If you could offer ONE piece of advice you've learned the hard way to someone, what would it be?

So most of us have made mistakes doing this whole Weight Loss thing. We've tried a bad diet, tried diet pills, maybe we put ourselves in Starvation Mode. Whatever.

If you could offer ONE piece of advice, something you'd learned yourself to avoid, to the people on this site, would it be?

My piece of advice...

Log your calories, semi-regularly. It's just way too easy to lose track of what you're ACTUALLY eating when you don't log your calories. Logging keeps you honest and helps you keep control of what goes into your mouth.

BLASPHEMY! The Miniseries was brilliant! And they actually, you know, followed the plot!

Original Post by hkellick:

Meh, the movie wasn't all that.

 Yeah, but it entertained me.  I agree the books and original miniseries are better.

Original Post by santonacci:

Original Post by soliwit:

To santonacci: 42

 "Workers of the earth! I bring... good tidings of peanuts! And beer! "

 Hmm, yes, please, I would like to subscribe to your newsletter :)

I also liked that you used the word "avatar" in your original post.  That coupled with the icon and the quotes makes me think you're as nerdy (or geeky, or *intelligent*, whatever your PC term of choice is) as myself.

Ok, Santonacci worship aside (ha ha), my favorite advice is already iterated here:  Don't hate yourself for messing up.  In fact, don't even consider it messing up.  You did nothing wrong.  It is the feelings of guilt and deprivation that will lead you to giving up, and it's much better to accept that part of you, always, will crave a bag of M&Ms once or twice a month (or a trip to the chinese buffet, or a big fat slice of greasy pizza), and to recognize that, and be able to plan for it and accomodate it, than to pretend that it isn't really who you are.  Ignoring it doesn't make it go away, it just makes it jump on you with a vengeance in a moment of weakness, rather than planning for and incorporating that desire into your overall lifestyle.

The point here is moderation - I'm not eating pizza every day, but I am eating it tonight, and I'm able to say "I ate well yesterday, and I'll eat well tomorrow, and apart from the pizza, I've eaten well today.  I have gotten up and walked the dog every day this week.  I feel great.  The worst result from eating pizza tonight will be a bit of indigestion, and maybe a hardly noticeable slowdown of weight loss."  It's a lot better to control those cravings, and satisfy them in moderation, when you anticipate them rather than ignore them :)

Original Post by hkellick:

BLASPHEMY! The Miniseries was brilliant! And they actually, you know, followed the plot!

lol- You have to admit it was still pretty cheesy! I love the books though.. the world lost someone special when Douglas Adams died.

 

 

------- A big weight loss just takes time and sticking with it does pay off !------

 

(edited spacing error)

Original Post by j-snyder:

 That coupled with the icon and the quotes makes me think you're as nerdy (or geeky, or *intelligent*, whatever your PC term of choice is) as myself.

 I prefer the term geek - and I'm proud of it.  There's a regular geek club around here, with HK also being a prominent member.   If you routinely say things like "It's just a flesh wound" when you get a paper cut, or know how to convert between hex and binary, I believe you would qualify too.....

(Good advice in your post!!)

Original Post by santonacci:

Original Post by j-snyder:

 That coupled with the icon and the quotes makes me think you're as nerdy (or geeky, or *intelligent*, whatever your PC term of choice is) as myself.

 I prefer the term geek - and I'm proud of it.  There's a regular geek club around here, with HK also being a prominent member.   If you routinely say things like "It's just a flesh wound" when you get a paper cut, or know how to convert between hex and binary, I believe you would qualify too.....

(Good advice in your post!!)

 I'm torn between looking embarrassed, or saying huzzah XD  But I guess I qualify :)  I suppose it doesn't help that I just admitted in the Wii fit thread that I'd had a gaming wedding... *tortured sigh*.

So... when do I get my membership card? :)

(and thanks for the praise :) )

Original Post by j-snyder:

So... when do I get my membership card? :)

I don't recall membership cards...maybe we can arrange for a ceremony involving a light saber or somebody speaking Klingon.  

Oh man don't get me started - some friends of mine are having a jedi wedding, replete with all the groomsmen doing a military style sword-salute, only with all those really expensive lightsaber replicas.  Good grief XD

Wait, what was this topic supposed to be about again?

Oh yes... er... more good advice!  Find yourself a hobby you enjoy so you can hijack other people's wonderful threads with discussions about it XD  Certainly whiles away an afternoon...

Patience, portions and perseverence.

My advice is never take other people's advice, and go with your own insticts.

My advice - Drink lots of water! Get yourself a cute 32oz water just and start with drinking one a day, then move to two and so on. If you hate water - add a crystal light packet to it  and viola! 32oz of yummy flavored water for just 5 calories!

Also, exercise, exercise, exercise! Not only will you look and feel healthier, but its fun!

 Count carbs and Glycemic Loads to end hunger.

Control your blood sugar and you effectively put the brakes on all cravings.

This is quite possibly the best advice so far:

It is the feelings of guilt and deprivation that will lead you to giving up, and it's much better to accept that part of you, always, will crave a bag of M&Ms once or twice a month (or a trip to the chinese buffet, or a big fat slice of greasy pizza), and to recognize that, and be able to plan for it and accomodate it, than to pretend that it isn't really who you are.  Ignoring it doesn't make it go away, it just makes it jump on you with a vengeance in a moment of weakness, rather than planning for and incorporating that desire into your overall lifestyle.

The point here is moderation - I'm not eating pizza every day, but I am eating it tonight, and I'm able to say "I ate well yesterday, and I'll eat well tomorrow, and apart from the pizza, I've eaten well today.  I have gotten up and walked the dog every day this week.  I feel great.  The worst result from eating pizza tonight will be a bit of indigestion, and maybe a hardly noticeable slowdown of weight loss."  It's a lot better to control those cravings, and satisfy them in moderation, when you anticipate them rather than ignore them :)

My best advice is kind of unusual maybe.  Dont ever let anyone tell you that it cant be done.....not even yourself. 

I was told I needed gastric bypass....that no one loses 160 pounds on their own.  I almost did it, but then I remembered something.  I used to work in elder care several years ago.  There were always 2 kinds of people....only 2.  The ones who had lived a good life and who had done everything they ever wanted to do.  They had no regrets.  Then there were the others....the ones who had left something undone, the ones who regreted things they had or had not done in their life.   I looked deep inside and asked myself if I had the surgery could I honestly look back 5 years from now and know that surgery had been a last resort, that I had done everything else possible first.  The answer was a big fat NO.   I hadnt tried it all.  I hadnt given it one really good shot on my own. 

So now I am going at this with everything I have.  I have dropped 30 pounds this month.  I will keep fighting, and I will NEVER again tell myself that I cant do it.  Maybe people dont lose 160 or more pounds on their own.....but I DO! 

Hi 

The advice i would give is eat before you leave home and don't pick up the plate when u know that all ur options are not good for you...

The second would be that find friends in real life to support ur weight loss plans... those who sabotage ur efforts -- for whatever reason... including "just being a good host" to "how can we eat alone?" are just not good friends.

 

fantastic thread, i was feeling a little lost since my weigh in this week. this is one of my favorite quotes and this thread is definitely a great example...

"It is essential to realize and embrace the paradox that while no one can go through your journey for you, you are not alone"

next time i feel a little down about my progress i'll come back to this thread.

anyway, my 2 cents, treat & talk to yourself as you would your best friend. give yourself the same encouragement & forgiveness.  some of the things i say to myself i would not say to others (ok maybe i might think them) but it serves no purpose what so ever.  also since im an emotional eater, i am learning to take care of my emotions before i turn to food.  if i need a time out at work because a co-worker is getting to me, i take a 10 minute walk to be with that emotion instead of just getting on with it and then going home to stuff myself.

I want to join the geek club!  I prefer Fangirl, though.  Let me give you my qualifications, and you tell me if I can fit in:

I own more than 15,000 comic books.

I am on court of a ren faire. (Where my sons dress as Arthur and Brave Sir Robin).

I saw Hitchhiker's Guide 12 times in the theater.

I am a regular at conventions.

I can argue about who is the best Green Lantern.

Sigh.  Being a dork is a lonely road sometimes.  But, at least I can tell you what a dilithium crystal is used for.  And, a little more embarrassing, I have been chased around by my husband who is yelling that the Pon Farr madness is upon him!

For serious restaurant frequenters!!!!

We eat out at restaurants a lot!  I tried to cut them out all the way at first and it was too hard to do, esp when my boyfriend is not on a lifestyle change and wants to go out. 

First step- reduce the portion size...ask restaurants to box up half your meal before it even gets  to the table

Ask for plain vegetables...if they look slick, they have ben tossed in oil...sometimes its is olive oil..sometimes not...I know, I'm a chef

Ask for whole wheat pasta...some dont have it on the menu but they will make it for you if you ask

Give the boxed portion to someone homeless...immediately..do not take it home, temptation will make you want to eat it later

To further reduce the portion size...order from the kids menu...I do this when we go out to breakfast...do you really need 2/3 eggs with cheese and 3 pancakes, 3 slices of bacon, potatoes, juice and coffee...I dont think so.  And its cheaper!!!

OH replace all drinks with water...I used to only drink sweetened ice tea and lemonade with every meal...almost another 160 cal per 16 oz glass...and i could down like 3 of these in one sitting!