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Originally Posted by TheActress
So, I found this place a while ago and it gave me a lot of motivation to start. But then I had a lot of personal issues come up (pretty much became really mentally unstable... I'm in my late teens and thats when a lot of issues crop up) but am now on the right track and getting my life together.
I'm really really ready to start back. I've got a pretty big fear of the gym, but I'm going monday, and my goal is to just walk into the gym and see how that goes. Its not about working out, I love working out. But feeling really judged and things like that. So I'm gonna walk in, see how I feel, and take it from there. Maybe it will take me a few days of walking in, and walking back out. But I'm gonna take baby steps. I WILL do it this time. And its different now. I've come to the realization that I CAN do anything I put my mind to, but its not about "motivation" its about determination and sometime sheer willpower.
Also, I guess.... I was just wondering from you ladies. I know its all a guessing game and how well you stay on plan and stuff. But generally, if you stick to your weight loss plan (I'm going to be calorie counting [zig zagging] and I'm going to being working out just cardio and adding in weight training a bit later) how long does it take to lose the weight? I know its a long process and it varies person to person... but it helps me if I have a general idea you know?
Welcome back! Just the fact that you're here is a triumph. Believe me, I know... I've been on and off this board since it started (I became a member in 1998!), coming back each time I needed support and encouragement, and trying to give the same as I could.
I've discovered that for me, I can't focus on the pounds lost. Yeah, I'm losing about 6-8 pounds a month, which is 1-2 pounds/week. But I'm really trying to focus more on my plan, and eating and living on-plan day by day by day. The number on the scale is the result, not the goal. The goal is to work the plan, and make it thoroughly part of my lifestyle.
That's the difference for me this time, or one of them. Like Eliana, I used to lose about 30 pounds and then weight loss would slow and I'd get frustrated, throw up my hands and say "I can't lose all this weight!". But I see women on here who have lost over 100 pounds, and more, and have kept it off! I KNOW it can be done. I've talked to those who have done it, and I read/listen to them every day. They give generously of their time and experience. And even if I don't always agree with them, or I'm on a different plan, just the fact that they have done it means I can, too. And SO CAN YOU!!
My advice is to work out a plan that works for you. Ease into working out if that's one of your big issues. They say that 80% of weight-loss is in the food plan, and only 20% is exercise. Make your food plan workable, and solid, and do the exercises that you are comfortable with. Then you can focus on expanding that later when you want to. You have time. It's not a race!
Remember, even one pound a week, from a solid plan that you can keep at for a lifetime, adds up to more than 50 pounds gone by this time next year! Focus on crafting a plan you can live with, and then focus on working that plan day by day.
The weight WILL come off.