Fear of failure.

I'm really new to this "getting healthy" thing and have realized that this will really be a life long change that needs to take place.  There was a time that I really was worried that if I started eating healthier that I would be hungry all day and would be miserable which would make me want to eat whatever I wanted and not lose the weight. 

It was this thought process that kept me from ever moving forward before and I have to say that this was the dumbest thing I could have ever thought.  I also realize that there may be many other people that are thinking the same way so here are a few words of encouragement.

Creating a plan will be a huge, HUGE help and even more of a help if you stick to an eating schedule.  I have found myself eating more often but smaller portions and paying attention to what I put in my mouth and have learned that this has been keeping me from really ever getting into a "starvation" type of mode.  I eat when I'm hungry, and snack when I need to but paying attention to the types of snacks is pretty easy.

Finding a few extra activities each day to burn a few calories doesn't mean that you have to be in the gym for 6 hours a day.  I've found that a few extra trips up and down the stairs at work really helps.  After dinner each night I get to take a nice, peaceful walk around the block which really helps me unwind each night.  The truth of the matter is, every little bit helps no matter how small you might think the task is.  Don't get upset over the fact that you can't spend a couple of hours working out each day.  Try to fit a longer workout into the week but don't beat yourself up over days that you can't.

This really has been much easier for me than I had planned and I am really looking forward to actually hitting my goals and looking and feeling better than I have in years. 

Stick with it Aaron. You seem to be doing great and are in an awesome mindset.

One of the mindsets that I have really put to use is that if it doesn't fit in your calories today, doesn't mean you can never eat it. Tomorrow is always an option. 

Also, pre planning how to get through large dinners or indulgences by exercising in the morning will help keep you on track. If you have a dinner out with friends, but used the morning to burn 500 calories by doing cardio, you will be sitting more pretty at the end of the day. 

Anyone else have "I will not fail at this!" tips? 

Thanks for the support, I'm really working to keep in mind that just because I have something one day that I wouldn't normally have, doesn't mean that my plan is crashing down around me.

 Staying on track is really my goal...

I agree.  You're definitely in the right mindset.  Those were my same thoughts this time last year, and I went on to lose 40+ pounds in 2007.  I'm hoping to lose another 30 in 2008. It's good to remember that this is a lifestyle change and not a "diet" and that we are physical beings with muscles that are meant to be used.  I was afraid of being hungry all the time too (I was when I tried Weight Watchers once), but after the first 7-10 days of CC, I was hardly ever hungry.  Maybe my stomach shrunk, who knows... all I know is, I felt better than I had in years and I was seeing the results to prove it.  Keep going!  You can do it!

the secret is to start out slow, but steady...

 

it only takes us 21 days to make a new habit stick permanently... so as far as exercise, don't wear yourself out, build up gradually... work out twice a week for a month, then 3 times, then 4... or work out for 20 minutes every time, then 30, then 45...

pick something low impact at first... is my advice... i started on a stationary bike and now i do kickboxing, but it took me 4 months of gradually increasing my work outs...

 

don't think of it as "i'm on a diet" think of it as "i eat healthy now"

keep it up! wanting it is half of getting it! increase your fiber intake and lower fat and sugar... those are really simple first steps :)

oh and eat breakfast! even if it's just a little granola bar, that will really really help boost your metabolism! :)

good job aaron!

when i first start a diet, i have nightmares every night for the first two weeks of me seeing a cake and eating the whole thing... but then i too realized the whole life style change..

what helps me stay on track is visualizing my success... what i am going to look like in those jeans after i lose 10 pounds or how im not going to eat that whole bag of chips currently in the kitchen...

good luck to everyone!