for those who have lost how did you find the will power? - Weight Loss Message Board

somegirlygirl2 · 05-12-2004, 02:03 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

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.

never2L8 · 05-12-2004, 05:02 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.

Wubby · 05-12-2004, 08:36 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

-kade

jowi · 05-13-2004, 01:29 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.

CobaltBlue · 05-13-2004, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by somegirlygirl2

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

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