How to I motivate myself to start losing weight???

[Lovepotion69]

Ok, I need to lose weight badly. I'm too close to overweight for my height.

My problem is that I'm awful at motivating myself. Help!

I take the stairs when I can (live on 8th floor), walk every day, stopped with the bus unless far away. I skipped the chocolate and such stuff, basically no dairy products, lots of vegeatbles etc. My main problem isn't my diet, but that I need to excercise more. I just hate aerobics classes though! And whenever I start the gym I get tired of it after a while.

I'm hopeless, but for my own health I need to lose weight.

Any tips?
/LP

 

[Merelan]

Is there someone you can go with? Makes it much easier. Otherwise you skip a day here, then there and then another. Soon wasting the money you spent.

But if there are two or more of you then when one of you isn't in the mood, something makes the other push even more. And you take turns with it.

 

[Lovepotion69]

Is there someone you can go with? Makes it much easier. Otherwise you skip a day here, then there and then another. Soon wasting the money you spent.

But if there are two or more of you then when one of you isn't in the mood, something makes the other push even more. And you take turns with it.

Hi Merelan,
I have spoken to a friend who started again after a break. We're gonna try to go together. I don't want to start too hard though, not good for body. How often per week as I'm really out of shape now.

 

[Aphrodisiac]

I feel you LP ... I am the same way. I did have a gym buddy but then she is busy with her own things & then I have classes , so we never could come up with a mutal schedule as to when to go walking or some thing.

A friend of mine recently lost over 20 lbs and she is still losing weight. The one thing she did was change her diet , she totally cut out breads from her diet and she is doing very good. ... makes me want to do the same....

I'll start next Monday...


Good luck LP... you can do it !

 

[huskie]

Hi Merelan,
I have spoken to a friend who started again after a break. We're gonna try to go together. I don't want to start too hard though, not good for body. How often per week as I'm really out of shape now.

I would start with twice a week, then work up to 3 times a week. I know its really hard at first but once you start seeing some results (say after the first two months) that alone will motivate you to do more.
They say (and I for one believe them) that building mucle mass is the best. Cause it will burn wieght just to stay alive..... even when you sleep. So along with walking maybe some wieght lefting??

 

[SleepingWarrior]

Just eat 1 meal a day. Not the healthiest way to lose weight but it worked for me. Lost 40 pounds in like 3 months then I started snacking and lost another 20 pounds over the next 4 months. Have been between 150-160 pounds ever since.

Didn't plan on going on a diet or losing weight so it just happened that way. Only having time to eat once a day but it worked out.

 

[Lovepotion69]

I would start with twice a week, then work up to 3 times a week. I know its really hard at first but once you start seeing some results (say after the first two months) that alone will motivate you to do more.
They say (and I for one believe them) that building mucle mass is the best. Cause it will burn wieght just to stay alive..... even when you sleep. So along with walking maybe some wieght lefting??

Yeah, I was thinking about some light weight lifting.
I'm gonna go and check out the school gym this week I think...

God help me. LOL

 

[VeryBadGirl]

What motivates me is a loss. This might sound funny, but if you do a juice fast, or something like that, the pounds (water) you lose right away might motivate you to get serious.

I had to lose 20-30 lbs after each baby, and I just ate a lot less - the first time, I tried "diets" - low carb, low fat, food combining - but NOTHING worked as well as just cutting calories. Plus, I never felt deprived because I ate whatever I wanted - just not all at once or all the time.

Exercise is definitely helpful, especially if you are getting fit for health reasons. Find something you like to do. I hate aerobics - I walk with my husband 4-5 miles per week and go hiking a couple of times per month. I know it's not much, but it's better than nothing!

Definitely get fit while you're young - it only gets harder!

VBG

 

[Lovepotion69]

Just eat 1 meal a day. Not the healthiest way to lose weight but it worked for me. Lost 40 pounds in like 3 months then I started snacking and lost another 20 pounds over the next 4 months. Have been between 150-160 pounds ever since.

Didn't plan on going on a diet or losing weight so it just happened that way. Only having time to eat once a day but it worked out.

I have been eating only dinner lately. Not on purpose, just the way it happened. Not feeling any difference..

 

[Marxist]

I've talked about it before in other threads, but losing weight does not require massive diligence just a teeny tiny bit of self-discipline and 25 minutes of workout a day.

So far, my gf has lost 20 pounds in the month and 4 days since we started. She's eating a lot more than she did before and can run / walk a mile in 12 minutes versus the 15 minutes at her start.

Concentrating on weight loss is why women generally fail in their diets. You must concentrate on PROGRESSIVE FITNESS, instead. The weight will take care of itself.

PM me if you'd like some suggestions.

 

[Merelan]

You know better then to only eat one meal a day. You aren't losing weight, you are losing time on your life. It is wrong and unhealthy and you know it.

You had it right in the first post. Exercise is the key.
Also,If you get cravings, indulge them. But not a whole bowl of ice cream. A scoop. Then only eat that. Don't watch tv or chat or... gulp.... even be here at Lit.
Concentrate on each spoon. Makes it more enjoyable and fulfilling.
As a nation we have some of the worst eating habits anywhere. No doubt.
Who do you think coined the phrase "tv dinners?"

Presentation with the food is important too. Set the table, even if only you. Light a candle, play some music. Sit and enjoy the food and soon you find yourself eating less, and enjoying more.

 

[SleepingWarrior]

You know better then to only eat one meal a day. You aren't losing weight, you are losing time on your life. It is wrong and unhealthy and you know it.

I've only had 1 meal a day (on average anyway, usually 2 on weekends) for almost 2 years now. (Probaly closer to four but I didn't exactly keep track) I haven't had any health effects from that kind of diet, so exactly whats suppose to be happening because I don't eat 2-3 times a day.

 

[WriterDom]

Try a nordic track 3 or 4 times a week for 20 to 30 minutes.

 

[bored1]

Set goals that are easy to reach. Realize that you are not going to lose 20/30 pounds in a week. So set a goal of losing 5 pounds in 10 days, once you acheive that you will feel good about yourself and will be motivated to the next level. Drinks lots of water and dont give into cravings. Walk at least 3 miles a day at your favorite park. Let exercise become a habit.

 

[Dillinger]

Just start by doing anything. However little. Walk around the block today. Next time walk around the block a bit faster. Next time walk around the block twice.

Just do something and try and do a little more every time.

What worked for me was joining a gym. I hate to waste money, and its not cheap.

I tried a number of home excercise equipment options but found there were always too many distractions at home, too many ways to opt to do something other than excercise.

I now go to the gym almost every day. Once there you're there to excercise, there are no distractions. Plus you're paying for it.

Two years ago I began at the gym by doing a 20 minute walk on the treadmill. Just walking. Last week I set a new personal best by running 9 miles in an hour.

 

[Vinny]

Diet

On 9-11, I was changed. I decided I needed to get back in shape and get into the military in someway. I started to loose weight and in 2 months lost 60 pounds. I got back in. PM me if you wanna talk about it.

 

[JerseyBoy]

try...

...to find a cardio kickboxing class

the most awesome workout and you get to pretend the bag is someone you cant stand.

just don't give up whatever you do...and don't try any at home workouts. How many friends do you know that use their treadmill as a clothes hanger?

workout with a friend...or two

good luck
-ws

 

[Carl East]

Ok, I need to lose weight badly. I'm too close to overweight for my height.

My problem is that I'm awful at motivating myself. Help!

I take the stairs when I can (live on 8th floor), walk every day, stopped with the bus unless far away. I skipped the chocolate and such stuff, basically no dairy products, lots of vegeatbles etc. My main problem isn't my diet, but that I need to excercise more. I just hate aerobics classes though! And whenever I start the gym I get tired of it after a while.

I'm hopeless, but for my own health I need to lose weight.

Any tips?
/LP

My second wife had the same problem LP, until she joined a gym with a friend, and I think the being with someone else, was the motivation. It seems harder to motivate yourself, all alone with no one pushing you or egging you on.

The moment you're making arrangements to meet a friend, or pick someone up, you're committing yourself, and no one likes to let down a friend.

Carl

 

[Gord]

I think that we all generally accept that fad diets are not the best long term to loose weight.

You might loose short term but bet your pound to a dollar that the weight will come straight back on.

It has gotta be healthy eating with some sort of moderation.
That is all pretty welll common sense - ie dont eat lardy Big macs everday - try and eat lots of fruit and veg , cut down on fat etc.

The key is exercise - which come to the lets join a gym solution.

There are gym owners up and down the country who make a fortune from people who will quite happily pay $70 -$100 a month to stay at home . If all the people who were actual members turned up you wouldnt get in the door due to the line.

WHY ? for the majority of people - and I said the majority - the gym is tedious and boring. Even professional athletes dont like running on a treadmill - it is mindblowingly dull .

That is why gym dropout is so high. The key is trying to do exercise that is a bit more FUN.

Running is good - why join a gym - why not join a running club a then go on set routes with people of all abilities where there is some social interaction . I am a member of a hash house harrier club - ver y cheap some of you might of heard of them - this is where two peole set a sort of trail where you follow it and some leads are false etc great laugh

Try and do some team sport - tenin,s squash , netball , hockey, anything that you might enjoy and do it at your own level.

Lovep I saw from your initial posting that you were dreading the gym already - and if so then you might be best encouraged to look at alternatives

oh and start having sex 5 times a day that always works !!

 

[jass1960]

Do a charity race or something similar - get sponsored to do the event (not to lose weight) then you have an incentive to get fit - once you are past a certain level then exercising is a lot of fun!

 

[Dillinger]

Sex only 5 days a week? How about 5 times a day! *Grin*

Yes - there is a huge drop out rate at gyms. It works for some, it doesn't work for others. It depends on what motivates you.

Motivation is key. Then applying that motivation to some combination of eating in moderation and excercise.

 

[Lovepotion69]

Thanks everyone for all your input and tips!

I do appreciate it.

Yes, I know it's supposed to be easier when you are together with someone, but I think it's quite important too that your friend will be at a similar level as you. I used to go running with a friend and she was in perfect shape. I felt like an idiot. LOL

I used to go to the gym before, and I kinda liked it while there, did my thing while watching MTV. hehe But, the problem was to get my ass over there...

I do the 30min/day walking thing without a problem, heck I walk more over here in London, than back in Sweden. Still, I think I need to start jogging a bit. And now with summer arriving (ehm, supposedly) I havr brought out my rollerblades!

I do like the thought of sex 5 times a week, or even better per day! Unfortunately I can only see my partner on the weekends.

Thanks again!
/LP

 

[SlowHand89]

Buy yourself a bike and start reading bike magazines. Once you get the mentality of a biker you will be looking for excuses to go on rides. And don't skimp too much, get a good one. The better the bike, the more you'll enjoy it.

 

[Lovepotion69]

Buy yourself a bike and start reading bike magazines. Once you get the mentality of a biker you will be looking for excuses to go on rides. And don't skimp too much, get a good one. The better the bike, the more you'll enjoy it.

I miss my bike at home.
Was considering getting one here, but damn! Have you seen how the F people in London drive???!!! It would be suicide... Not to mention the crap air...

Besides, I would probably only aiming for a cheap one. I'm a student afterall! Unless you want to buy me a proper one SlowHand....

/LP

 

[SlowHand89]

I miss my bike at home.
Was considering getting one here, but damn! Have you seen how the F people in London drive???!!! It would be suicide... Not to mention the crap air...

Besides, I would probably only aiming for a cheap one. I'm a student afterall! Unless you want to buy me a proper one SlowHand....

/LP

I'm saving up for one myself and to tell you the truth, I'm scared. I don't know about Londoners but Quebecers are notoriously bad drivers.

If all you can afford is a cheap bike then get it. It will be worth it. And as far as me getting you a bike, what's it worth to you?