 Motivation - What Has Made the Biggest Difference? |
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What one small step have you made that has made the biggest difference in your weight loss journey?
Here are some answers from HysterSisters about what has helped them to stay motivated to reach their weight loss goals.
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“Ok, laugh if you must, but to me, NEW SHOES have been very motivating! I purchased some good running shoes (I don't run, only walk, but was told by someone ‘in the know’ that running shoes will be more supportive and comfy even for walking). When I'm walking, they feel good; afterward, I'm not quite as sore as when I wore worn out tennies, and to tell you the truth, I wear them around the house when I'm cleaning, etc. The benefit here is twofold: I'm physically less tired and sore at the end of the day, and I feel like more of a jock when I see them on my feet! This makes me move a little quicker, makes my step a little springier, and helps me to feel healthy so I'm more likely to reach for a water than a Coke. (I LOVE Coke.) While I realize there's nothing earthshaking about this, it has been helpful. Remember back in grade school, if you were lucky enough to start each year with new folders, pens, crayons, how you felt inspired to work SO hard & do your BEST? Well, new running shoes bring about a similar feeling for me.”
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“I think the biggest difference I've made is lunches. Eating out for lunch used to be a bacon cheeseburger and fries. Now I look for places that serve deli-type sandwiches so I can order something lean. If I get fries, I find it easy to eat just a few. Lunch at home is either a bowl of fruit salad or a bowl of Cheerios . . . something lower in calories that adds some good nutrients.”
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“I think my biggest change is the water I am drinking. I have done many things, but the water has really made me healthier, made me feel better, AND helped with my weight loss. I had heard many times how important water is to weight loss and health, but usually would drink a LOT for a short while and then feel bloated and stop. I can say 52 pounds later that I am a water lover. I drink a quart before I even make it out the door for work in the morning, then another quart by 10:00 and another by noon. After lunch I let myself have a pop (about 3:00). I only drink water at meals now. I am saving money and feeling quite good! I could go on and on about other changes, but I think the H20 thing is the one I can see the most results from.”
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“For me, the biggest and best change is cutting ‘junk food’ out of my diet and really just thinking of putting ‘good fuel’ into my body without even concentrating too much on the scale. So far, in a month and a half, I have lost about eight pounds. My health was really starting to become compromised. Now I'm just thinking about how important my health is and what I can do to make myself healthier. I have a friend who lost her job because of health issues, and I can't have that happen to me.”
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“Really, I had two:
1: I have a HALF CUP of nuts (plus some dried fruit) as a mid-morning snack. As a result, I don't feel I have to eat the whole world at lunch time. You have to fit this carefully into your meal plan, as it's a whopping 500 calories. But it works for me.
2: WEIGHT TRAINING! I bit the bullet and bought a basic home gym. Between that and a few sets of dumbbells I already owned, I weight train four times a week, alternating between upper and lower body. I've gained muscle, my tendinitis-prone shoulders are healthier, and I'm losing weight.”
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“There were many small steps for me, accomplished over the course of 1-2 years:
- Eat three smaller meals and have three snacks a day. This means I eat every 2-3 hours, and have to say that has all but eliminated wanting to eat everything in sight because I am "sooo hungry.”
- Drink 8-10 8-ounce glasses of water. This took me a very long time to get in the habit of doing. I had to almost literally set an alarm as a reminder.
- Don't expect perfection when exercising in a class or to a tape. I wasn't born a leotard diva, and found myself rather uncoordinated when it came to keeping up with the class on some exercises. Not expecting perfection from myself enabled me to concentrate on learning the correct moves rather than stressing over not getting them right.
- Get rid of bigger clothes that don't fit. I have kept one thing from my former size 22/24 self. That is a nightshirt. Mostly I've kept it because it's comfortable even though I look like a bag lady in it. Everything else I have gotten rid of, thinking if I have nothing to wear I will work hard to not morph into the larger size.
- Set an "Iron Ceiling.” I borrowed this concept from a project management model (and losing weight is a big project!). Moving the Iron Ceiling is NOT an option. My current Iron Ceiling is eight pounds. If my weight goes up eight pounds, it's time to crack down and be way more careful.”
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“The American Heart Association has a program called ‘Choose to Move.’ Their site is choosetomove.org They ask you to sign up (free), answer some questions online related to your exercise habits and health history, and then they send you a great booklet that I just received and that seems quite do-able. I am a VERY tough case, can't seem to be consistent, but this seems to have possibilities. You may want to take a look.”
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“Mine would definitely be joining the gym. I now go five mornings a week for a mix of cardio and weight training. Fortunately, the gym I go to is not full of 'lycra lovelies.’”
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"I bought an popcorn air popper for snacking and a Black & Decker Flavor Scenter Steamer to make fish, vegetables, and rice without fats. I have had to do more than cut back on food. Instead, I finally had to change to very low fat eating with more vegetables and grains. I also monitor carbohydrate intake."
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“There are three things that I think made the big difference for me:
1. Changing gyms and changing my workouts—I had done step aerobics for years (with light weights mixed in on alternate days). I switched to weight lifting last November and added the treadmill and occasionally the Stairmaster a few days a week. I saw big, big changes in my body, mostly in the hips, butt, and tummy area, which are my biggest problem areas. WHOOO HOOOO!
2. This is not an option for everyone, but I had been on an antidepressant (Pamelor) for a few years to help relieve TMJ symptoms that were ruining my life. Well, after my hysterectomy, I felt so much better. I waited a year to make sure it was going to stay that way, and then with my doctor's approval weaned myself off the antidepressant. I feel better now than I did on that stuff, and I could NOT lose weight while on it—looking at the bottle applied inches to my hips, I swear.
3. Going on a low fat, high protein, high fiber diet, and getting serious about it for the first time in my life. Actually, now, it's not a diet. It has become my way of life. I don't even WANT the junk I used to eat. I prefer my healthier foods.
WHOOO HOOOO to being back in a size 10, with every intention of staying there!”
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“I have to chime in and say that drinking enough water has been the biggest help in overall weight loss. Attitude comes a close second, as it influences the choices I make and how I view myself. I noticed the biggest changes when I decided that this was not just a diet I was on but a lifestyle change.”
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“I would have to think there is several things that have made the difference for me.
- I am actually in the right mindset for a lifestyle change.
- Working out! It is huge in helping get fit, toned and emotionally healthy.
- Drinking enough water.
- I gave up cream in my coffee and rarely use butter or cheese. I also changed over to skim milk. These little changes should help year round.”
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“I make salad for myself for the whole week the day the box comes from the veggie co-op. It helps me to actually eat the veggies because I know that in a week another box is coming from the co-op, so I'd better eat those green beans! Now when I go to work in the morning, I just open the bowl in the fridge, grab a couple of fistfuls of salad, and dump them in my lunch container. Ta-da! Lunch is made. I keep the salad dressing at work.”
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“Prevacid! I have reflux and the pain of it was driving me to devour starchy foods to put the fire out.”
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“Hey girls, I've been doing the yo-yo diet routine all of my adult life (sound familiar, anyone?). The major difference came when I decided I would stop dieting and make a LIFESTYLE CHANGE, and it worked. People at work say to me when they see what I'm having for lunch, ‘Oh, I see you're on a diet.’ My response: ‘No, this is just how I eat all the time.’ My cholesterol runs high (even eating low-fat—life just ain't fair!). I follow the American Heart Association’s recommendation that no more than 30% of my calories come from fat. I enjoy doing my own low-fat cooking, and I have learned to make it taste really goooood. I don't do a lot of eating out. I walk two miles most days. I dance with my hubby and a group of friends. I work a full-time job that involves stair climbing. I eat three meals a day and at least two snacks in between meals. So that's my major difference. I hope this gives someone else motivation to make a lifestyle change. I think it's great.”
- - - - -- “Hanging out here at HysterSisters! (Getting ongoing support and encouragement.)
- Setting small interim goals that are so close I can almost touch them, and promising myself specific rewards for reaching them.
- Taking care of things that are obstacles to health and fitness, like seeing a podiatrist about my feet hurting, and an allergist about being stuffy all the time. (It's hard to get enthusiastic about being active when your feet hurt and you can't breathe.)
- Applying the things I learned from Weight Watchers, back when I did that. (Measuring portions, keeping a food diary...)
- Using www.fitday.com to track food/exercise.
- Making sure activity and exercise is fun and rewarding—riding my horse, doing yard work, playing on a mini-trampoline to my favorite music, etc. If it were drudgery, I would not do it.
- Reminding myself constantly how much better I will feel when I'm 50, 60, 70, etc. if I take care of my health now.”
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“What has made the most difference? Remembering every day that it took years of bad eating habits to get to the weight I'm at and I know that it will take time to change all of those habits.”
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“I've found that cutting out fast food, especially beloved french fries, potato chips, and pizza, have been extremely helpful. I also drink more water and eat fewer carbs and more protein. I've never felt better, and those food cravings are completely gone. My bad cholesterol has also gone down. And I take ONE DAY AT A TIME. If I ‘goof’ and eat something I shouldn't ,I simply begin again. Some days, one just needs chocolate, wine, or pizza. I've also made this a lifestyle change. I don't consider it a diet at all. For encouragement, I weigh myself each time I go to the bathroom. Not because I'm looking to see if I've lost more weight, but to celebrate the weight I've already lost. I also love seeing the size 12 inside my clothes. It's a whole lot better than the old sizes! I also reward myself with either new clothes or a food treat that I've been cutting out. But I'm careful to not indulge too much, or the weight will come back on.”
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“What helped me the most was eating more calories each day of the right food. My doctor said I was not eating enough, and he was right. I have lost 15 pounds in four weeks at about 1500-1800 calories per day.”
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This content was written by staff of HysterSisters.com by non-medical professionals based on discussions, resources and input from other patients for the purpose of patient-to-patient support.
Wm. Richard Salter, M.D.
1919 S. Shiloh Rd #333
Dallas TX 75042
972-276-9902 |
Larry R. Glazerman, M.D.
USF College of Medicine
12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 62
Tampa FL 33612
813-259-8500 |
Megan Bird, M.D.
364 SE 8th Ave, Suite 205
Hillsboro OR 97202
503-681-4145 |
John Garofalo, M.D.
30 Stevens St. Ste A.
Norwalk CT 06850
203-855-3535 |
Susan Carter, M.D.
North Colorado Medical Center/ MCR
1800 15th Street, Suite 220
Greeley CO 80631
970 353 1335 |
Albert Steren, M.D.
6301 Executive Blvd.
Rockville MD 20852
301-770-4967 |
Robert Castle, M.D.
3650 Joseph Siewick Dr. #203
Fairfax VA 22033
703-391-1500 |
Aileen Caceres, M.D.
Center for Specialized Gynecology/Florida Hospital
410 Celebration Place, Suite 302
Celebration FL 34747
407.303.4190 |
Theodore Vlachos, M.D.
3535 W 13 Mile Rd
Royal Oak MI 48073
248-551-1399 |
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-- January NewsletterPost Hysterectomy Fitness and Health is the theme of our January, 2012 newsletter at HysterSisters.com. Visit this link [ More]...
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