I wonder if anybody can give me advice about staying motivated. A couple years ago I lost 12lbs on the slimfast plan and by exercising. Since then I gained it all back plus ten more pounds. The slimfast plan no longer works for me cause the shakes just give me the runs. I have truble eating breakfeast but usually eat some ceral around 10 or 11am. I joined the Curves gym in the usa-i live in mich-in nov but I have only gone 5 or 6 times since then. I currently weigh between 196 and 199lbs and am only 5"4. My diet needs work I eat too much fast foods. For 2007 I want to exercise more is there any advice on sticking with it? Lately I have been very tired and may have some sort of thyroid problem or something perhaps even depression too - I am bipolar- so anyway being tired all the time it is very hard to leave the house. I would love to get back down to my high school weight or the weight of my 20's between 135-145lbs. Any advise? Thanks-

Just like you, I was about 186 and 5'1''. How I lost weight when I tried everything and nothing worked. I took a good long honest look at myself and said. Hey Iam just a fat lazy nearing middleaged loser now shut up and do something. I did. Stopped eating fast food. Gave up sugar. I ate lots of whole grains, fruit and yogurt, due to a broken foot, I could not exercise. I remain positive and since November 1 I have lost around 30lbs.

I can motivate you all you want. It is up to you. You need to make a choice do you want to be this size or not. Start by changing easy things like stop eating fast food and start eat small 6 meals a day. I am sure there are healthy foods that you like. Next eercise 6 days a week. Mainly do exercise that is going to get your heart pumping and find something fun. Do not worry about how fast you lose it or how slow just lose it. Be patient

hdcook might be a little incorrect in something's that was stated. Firstly if you want to lose weight you don't eat 6 small meals a day. That's only if you want to seriously hit the gym and tone up and get big muscles. Usually it is recommended that bodybuilders etc... eat 6 small meals everyday. You can try usually shakes but more importantly stay off the processed foods. Now you should hit the gym 5 times a week. Sound like a lot of times right. Well it's not. Keep in mind you're not bodybuilding if you were then you'de hit the gym 3 times a week. But while you're at the gym 5 times a week. You need to eat a lot of salads and you also need carbs which give energy. Keep in mind that you only need to use light weights. Also use the treadmill, push yourself. Don't use weight loss supplements. Usually people who want to lose weight consume 1200 calories to 1600. But about this eating 6 small meals, if you need to do that instead of eating your 3 regular meals, then make sure you do a little bit of running. Get a skipping rope. The reasong people say that you must eat 6 meals a day is because it is assumed that your metabolism would increase. However body types variour. My advice to you would be to hit the gym and consult with a gym instructor. You can send me a private message if you need to clarify anything. Also before works out try to do push-ups, squats and sit-ups. These really help and can be done in the confort of your own home.

I would watch the carbs though. Yes they are good for working out, but turn into sugar and when your body does not need sugar, the carbs then turn to fat.

Salads are great, but watch what kind of salad dressing you are using. 1200 - 1600 Calories a day is perfect, just watch out, that can practically be one burger at McDonalds.

Sanjay, I think one reason for the 6 small meals a day is to keep the stomach full so that you do not eat as much at one sitting. The 6 small meals can be nothing more than some fruit or veggies, but it prevents one from gorging at the main meals.

Yes J_9 you may be right again but a body can't lonely function of vegetables and fruits. When I say you need carbs I mean from bread and other healthy foods. For her right now I think she should stick with the 1600 calorie diet rather than 1200 because body mass must be proportionate to calorie intake. Do you light toning exercises and a lot of running. Otherwise J_9 seems to have the best advice.

To eat three meals a day or to eat six small meals a day: that is the question... The truth is, the more times a day you sit down to eat a meal or snack, the more opportunities you have to overeat; this can be a serious problem for some people. If you are someone who has a difficult time eating a small amount at a meal or snack (you have a hard time stopping once you get started), then it's quite possible that, for you, eating five or six times a day isn't the best way to go.

The trick is the eat when you're only hungry...

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Originally Posted by Sanjay Persad

The truth is, the more times a day you sit down to eat a meal or snack, the more opportunities you have to overeat; this can be a serious problem for some people. If you are someone who has a difficult time eating a small amount at a meal or snack (you have a hard time stopping once you get started), then it's quite possible that, for you, eating five or six times a day isn't the best way to go.

The trick is the eat when you're only hungry...

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This is ABSOLUTLEY TRUE!!

Yes, eat only when hungry, but only eat until you do not have hunger pangs anymore, do not eat to excess. You don't want to feel full or bloated, just satisfied.

I had problems staying motivated. Then I joined Weight Watchers. I love it! The meetings keep me motivated. Have you looked into joining? I've lost an average of about 2 pounds a week and it stays off!

Good luck!

A good way to stay modivated is to lose some more weight. If you make eating healthy a regular routine and you do not buy fatty food that will tease when you're bored, you will see results. Record what you eat; self monitoring will make you think about eating those 4slices of pizza. For exercise do something fun or you will see it as exercise which might make you not want to do it.Also don't quit eating healthy and exercising after two months. If you do it the healthy and right way you won't have your ideal figure in a month.

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Originally Posted by dunno

I had problems staying motivated. Then I joined Weight Watchers. I love it! The meetings keep me motivated. Have you looked into joining? I've lost an average of about 2 pounds a week and it stays off!

Good luck!

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I totally suck at dieting and I agree with dunno... Weight Watchers is the answer. My friend at work got me one of the WW points calculators and now I add up everything and my food pantry and frig and freezer foods r all marked so that I know how many points r in each thing. I am allowed 27 pts. A day and how I choose to use them is up to me. I am also allowed 25 bonus pts. A week and that also can be used how ever u want, wheather u use them in a day or spread them out over the week... its up to u. The weight is coming off a little slow but I am learning how to eat properly. It' s a lifetime commitment that you have to make if u want to be serious and loose weight. Don't give up and good luck. I know u can do it because if I can... YOU can :)

Mind and body need to work as one, listen to some music that make you want to run across america

Buy clothes in the size you ideally want (your goal weight/size), or at least ones that you can barely cram into. Unless you don't mind wasting your money, you have no choice but to lose the weight. Try the clothes on once in awhile and feel extremely motivated when they finally fit well, or at least you can have some "wiggle room" in them.

Ok I just happened to stumble across this site and I felt compelled to join this club to correct the misunderstanding over eating six meals a day. Eating six small meals a day is not for body building! The entire point of eating the six small meals is to increase your metabolism. By eating three small meals and three snacks of 100-150 healthy calories( try 100 calorie snack packs, fruit, vegetables) in between you are keeping your blood sugar up and increasing your metabolism. Once your body realizes it will receive food consistently it will realize it does not need to store calories for later and instead will burn those calories. The point is to train you and your body to only eat enough to be satisfied not full. In my time of being obsessed with nutrition and weight loss I have found that the biggest mistake individuals who want to lose weight make is under eating. Suppressing your appetite and eating less meals leads to 1) Your body storing more fat unsure of when it might receive more food leading to extremely quick weight gain( this is a major problem for most people dieting )
And 2) gives your more opportunity to feel hungry increasing your chances of overeating when you finally do eat. Look I know there are some educated people here and you all have good suggestions but this eating six time a day is the real deal I have first hand felt and seen the effects. When you do this you can feel your body working at an increased level. If you add cardio exercise and strength training A women of your size should lose weight at an incredible speed. This is no fad diet this is about life changing habits a diet like this will keep you energetic and healthy for the rest of your life.
As far as motivation taking measurements of your body ( thighs, upper arms, waist, rear) and after two weeks see if there's a difference if there is I think you will find your motivation in the proof.
And the other big thing this whole not eating breakfast in the morning not OK! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day your metabolism isn't working until your start it with breakfast. Just slowly start eating ten minutes earlier everyday and your body will adjust.
Just remember all the best things in life take hard work it's not easy but you have the ability to change you just need to realize you can do it, you are worth it, and give it all you got!