Hi. Im new and Scared.

Hello all.  My name is Mandi.  I'm 32 and extremely overweight.  I was doing good for about  4 days then bamb!  Off the wagon I fell.  Any ideas? Suggestions?  HELP!!

Everybody falls off. Just keep at it. You might try what I did and check out realage.com. It got me motivated. I'm 55 and my real age was 67 1/2. I weighted 300 lbs and I have to get to 160 lbs. So lets keep at it. And Get moving!

The key is don't give up! Keep trying. Eventually it will stick. Read the boards and you will get many helpful ideas.

My highest weight was 314 and i'm 5'2 in height.

I started on CC at 293 and i'm now below 280.

You can do this! Eat high volume low cal foods, lots of fruits n veggies for 'filler uppers' and drink lots of water.

Good Luck and Welcome

One day off the wagon doesn't break your progress much.  We're talking about your whole life here. 

I've had a long hard time going from 225 to 170 and have posted my progress in my profile for the world to see, if you're interested.  It took me 3 years, including more than a year where I didn't lose but did maintain.  Since I never in my life had maintained a weight loss before, I consider it a triumph and I celebrate it.

What you have to do is just continue.  Ok, you messed up for ONE day.  That doesn't mean you failed.  It's all a matter of mental attitude on your part, and sometimes the support of friends. 

You're in the right place and we're all here to help you along the way.

Welcome to c-c Mandi.

We all have our fell off the wagon days.  We even have a thread for getting back on the wagon.

Do you have a food scale?  measuring cups and spoons?  A good place to start is with portion control.  It helped me alot when I learned just what a real portion was opposed to just filling as much as I could on my plate and calling that a portion.I try to fill my plate with 1/4 protein, 1/4 carbs, 1/2 veggies and/or fruits.

At first do not take away anything from your new plan.  Start with adding new habits. 
An extra serving of fruits and veggies.
An extra glass of water.
A portion of whole grains.
A walk around the block, weather permiting.

Start simple and soon you will see great changes.

Since Im new... im having a bit of difficulty navigating around.  Can you tell me where to find that thread about getting back on the wagon??

Try this link

The "Get back on track for good" group (1 2 3 ...5)

Wagon Jumpers - February 1 - 7th, 2009 (Closed, Waiting List Available) (1 2 3)

Don't be scared is the first thing.  Look at the positive, you stayed on plan for 4 days.  We all have days where things get out of control.  My suggestion is to just start fresh.  Don't beat yourself up about this, just remember it the next time that you're tempted. 

I find that keeping a small spiral bound note pad in my purse and logging down everything that passes through my lips keeps me honest.  I also find that if I'm feeling hungry to have a glass of water, wait about 10 minutes to see if you're still starving.  If so, go for a low fat snack.  You'll feel better about yourself when you look back and say, hey I didn't give in today.

Hang in there, you are not alone.

Linda

Hey Mandi,

Your doing great, you know what they say the longest journey starts with the first step.  Even though you fell off the horse get right back on and ride.  Weight lose is not an overnight process so a little faultering is not failure, maybe just a little disappointment. Keep with it and find something that works for you.  The first couple weeks are the hardest.  My husband and I have been on the herbalife plan and it has been a great plan for us, he has lost 45 lbs and I have lost 39. Also make sure you are eating something about every 3 hrs, to get your metobolism going. 5 - 6 small meals and snacks.  Make good healthy choices and you will see and feel the difference soon. 

 Good luck and stick with it.  You CAN DO IT!!!

I'd just like to thank everyone for their replies.  I've tried losing weight in the past and it's been a roller-coaster.  Now, my cholesterol is borderline-high and I realize it's time to get healthy habits in place.  This is the first time I've tried becoming part of a community of people with the same health goals and the first time I'm trying to track calories and exericse--what we've been told all along helps.  Congratulations to everyone who has been making the journey and continuing to face the challenges! 

Like the rest of you, I'd say just get back on the wagon.  I'm the type that thought I had to do alot of exercise and eat a lot less if it would make a difference; now I'm realizing that if all I do is take the stairs or park so I have longer to walk on a day when I'm tired and can't fit in exercise, that's better than nothing.  And if I know I've eaten more than I should, I try to stop when I recognize that and figure that at least I won't eat more (or if I do, it will be a piece of fruit instead of something worse).  I think those "at least I'm doing . . . ." moments are the best way I find to stay motivated and get back on the wagon.

good luck everyone!

in the beginning its always hard, but dont let those bumps ruin the whole journey :) even that 4 days is great! losing weight is a long process (as you probably know already ) and it is evident that you'll experience some downhills every now and then - the important thing is to not dwell on them! it happens to everyone, and only by going forward and not worrying about the bumps in the road (that are in the past) you can be successful :) Just keep on doing what you're doing and don't let those downhills ruin it all for you, you can do it!

Hi Mandi! I'm also 32 and very overweight as well. It is a struggle to adjust to the diet plan. (We are supposed to be considering this a lifestyle change, and boy do I know it's hard to think about this!) If you fall off the wagon, get up, brush it off your shoulders and try again! That is all you can do! Just wake up, follow your calorie limit the next day.....do your exercises everyday. Don't let screw ups ruin everything you've been working for. 4 days is hard! When we've been so accustomed to eating the way we have, for years and years, it is definately going to be a while before our heads adjust! I have always been an emotional eater....whether when bored or angry, sad.....just about any emotion! It has been a struggle to stay at this. But I am finally seeing some results, and as soon as you see ANYTHING, anything at all, it gives you motivation to keep going. My wedding ring is now so loose, I need another!  Haha. Well, probably just a resizing. Get up and jump right back into it. If you need a motivational buddy, please tag me as a friend and feel free to message me. Everyone needs someone to vent to and to get positive feedback from. I know, I really don't get that here at home. I have found this site very supportive. YOU CAN DO IT MANDI!!!

Hi Mandy,  I have fallen off the wagon off and on from about 3 wks ago, and trying slowly to get started back again.  (yesterday my daughter's friend brought over 2 boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts!!. I had one yesterday and one today.  I will be throwing them out tomorrow). Using the CC and logging in daily calories does keep me in line, and I keep working out even when I don't feel like it. I try to focus on good food choices.  If I'm hungry, I eat.  Healthy things though. Not processed foods. And I try to save Fri or Sat for treats, (sweets or chips and queso!) Then I don't feel deprived.  One day at a time.  This won't be your first or last falling-off-the-wagon.  Just continue on at where you are now. Read weight loss info, and try new recipes.  That may help keep you motivated too. You'll do fine!  Good luck!

Hi Mandy.  Sounds like the struggle is not a body issue as much as a mind issue.  We've all been there, haven't we?  If you've never had a challenging day, then you're now officially de-flowered with the rest of us.  

Celebrating the positive.  Are you back to following your program now?  There's a reason to celebrate.  Write it down in a journal, smile at yourself in the mirror, and give yourself a pat on the back (literally, pat yourself on the back). 

Try writing down what you learned from the experience.  For example, did you learn to toss tempting food in the garbage?  Write it down.  One thing I learned to do was to stop using terms like "good today" and "bad today".  That's like calling one's self a bad person.  No, use terms like "I made my goal today (yay!)", and "Today was an unplanned learning opportunity".  Or you might notice that eating very high-fiber food with a glass or two of water helps fill you up, and might write down a note to self to try it out the next time you're way more than normally hungry.

Hopefully, your goals are as much strategies of the mind as strategies of the body.  Then all of you wins in the end.