Simple concept/difficult task!

deb84

I am just starting my weight loss journey.  I need to lose around 35 lbs.  That doesn't sound like a lot to me but I know it's going to be hard or I would have done it already!  My wedding is 9.10.11.

The thing I hate about the idea of losing weight is that it is such an easy concept (Eat less, move more!) but it is SO hard to actually DO. 

vballgirl78

You can definitely do it!  This site is really helpful- you'll get lots of great food and exercise ideas.  I lost 25 pounds before my wedding a year and a half ago with WW and exercise.  It was hard at first, but then it got much easier.  Now (after being off track for several months), I'm back at it and trying to lose 35 pounds myself.  I strongly recommend the accountability threads (whether you do the WW one or the regular one).  It keeps you accountable and helps you really watch what you are eating (plus, you get lots of good ideas for daily menus).  Good luck!

deb84

Thanks!  I am trying to focus more on eating heathly and being in shape rather than losing weight (I am hoping that part will just naturally follow!!) so hopefully once I lose the weight it will be easier to keep it off.  But this is my first experience with weight loss so I'm not sure if that's how it will work out! lol

staceytaylor0704

I am in the same boat as you- about 30 lbs to lose. Don't think of it as "eating less", but instead maybe change the foods that you are eating. I enjoy eating. I just do.. so, I have had to change my way of thinking about food. I think of it as fuel for my body and that for some reason has helped curb overeating. I can also turn down some potentially hazardous foods when eating out, etc. by thinking of it as fuel... Example: chicken fingers vs. grilled chicken.. Both are delicious, but I laways feel like crap after I eat fried foods, so to me that isn't a good fuel. Grilled chicken is prepared in a healthier way, and it doesn't weigh me down, so good fuel..
Hope that makes sense.

I also agree with PP, the accountability threads are great. Having a plan written down helps a LOT. Sparkpeople.com is a great tool as well. (and free!)

Good luck!

ETA- as far as exercising goes: find something you LIKE to do for exercise, otherwise you will fall off that wagon fast.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

You can do it! I've lost 30 pounds in about 7 months, so far. I had never lost a significant amount of weight before and was SO scared I wouldn't be able to do it. If I can do it, anyone can do it. (PS, I was about 100 pounds over weight when I started, so it's a continuing journey.)

Do you have a friend who likes to go to the gym or likes working out? Maybe your FI wants to get in shape too? I find having a gym buddy is great for accountability. I meet my friend at the gym after work. She takes the subway and I then I drive her home. I HAVE to meet her there and can't decide to flake out at the last minute, or I'll let her down. Personal trainers are also great for accountability if you can afford it. I just posted on Monday about how I had an appointment with my trainer at FIVE AM because he was going out of town that night. Well, I got out of bed and got to the gym, which I wouldn't have been able to do unless I had to do it.

Write down everything you eat at the Daily Plate or sparkpeople.com, or join WW for food accountability. Diet and excercise in combination are really important!

When I started working out, I really just started running. I got bored with doing that all the time. Then I met my trainer and now I do a lot of free weights. I do weights 2-3 times a week and running 2-3 times a week. If you do run and decide you like it, sign up for a 5k, which will give you more incentive to train towards something and get to the gym!

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

And like you said, it's a simple concept, but it takes willpower. Lots and lots of sustained willpower. More willpower than I ever put towards anything in my life. You have to be ready to lose weight and get in shape and be commited to it. It's not something you'll do for a few weeks or a few months. It's something you need to worry about for a long time. Even after you lose weight, you need to work to maintain your body. But remember - it took years to put the weight on, so it won't come off overnight.

kysnowbird

Hey Deb! Good luck on your journey. One thing that helps me is tackling one small thing at a time. Since your wedding is a year away, you could try gradually incorporating healthy habits into your life.

For example, every time I've tried to lose weight, I fail because I try to drop every bad habit at once (e.g., eating fast food, cutting back on booze, eating more fruits and veggies, working out...) I end up feeling lost, bored, and deprived.

But I succeed at losing weight when I adopt one habit per month. In June, I stopped going to McDonalds. In July, I cut my booze intake in half. Then in August, I started going for walks. In September, I'm going to start eating more veggies with lunch and dinner...

You could try something like that! :-)

enhoagla

I lost about 50 pounds in a year and a half.  Here are some tips I picked up:
1.  For exercise, walk on a treadmill for 30min.  Try to do 2 miles in that amount of time.  That is a good pace for getting your heart rate elevated and keeping it elevated to burn calories.  (My doctor suggested that to me when I was overweight.  I also suggest a treadmill because it is easy to keep track of pace.)
2.  Everyone hits plateaus.  It will probably stress you out but try to think of it as a natural step.  I would plateau every 8 pounds or so.  But once I got past it, I would lose a couple of pounds really fast.  I also found that if I hit a plateau that was really difficult, it helped to take the weekend off, enjoy myself (not excessively though) and then go back to keeping an eye on the calories I was eating.  I think this helps trick my body because it gets used to eating more and then I cut back.
3.  Calorie counting websites are very helpful.  I used my-calorie-counter.com.  It was very useful even in just estimating how many calories were in something if I didn't know.  Recently I have tried sparkpeople.com and it is much more user friendly, but I haven't been having as much success (more my problems than the websites, I know).
4.  Control Portions.  I always told my self "I can eat anything... just in moderation."  I love going out to eat, so I would take my portion and cut it into 2-3 reasonable portions before I started eating.  An added bonus is that you have lunch for the next day.
5.  Eatingwell.com is a good resource for healthy recipes.

I hope some of these help.  You can do it!

Kiley*Ann

thats my wedding date too

Whats helping me is not thinking of it as trying to lose weight, or get in shape, its living a healthier lifestyle.
I've been buying a clean eating magazine - the recipes in there are GREAT and easy! Dont eat processed foods, and try to do 30 mins of treadmill everyday, push yourself to go a little bit further each week.
Lately Ive been entering what I eat into my plate at livestrong.com and its really making me aware of what I am eating, and not only how many calories Im eating everyday, but how much sugar, carbs, fiber Im eating everyday.

good luck