mkinternational08's Journal, 07 July 2023

For the most part it's generally CICO ultimately that will decide your weight. Meaning you have to burn more calories than you're taking in. It really is that simple. There's people on here who literally eat anything they want! But they burn those calories and more to keep at the weight they want to be. You need to pick a goal weight and match your macros to that weight. Then start tracking everyday and maybe even meal prepping to help as well. Most make this out to be so much harder than it really is. It's literally just being consistent more times than not. You have to switch what food is truly intended for. It was never meant to be used as a happy time, sad time, etc. When this clicked for me it was a game changer! Say this to yourself "I use to survive to eat, now I eat to survive" Food is for survival... we have to remove the emotional context from it. Hope some of this helps! You could literally drop those 50 lbs in 6 months. Why not do it? 

Nice drop as well 🤝👋 

I can totally relate. Food id important to me too. I am not just wanting to fill the tank. A nice meal is very satisfying. There has to be some fun to eating or it makes it just another chore.  

Joe, I agree to a point because there's other challenges. Men don't suffer with hormones going bonkers every couple of weeks telling your body to gain weight to prepare for a pregnancy. And don't forget menopause (eeek!). I'm so gonna be a man in my next life!😁 For many it's more than an emotional crutch, it's a full blown addiction. And then there's genetics. Is it any wonder we're all here? 

Well said joe. Mk its just one foot in front of the other. Literally. Walk, run, elliptical, stair master and good choices. None of us woke up one day super unhealthy out of the blue so give yourself the grace to know it wont be one day to come off but time goes by so quick and you did yourself a wonderful deed by exercising and starting on your journey. Maybe take the weight loss you desire in smaller chunks like just down the next 10 pounds and then new goal, next ten pounds. That helped me. If i would have thought i had to lose 90 pounds in the beginning (even tho i did think that) it may have derailed me. Instead i was just focused on getting below 210 below 200 below 190 etc. you can do this. You are a pretty girl on the outside now its time to make the inside workings of your body pretty and healthy as well. 

Food can still be your friend but it's a different mindset now. Healthy foods are my friends. Just take it one day at a time and stick to it best you can. 👍👍 

2melons - That's why I said "for the most part" but I agree with you in a sense. Women do have a lot more to worry about for sure as we age. But in this instance I believe she's still farily young. So most of what you mentioned I don't believe is an issue at this point. But again we don't know for sure as we're not her doctor. I've just noticed her before and she's written things like this before. So I was looking for more of a motivational pov this time. As opposed to looking for reasons she can't do it. I strongly believe regardless of male/female there are certain things you have to do to be successful. If we go look at her diary it's not going to say she has hormones and everything else mentioned. It will probably show a calorie surplus and not so healthy choices. Addiction can be beaten though. I stopped dipping tobacco after nearly 20 years. As many others have beat addiction as well. It's definitely a lot more difficult but not impossible by any means. 

slow and steady !  

Your here and learning that is great I'm so proud of you. Just break it down to manageable goals. Easily achievable is 1 pound a week in a year a new you! that is a 3500 calorie deficit a week and a 500 calorie deficit a day. For me I found weighing all my food with a scale made it easy to lose a pound a week. Since I can track every bite, estimating didn't work real well for me. I just put my plate on a digital scale set to zero add food, set to zero again add more food and write it down then record it into the app. Many people here have lost so much weight. And they will all be helping you.  

Changing our feelings toward food is super hard for those of us who use food for negative reasons. My mantra now, learned from my helpful therapist many years ago, is that "Food isn't going to leave Planet Earth!" (It will be there tomorrow if I want to eat it tomorrow, I will & so I don't have to eat it all today). Very helpful mantra with very tempting food. 

You can do it! 

nice job, it takes time keep at it 👍 

Joe, I agree. You're a great inspiration to us, especially me!❣️ 

2melons - I appreciate you and the other good folks here. The feeling is mutual I enjoy this community!  

Same girl. Before the pandemic I was 172 pounds (I’m 5”2) which qualifies me as obese - though for some strange reason I didn’t appear obese (I did looked overweight for sure, though), I think the way my body distributes fat, nevertheless, when the pandemic started, I told myself, now in lockdown if I don’t watch over I’ll be morbid obese real soon. That’s when I made a decision. I made myself focus on the calories. that’s when I start using the FatSecret App - and I went down to 115 pounds. But now I put about 25lbs, and struggling to lose at least 10lbs behind to be back at a better shape. I’m not big as I was, but I am not in my ideal weight anymore. It’s a struggle, but focus and dedication can get us there. Hang in there. One thing that helps me a lot is to keep me busy, cos I turn for food in boredom…. 

Thank you for your feedback and suggestions! I definitely have to “mind over matter” this!!!! Yes healthy food can be my bestie —-eating healthy and repeating some mantras will help.