somegirlygirl2
05-12-2004, 05:03 PM
I am not used to dieting since I only started to gain this weight this year and I have attempted to change my eating habits several times in the past few months :o and always fail. How did you find the will power to do it? Also I live with someone so its not always easy to control everything that is in my fridge and then when I see these foods that I know I shouldnt eat the temptation is too unbareable for me. I guess I have no will power. Any tips or information on how you were able to do it? Thanks.
Sponsor
never2L8
05-12-2004, 08:02 PM
Willpower is very hard to 'find' for some of us and is especially difficult if you are in an environment where temptation is present. Sharing a home with others can make it difficult, especially when everyone does their own thing with food. I found that not buying unhealthy things that tempt me is the easiest way, but not everyone can do this.
The big thing is that making healthy options and choices, although hard when you start, can actually become a habit rather than a choice. You simply have to be strong with your willpower for long enough and you will get to a point where you don't even think about eating the wrong food.
A trick with this is to allow yourself to have 'treats' once and a while as a reward for being good and this can prevent you from completely resenting your diet. An example would be to have takeouts once a week or fortnight, allow a donut once a fortnight with a coffee or a hot dog if you go to a sporting event. Just have one donut, or one hot dog, or a small takeout, just enough to take care of a craving but not enough to blow the diet.
The big thing is that making healthy options and choices, although hard when you start, can actually become a habit rather than a choice. You simply have to be strong with your willpower for long enough and you will get to a point where you don't even think about eating the wrong food.
A trick with this is to allow yourself to have 'treats' once and a while as a reward for being good and this can prevent you from completely resenting your diet. An example would be to have takeouts once a week or fortnight, allow a donut once a fortnight with a coffee or a hot dog if you go to a sporting event. Just have one donut, or one hot dog, or a small takeout, just enough to take care of a craving but not enough to blow the diet.
Wubby
05-12-2004, 11:36 PM
Pray about it. "With God all things are possible". I never thought I could do it, but after 3 months of failing, I finally somehow stuck with it. I find that to be God's work, not mine :angel:
-kade
-kade
jowi
05-13-2004, 04:29 AM
It's hard. Some things that have helped me are:
Buy an outfit that is the size you want to be. If the size is something you can SQUEEZE into now, do so and take pictures of yourself stuffed into the outfit. Look at this picture often. Finding old pictures of yourself or even pics from magazines to help you visualize your "goal".
For me, drinking a large glass of water and a mug of hot green tea in the morning allows me to skip breakfast with little/no hunger, saving my calories for later in the day. For ME this helps. I can NOT spread my calories out through the day. If you're worried about "jumpstarting" your metab in the a.m., then just eat an apple with a large glass of water.
Look at the calendar and mark off when you *could* be at your goal if you stick to it. So, if you have 10 pounds to lose, then count, say, 3-5 weeks (depending on you and how extreme you plan to "diet") so you can look at that date and think to yourself, "By THIS day I can be where I want to be".
Along those same lines, planning an event in the future for something to look forward to and "lose the weight by" helps.
Exercise! It really curbs appetite!
For ME, counting calories is the ONLY successful way I've ever been able to lose weight. This way if I want to be "bad" and eat a Snicker's bar or something, I can plan it into my day.
That's all I can think of for now. Good luck! It is HARD. But you can do it!!!!!!
Edited to add one more: Keep busy! My worst times are when I'm sitting around watching TV or something. If I'm busy, then I don't think about food unless I'm really HUNGRY.
Buy an outfit that is the size you want to be. If the size is something you can SQUEEZE into now, do so and take pictures of yourself stuffed into the outfit. Look at this picture often. Finding old pictures of yourself or even pics from magazines to help you visualize your "goal".
For me, drinking a large glass of water and a mug of hot green tea in the morning allows me to skip breakfast with little/no hunger, saving my calories for later in the day. For ME this helps. I can NOT spread my calories out through the day. If you're worried about "jumpstarting" your metab in the a.m., then just eat an apple with a large glass of water.
Look at the calendar and mark off when you *could* be at your goal if you stick to it. So, if you have 10 pounds to lose, then count, say, 3-5 weeks (depending on you and how extreme you plan to "diet") so you can look at that date and think to yourself, "By THIS day I can be where I want to be".
Along those same lines, planning an event in the future for something to look forward to and "lose the weight by" helps.
Exercise! It really curbs appetite!
For ME, counting calories is the ONLY successful way I've ever been able to lose weight. This way if I want to be "bad" and eat a Snicker's bar or something, I can plan it into my day.
That's all I can think of for now. Good luck! It is HARD. But you can do it!!!!!!
Edited to add one more: Keep busy! My worst times are when I'm sitting around watching TV or something. If I'm busy, then I don't think about food unless I'm really HUNGRY.
CobaltBlue
05-13-2004, 08:09 AM
I am not used to dieting since I only started to gain this weight this year and I have attempted to change my eating habits several times in the past few months :o and always fail. How did you find the will power to do it? Also I live with someone so its not always easy to control everything that is in my fridge and then when I see these foods that I know I shouldnt eat the temptation is too unbareable for me. I guess I have no will power. Any tips or information on how you were able to do it? Thanks.
I see Never2L8 gave you some tips that I use. I changed the foods that I considered "enjoyable." I still love a good cobbler for dessert, but that is my once in a while treat. I quit eating half a brick of cheddar cheese with dinner and instead, eat mainly vegetables and like them. I gave up red meat, eat plenty of fish and controlled portions of them now. Candy bars are nowhere in my diet. When I crave something that's bad, I get up and take an hour long walk rather than sit inside and eat. That's what got me into trouble to begin with.
Since you asked how did I find the willpower, personally...? Well, at 35 I was obese, had a heart attack, and was defibrillated twice during the placement of the first stent. The diabetes, hypertension, nor any other medical condition that came before could make me change. There is nothing in the world like being defibrillated, especially if you can remember the tail end. I suppose that those who have been struck by lightning, or stuck their fingers in an electric socket might understand. Who would willfully repeat that twice though? :)
Anyway, that is where my motivation and willpower comes from, not wanting to return to that state. My BMI stays around 23-24.5 now because I just don't want to run the risk of another heart attack and defibrillation to bring me back ;)
I see Never2L8 gave you some tips that I use. I changed the foods that I considered "enjoyable." I still love a good cobbler for dessert, but that is my once in a while treat. I quit eating half a brick of cheddar cheese with dinner and instead, eat mainly vegetables and like them. I gave up red meat, eat plenty of fish and controlled portions of them now. Candy bars are nowhere in my diet. When I crave something that's bad, I get up and take an hour long walk rather than sit inside and eat. That's what got me into trouble to begin with.
Since you asked how did I find the willpower, personally...? Well, at 35 I was obese, had a heart attack, and was defibrillated twice during the placement of the first stent. The diabetes, hypertension, nor any other medical condition that came before could make me change. There is nothing in the world like being defibrillated, especially if you can remember the tail end. I suppose that those who have been struck by lightning, or stuck their fingers in an electric socket might understand. Who would willfully repeat that twice though? :)
Anyway, that is where my motivation and willpower comes from, not wanting to return to that state. My BMI stays around 23-24.5 now because I just don't want to run the risk of another heart attack and defibrillation to bring me back ;)
smartgal
05-13-2004, 02:21 PM
Right off the bat, I'd say you need to work on that self talk. No one has or gets will power. To say you have none is just giving yourself an excuse. We all have doubts and we all have moments of weakness. You're assuming you'll fail before you even start! Before you even start to diet, start getting rid of all the negative talk. When your brain says something bad about you, counter act it immediately. You are just as strong as anyone else. You are beautiful, you are worth taking care of, etc. Then just progress to choosing foods to feed that wonderful body the best. Healthy, nutricious food.
angeleyesinga
05-13-2004, 03:39 PM
Pray about it. "With God all things are possible". I never thought I could do it, but after 3 months of failing, I finally somehow stuck with it. I find that to be God's work, not mine :angel:
-kade
I agree, spiritual guidance can help to stay focused on a positive level. My problem is loving myself first and then focusing on eating right. Good Luck.
-kade
I agree, spiritual guidance can help to stay focused on a positive level. My problem is loving myself first and then focusing on eating right. Good Luck.
justme_
05-13-2004, 05:12 PM
ooff.. i have the willpower yeah, why won't the weight go off im doing everything right
smartgal
05-13-2004, 06:17 PM
Maybe you don't really need to lose any more weight?
Shane S
05-14-2004, 07:25 PM
Think about what you are now. Then think about what you want to be. That's your motivation. Don't let anything knock you out, be it yourself or others. Any time something knocks me down, I use that as further motivation, both in the gym and out.
There's junkfood all around me, wherever I go. I ask myself whether my goals are really important or not. Since my answer is yes to that question, I say no when I see people making pigs out of themselves.
It's something that just becomes part of your routine after a while.
I agree to treat yourself. I don't like the concept of totally eliminating anything from the diet, particularly something you crave. This can help you both physically and mentally, and it can mean the difference between success and failure. You wouldn't want to see my weekend cutting diet. (Bag of doritos? Why not, it's only 1800 calories.) Half of it's the typical healthy stuff I eat in any given day, but half of it's specifically what you usually hear people telling you to avoid. Nothing is off limits, but the results of eating well and exercising properly the balance of the week speak for themselves.
There's junkfood all around me, wherever I go. I ask myself whether my goals are really important or not. Since my answer is yes to that question, I say no when I see people making pigs out of themselves.
It's something that just becomes part of your routine after a while.
I agree to treat yourself. I don't like the concept of totally eliminating anything from the diet, particularly something you crave. This can help you both physically and mentally, and it can mean the difference between success and failure. You wouldn't want to see my weekend cutting diet. (Bag of doritos? Why not, it's only 1800 calories.) Half of it's the typical healthy stuff I eat in any given day, but half of it's specifically what you usually hear people telling you to avoid. Nothing is off limits, but the results of eating well and exercising properly the balance of the week speak for themselves.
SnowBnny
05-14-2004, 08:13 PM
How I found the willpower?
There were two things I said to myself. First, Everyday, I asked myself, "Do I want to wear all those cute summer clothes I have hidden in the closet this summer, or would I rather eat that cookie sitting on the counter staring at me." The clothes won and I lost the weight.
I also said to myself "If I don't watch my figure, no one else will."
Needless to say, that worked too ;)
My husband was good in brining healthy food in for the both of us, but he also brought some treats and foods that he desired for himself. I am married, and no matter what food is brought into my home, I was able to keep my willpower strong.
Everyone has the power to succeed. You just have to find it within you to do it.
There were two things I said to myself. First, Everyday, I asked myself, "Do I want to wear all those cute summer clothes I have hidden in the closet this summer, or would I rather eat that cookie sitting on the counter staring at me." The clothes won and I lost the weight.
I also said to myself "If I don't watch my figure, no one else will."
Needless to say, that worked too ;)
My husband was good in brining healthy food in for the both of us, but he also brought some treats and foods that he desired for himself. I am married, and no matter what food is brought into my home, I was able to keep my willpower strong.
Everyone has the power to succeed. You just have to find it within you to do it.
jordin_07
05-16-2004, 12:38 PM
Try to think of somthing you would like to wear when you lose the weight or think of how people you havent seen in a while will react! Since summer is coming up maybe you should think about how you would like to look in your swim suit!
Chubbygirluk
05-18-2004, 09:19 AM
I started my healthy eating/exercise thing when I came home for Spring Break in my freshman year 30 lbs heavier :( I went on holiday with my folks shortly afterwards and did *not* look good in a swimsuit :eek: Whn I got my holiday pics back I put them up in my room and every time I felt like slacking off I remembered why I was doing it ! But you shouldn't feel like you're depriving yourself of too much or exhausting yourself working out. Just cut out a bit of the junk food and start slowly with the exercise and build up gently. Good luck anyway !