[L R K]

If you could give someone just one of your weight loss tips that you feel is the most inportant to you, what would it be??

Mine would be to make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day! I never thought that this would be such a huge factor in my weight loss journey but it does help!

[LittleMoonRabbit]

Do what you love... if you don't enjoy the exercise that you are doing or the food that you are eating... you're never going to be able to stick to it long term.

There are a gazillion ways to be active, and 99% of those ways don't take place in a gym. If you aren't a gym person, don't try to force yourself into it. Go hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing, skating, dancing, rock climbing... exercise doesn't have to fill you with dread.

The same with food. You don't have to eat something that tastes like cardboard to lose weight. There are so many healthy recipes out there... that taste REALLY GOOD. I think people think "diet" and therefore "diet food". Like rice cakes and celery and boiled chicken are the only things people losing weight are allowed to eat. No wonder so many people "fail" at dieting... so many people make it into something dreadful and horrible... and therefore they make it impossible to stick to.

Long story short... this is a lifestyle change. Make this something you can live with. I enjoy the food I eat, and I enjoy the exercise I do.. and therefore, I have been able to stick to it.

That's my 2 cents.

[ICUwishing]

I would offer up that time is well spent on learning about sugar - the different forms, what they're typically found in, and what sort of reactions that refined and artificial sugars provoke in the body.

There's no one diet plan that works for everybody, but from Atkins to South Beach, to Sonoma, to Medifast, to Zone, to Beck ... the common theme seems to be defeating the sweet tooth. It seems too that the cutting-edge nutritional research is very close to pinning a lot of age-related disease onto sugars and the glycation byproducts. So there's absolutely no downside to busting the sugar habits. Not saying it's easy ... not at all ... but between sugar and water ... the payback is huge.

[Kootch]

Always plan your day ahead when it comes to your food. Plan your meals knowing exactly what you'll have each meal, and if possible, cook ahead. You won't be as tempted to go for the fast-food quick fix then.

[Thighs Be Gone]

If you bite it, write IT in your food journal!

Be honest with yourself about your journey. Only YOU know the truth about what level your workout is and how much you really eat. Only YOU can do something about it.

[Thighs Be Gone]

Originally Posted by LittleMoonRabbit

Do what you love... if you don't enjoy the exercise that you are doing or the food that you are eating... you're never going to be able to stick to it long term.

There are a gazillion ways to be active, and 99% of those ways don't take place in a gym. If you aren't a gym person, don't try to force yourself into it. Go hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing, skating, dancing, rock climbing... exercise doesn't have to fill you with dread.

The same with food. You don't have to eat something that tastes like cardboard to lose weight. There are so many healthy recipes out there... that taste REALLY GOOD. I think people think "diet" and therefore "diet food". Like rice cakes and celery and boiled chicken are the only things people losing weight are allowed to eat. No wonder so many people "fail" at dieting... so many people make it into something dreadful and horrible... and therefore they make it impossible to stick to.

Long story short... this is a lifestyle change. Make this something you can live with. I enjoy the food I eat, and I enjoy the exercise I do.. and therefore, I have been able to stick to it.

That's my 2 cents.

Love this post LMR--love your pretty new avatar pic too!