Tell me how

[panicovernow]

I want to hear from the successful weight losers in 2018 and those who have become actively fit. Tell me what you did differently for the first time ever that made the difference.

I embark on good intentions each year to lose weight and become fit. But each year nothing changes except a few pounds gain. What motivated you to do it differently. Please let me into the secret, please. I must achieve at least a stone, preferably 2 loss this year. thanks

I lost over 3 stone this year. I make sure each meal is at least 50% vegetables and generally more like 75% (except breakfast - I have fruit and yoghurt or porridge) and I try not to have too many carbs. If I snack during the day I have fruit, vegetable sticks, oatcakes, then every evening I have a little bowl of dark chocolate, nuts and fruit. I drink water, sugar free squash, highlights hot chocolate and mint tea. I've tried to create a way of eating that is sustainable and doesn't feel like a diet, or like I'm depriving myself. So far it is going well, hopefully I will keep it up.

You must feel amazing. When I read what you've written there's nothing surprising you've had the determination to stick to it. So I suppose I'm asking what gave you the willpower

And do you avoid alcohol

I’ve lost just under 4 stone this year (I have another 2ish to go) by doing Slimming World. I had a bit of a health scare at the start of the year and found out I had a fatty liver, I’m 31 and have an 18 month old and it really hit home that my lifestyle could shorten my life considerably and my time with my little boy.

I didn’t drink a lot before but I ate LOADS of chocolate and general crap. I now only eat chocolate once a week (after weigh-in!), make sure half of my plate is veg/salad, swapped white bread for brown, snack on fruit or cold meats, only drink water/squash. I do have some days ‘off plan’ but I’ve found I’m making better choices over all, over Christmas I’ve been eating what i wanted but haven’t gained weight.

I’ve tried to see it as a lifestyle change rather than a diet. Good luck OP!

What does your lifestyle look like now? What do you like doing?

Diets don't work. Good intentions don't work. What works are small changes that can be easily integrated into your life and sustained thereafter.

If the thought of going to the gym makes you feel queasy, then you're not going to become a gym bunny overnight, but perhaps you enjoy swimming, or running, or cycling. Could you make small changes to your diet, such as cutting down on meat, dropping milk and/or sugar from tea or coffee, switching to wholegrain bread/pasta/rice?

Bear in mind good habits take as long to build as bad habits take to break. Science says it takes approximately 30 days to 're-educate' the neural pathways involved in habit development, so don't over-reach: base your short-term goals on that sort of timeline.

I'm an amateur sports coach (with an interest in nutrition) and if I see people fail, they fail because they try to do too much, too quickly. Start small and build up: the rewards you'll start to see will make you want to do more. Oh, and good luck!

My lifestyle is generally healthy I think mon-fri. I have 2 kids and DH. We both with work ft. Meals are usually home cooked no jars or unnecessary added sugar /salt etc. But we have an active social family life come weekend where alcohol meals out/ takeaways happen at weekends and I know this is what I need to change. Activity wise I've not done much lately but I've not been able to due to surgery. My intention is to restart soon my fitness isn't great I've been doing C25k for years! Could run about 20 mins non stop and I was doing classes in the gym was starting to feel fitter in the summer but the health issue interrupted me. I feel that something always gets in the way. I would really like this year to be different. Just need to find my focus and motivation

I joined WW 2 years ago, lost 2.5st and have kept it off more or less (2lbs on over Christmas).

It works if you stick to the plan, it's very much about lifestyle choice and overall health (very recent changes)

Better choices on the takeaways or upping your exercise to combat the additional calories are easy changes.

Just need to find my focus and motivation

Do that, then.

Find one small thing - cut sugar out of your tea, eat breakfast, cut out a takeaway, run 1.5km twice a week - and focus on that, solely, for 30 days.

Focus is a skill that you need to practice.

Also, look at your last post (I've emboldened certain words):

"My lifestyle is generally healthy I think mon-fri. I have 2 kids and DH. We both with work ft. Meals are usually home cooked no jars or unnecessary added sugar /salt etc. But we have an active social family life come weekend where alcohol meals out/ takeaways happen at weekends and I know this is what I need to change. Activity wise I've not done much lately but I've not been able to due to surgery. My intention is to restart soon my fitness isn't great I've been doing C25k for years! Could run about 20 mins non stop and I was doing classes in the gym was starting to feel fitter in the summer but the health issue interrupted me. I feel that something always gets in the way. I would really like this year to be different. Just need to find my focus and motivation."

Do you see where you're making excuses for yourself?

Calories in, calories out.

I'm sorry but that's it. There isn't some big guarded secret to weight loss that somebody is going to whisper in your ear one day and it's all going to click and have you lose 5 stone in a week. It's really is that simple and boring I'm afraid.

Thanks for the replies
ThistleAmore you've hit the nail on the head I do make excuses I know this. I do lose my focus easily. There have been times when I've kept my focus in the past for big events, lately I have not maintained focus long enough. I will start with the small ideas approach healthy breakfast and minimal 2 gym visits per week for a month and build upon it.
Screamqueenz you've done brilliantly and only 2 on for Christmas is great. Weight watchers has worked for me in the past, and it does for so many people. Will have a look into it.

I have lost 7 stone since March
This is through Slimming World and Running.
I started walking when I started dieting and increased to running once I had lost weight.
I now run 5k 4 times a week with a park run on a Saturday
I have minimal carby food and eat lots of salad and veg

Tweak the social life. Make a buffet to share ( cold meat and salads careful on the pies) rather than a takeaway or meal out? Or take up kite fly8ng , family rounders in the park rather than a pub trip, Changes the situation to make it easier to change yourself?