTER
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
30 Jun 09
I don´t think anyone is perfect in this world. We can do what we can, and no more. But I´m trying to shed off the 10 kilos I put on after I quit smoking a year and a half ago. I tell myself: if I could quit smoking, I can do this too. I still crave for a ciggy once in a while.
I lost 3 kilos in these 2 last months. For me it´s an acomplishment. I just want to go little by little. I eat less mayo, make my sandwichs with only the lower part of bread, and I´m filling my tummy a lot with a sort of baby soups I make (broth, veggies and to the blender). I use a lot of leeks because that gives it a grown up taste that I need
.
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@russso (1693)
• Philippines
1 Jul 09
I gotta agree with you that it's really difficult to stay motivated when you're on a diet and trying to lose weight. With all the temptations around us, it keeps staying focused even harder. I would like to share with you lessons that I learned since Day 1 that I started my journey to weight loss late March this year. I hope that in a way, it would help motivate you because they have worked for me.
Lose weight for yourself and not for anyone or anything else. + Watch episodes of The Biggest Loser & you'll have no reason to slack off. + Look at old clothes and see if they'll fit you again. You'll definitely want to wear them again. + Surround yourself with people who support what you're doing because they will tell you when you're procrastinating, when you're being lazy, etc.
Lose weight for yourself and not for anyone or anything else. + Watch episodes of The Biggest Loser & you'll have no reason to slack off. + Look at old clothes and see if they'll fit you again. You'll definitely want to wear them again. + Surround yourself with people who support what you're doing because they will tell you when you're procrastinating, when you're being lazy, etc.