[mjchik0906]

so i came across this website in an article in "O" magazine. i thought...hmmm...maybe i'll try it to see if it will help me reach my goal of losing weight (but i only want to dip my big toe in to test the water). and i say 'try it' in a very hestitating tone because i feel like i've 'tried' so many things what else can i do. i just can't seem to get out of the slump of 'well i should be able to eat what i want and i want this now so i'm going to have it'...knowing good and well what i need to do in order to get to a healthy weight. where's that switch on the side of my head to flip on causing instant ability to eat healthier, exercise & lose weight. i seem to be lost not knowing which way to go to get where i'm going (or should i say need to go) . make sense?

[Cheryl14]

Hi!

Welcome!

I've heard that 3FC was in the March issue of Oprah's Magazine but haven't read the article. I found this site last June because I saw the 3FC book at Barnes and Noble Bookstore.

This website has become an important part of my weight loss plan because it provides a safe place where I can ask pretty much anything I need to ask, I can vent when I need to vent, and I can be surrounded by many, many wonderful people who REALLY KNOW how I am feeling as I try to drop the weight. I have read so many inspiring stories! I am often overwhelmed at how persistent and tireless these people are as they lose pound after pound. From time to time I respond to posts where I think I may have some insight or may be able to help someone. It's been good.

I hope that you will find what you are looking for and will find that the waters here are just fine!

Cheryl

[Lytricia]

I too read about this site in O. I am also testing the waters...but decided to test it for 12 weeks. So, I applaud you for getting the big toe wet and I encourage you to navigate around the site...there are lots of us here and we are all here for the same reasons...encouragement and support. I hope you succeed in not only losing weight but finding something that works for you that you can incorporate into your life…for life.

[JayEll]

mjchik,

Here is a saying I saw in someone's signature on this site:

"Failure is giving up what you want most for what you want now."

I hear you about wanting to eat whatever you feel like eating--I have had to realize that it's not a good plan... So now I'm changing that impulse, I hope!

Good luck!

Jay

[trekkiegirl]

Hi mjchik!

I don't know if you're going to get that instant switch going on in your head but I think your idea of testing the water might be better. That sounds like starting with some small changes, getting used to them and then getting in a little deeper when you're ready.

Maybe a good start might be to think about what you're eating and how much, and ask yourself some questions like what can I eat less of, what can I find better substitutions for, what can I add, what can I give up and not really miss all that much? That and some moderate exercise is what helped me lose 17 lbs these past two months. For instance, I like sandwiches and wasn't going to stop eating them. So, I just came up with ideas for lower-calorie sandwiches, like using lo-cal bread and mayo, re-discovering that I like turkey slices, lol. I love cheese sandwiches, I just don't have them as often anymore and that's okay, that's a change I'm perfectly fine with. I like salty snacks, so now I have lower-cal pretzels and the 100-calorie packs (which are great for me with portion control and all). I've increased my fruits and veggies, I've eaten a lot of the lo-cal frozen dinners and I just discovered Lean Pockets and love those, lol. I'm not eating exactly the same foods I was a couple of months ago but I am eating things I like and that's part of why it's been working for me. And, true, part of it, in addition to changing around some food choices is mental. Your mind's gotta be on board with it, your mind's gotta kick in and say stuff to yourself like, you don't need to buy that big bag of Chips Ahoy, look for something else you can have in the house that you can still enjoy. If you try to go cold turkey (pardon the pun) right off the bat (sorry for mixing metaphors), you might risk find yourself feeling frustrated or deprived and you know what that leads to.

As for the exercise, why not flip the switch on the stereo and get your body moving to music? That's what I tend to do. Even 10 or 15 minutes of movement is better than nothing. Walk or jog around your house, do some simple exercises, dance like a fool, lol.

Whatever you do, try and find something that works for you that you feel like you can start to adapt into your life. Set some goals for yourself and strive for them but don't beat yourself up if you fall short sometimes. Goals are achieved in steps and if you get sidelined, just find your way back to where you were and continue on.

[mjchik0906]

Thanks for all the support and advice. I can use all that I can get right now. I'm thinking that setting some goals would be a good idea. I tend to motivate myself more when I do that. I have learned that cutting out foods that I love will get me nowhere fast. So smaller portion sizes and lower calorie options seem to be the route I need to take. Now overcoming the impulse things that I get caught up in will be very hard...wait I thought I was only dipping in my big toe...let me step back and evaluate for a minute. Ok...GOALs...definitely GOALS! Thanks again!

MJ