Hello!!!

:help:

I wanted to start a thread that collected the advice all of you would give to someone who is just starting to diet... it can be about anything.... food, exercise, motivation, self-esteem... anything!! All I ask of you is that it be something that YOU learned while doing your diets..... I'd like to collect all of the advice and maybe post it somewhere on here or even send out a mass email to whoever wants the list... :)

Here... I'll start it...

** I've learned to NOT make going to the gym seem like a chore; but time I get to spend on ME. Sometimes I take a book to read, listen to music, or even just have time to think about what's going on in my life. AND I'm burning calories and feeling great! :ex:

Thanks to everyone for reading!

what a good idea!!!! Here's my bit--

**I've learned that I am worth all this hard work!!

OK
I think mine would be: "If one keeps doing the same "mistake" over and over, one will likely get the same (bad) result".

I think it's safe to say mine would be: If at first you don't succeed, try try again. And try. And try. And try and try and try.

....another tip--
**I believe there is no such thing as a quick fix!!--health is a lifetime proposition

I'd tell them that just because you fell off the diet wagon one day doesn't mean its over. Pick your self from where ever you are and start dieting again. After that fat on our hips didn't get there in one day, your not loose it one day, and one day of binging isn't going to un-do all the good your trying to do.

Sorry I got a little winded there :o

Thank you guys sooo much for posting!!! :) And please feel free to add more when you feel like it.

I've recorded these down... hopefully I'll be able to collect enough soon to send it out to whoever wants it in a couple weeks...

:cheer:
Thanks again!

my advice is.. plateaus will pass as long as you stick to your plan... just wait it out.. waiting is the hardest part.. but in the end-- it is worth it

my advice is :water: :water: :water: and then some more:water: !

And to hinge in with summerings advice I would say :ex: :ex: :ex: and than :ex: some more.

woohoo! Thanks again for the tips... they have been recorded :)

My advice is "Remember, there is no end to this eating healthy. This is for the rest of your life. You will NEVER get to the point of being able to say to yourself, 'Now I have won the battle. Now I can safely begin again to eat the way I used to eat.' This is FOREVER."

Dont try to change everything at once.... too many restrictions or changes leads to discouragement and stress and failure because you expect too much too fast, losing weight takes time:) :) sandycan

Set small attainable goals with (non food) rewards for every goal you reach.

It's okay to have a treat! Just pick up where you left off.

Read Success Stories.

This might sound corny but you are worth so much more than your weight. It is who you are and what is in your heart that counts the most.

My advice would be to schedule planned cheat days. Key word being planned. Days when you can eat whatever you like. That way when a craving comes up in between cheat days, you can tell yourself "I can't have chips right NOW, but I can have them on Saturday (or whenever)." It's been keeping me from having binges and from feeling like I have to just give up because of one bad day.

Use www.diettalk.com

:D :D :D

Wowee!!! I gotta keep up with these! Thanks everyone

BTW...
Wanttolose: No advice is "corny" :)

Badger: I like cheat days!

Ruby: Good diettalk PR! :) hehe

I'm going to give this thing one more week and then set it up to send out... thanks again!

Love yourself.

These are wonderful!!!!

Even after the one more week is up - I hope others post their advice here - this is a great help!

Thank you buttercup for starting this :)

My 2 cents would be:

Find supportive people on or off line that you can turn to.

Jade

Hi! First, i want to say that i love that picture of Ralph! He is one of my favorite characters.
I am still struggling with motivation. I need to find something to motivate me. But the one thing that helps me keep on track is to not obsess about my "diet" If I just do it and not think about it, then it makes me feel less stressed about trying to get those pounds off.
Also, I just read in a book to throw out the scale. Mine actually broke the other day, so I am not concentrate on the pounds but how my body looks and feels.
I hope this helps!

Elizabeth/ Texasmama

My suggestion to anyone trying to start out dieting is to keep a food journal. Make sure it is accurate and DON'T CHEAT!

If you put in 100% effort and consistently stick with your program you will have good results. If you put in 50% effort you will not do well.

Make sure that you have a good mindset.

Hi texasmama! :)

Thanks for the compliment on the picture... ralph is my favorite :)

Welcome to Diettalk too! I think this community will help you with those days you feel like giving up.... it's definiitely a great motivational outlet..

Good luck with everything :)

(pssst, Buttercup--don't look now, but....YOU'RE DISAPPEARING!!!!):up:

teehee.. thanks Jessica :)

PS... so are you! :)

:D

Okay people! Only a few more days before I made the grand master list of tips.... :) Please post post post!

I have another tip:

Try incorporating exercise in daily activities. For example: at my job (i work at a library), I try and stand up instead of using the stools my employer provides us.

When it comes to exercise, I really don't have a lot of time to devote a full 1 hr. or 40 min. at one time. So, I have a 20 min. tape that I do twice. Or I may do it once and ride my exercise bike for 20-30 min. also. When I do that, I have more time it seems to clean or do anything that needs to be done around the house.
I hope this may help someone!

---another one--if you come at a weight loss program--structured or not-- from a position of self-kindness instead of self-criticism, it's easier to stick with it!!

All of us have to do chores around the house of some sort - use these chores to your advantage.

a. when you clean - clean faster and burn some extra calories

b. fold your washing standing up - will burn extra calories

c. don't use the dish washer - wash them yourself ( ok that may be a little extreme lol )

But you get the idea - use your house hold chores as a way to help speed up your body :)

Jade

My advice is love yourself and take care of yourself - no matter what you weigh, you are a worthwhile person and deserving of love. You have to love yourself to be able to nuture yourself and get a healthy lifestyle.

I'm kind of new here, but I'll jump in anyway. :D

I have found making this 'journey' fun and exciting has helped greatly. I try and find FUN things to do as exercise. :ex: Mall walking instead of treadmill, pulling weeds in my garden instead of lifting weights, dancing through the whole 30 minute Wiggles video with my 2 yr old instead of 30 minutes of some exercise video...etc. :)

LozinIt!

"One day at a time....one pound at a time."

Starting Weight:320 :( 4/7/03
1st Goal:290
~1st Weigh In:312 * 4/10/03

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'll try and think of one to add.

I can't agree more with all these pieces of advice.

To add my own on top of all these:

As you can see by all the success stories on this site using every different diet and exercise plan available, there is no single best way to lose weight. They all work as long as you have real determination and persistance. Weight loss is all in the state of mind -- as long as you are paying attention in any way, you will see results. Just pick the method that best suits your lifestyle, your values and that you can see yourself adhering to for a long period of time because it will take time.