Taking the first step. How did you do it?

Posts: 2,250
10/22/12 8:34 A

A high school coach got me started running in cross-country track. I never quit running and later in life slowed to jogging. At age 55, I have been running/jogging for 40 years.

At age 50, I was diagnosed with high cholesterol, even though I had been physically active for decades doing assorted sports and was well within my weight for my height. That motivated me to continue the work of exercise.

I know a lot of people who did not have time for exercise until they were diagnosed with high blood pressure and/or diabetes. It is amazing the effect a doctor's diagnosis can make for some people. Suddenly some of those who had sworn off exercise became addicts for fitness! Suddenly they had time for exercise.

I hope this helps someone.

current weight: 112.4

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Posts: 271
10/17/12 10:04 P

I was going to have to go on dialysis or get serious, so I got serious......

384 Days since:  NO Sugar

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10/17/12 9:49 P

i realized that i need to make changes in my lifestyle habits the moment somebody thought i am already married with a child of my own. it hurts so bad because i am single and 25 years old. that motivated me to lose weight and exercise because i felt so low on myself, allowing myself to gain all these weight.

Posts: 3
9/26/12 10:22 A

Thank you so much! Your post made me realize I have today to focus on, not what I might or might not look like in a month or a week. I tend to want the end result, but dont want to work at it. I am really wanting to try this time. For me, my children, my husband and my health! I really like spark people and hope to stay in touch with you! Have a Blessed Day.

Posts: 12
9/25/12 8:25 P

Take it day by day. I don't focus on how I want to look in a month. I know that this is a lifestyle change. I focus on the day-to-day aspects of life. I wrote my goals on my bathroom mirror, so every time I get out of the shower I am reading them out-loud. This has been tremendous in my success. I am focusing on every meal that I cook, or every time I go out to eat I am focusing on that moment. I chew my food at least 10 times and do not watch TV, talk on the phone, or do anything else that will be distracting me from my food (this has really been influential in not overeating). I enjoy every moment of my day, and tell myself, "I am doing a great job." Speaking positive to yourself will not only do your body some good, but also your mind.

Edited by: SHONDREA00 at: 9/25/2012 (20:26)

current weight: 174.5

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9/25/12 7:55 P

My dr recommended the site. I wasted my money on the other diets and never getting any results. I enjoy walking,hiking and doing activities and the other diets i was not eating enough food for the calories i was burning. So i stopped driving my self crazy counting points and starving. Spark has taught me to eat enough protein and the support is wonderful . Thanks to all of you out there. i cant believe am losing weight on food that i enjoy.

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9/25/12 2:02 P

I read your message here and it honestly made me tear up. It made me open my eyes and see that we arent invincible. And the sad part, I work in the medical field everyday.

Posts: 3
9/25/12 2:00 P

Oh wow I read your "what got you motivated"....good for me to read. I set on the couch or here at work and say I am going to do things, but never do. I need to do something about my weight and sedentary life, but just havent done it yet...sad I know! I am really hoping these blogs, this sight and people who have done it and succeeded can help!

Posts: 2,106
9/25/12 10:48 A

I bought a recumbent exercise bike from Walmart.com & started pedaling while I watched tv one day....and then I did it again the next morning...and the morning after that. It was about 2 months of exercising & losing a few lbs before I started changing my eating habits too.

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9/24/12 4:49 P

I realized the number on the scale would not go down unless I made an actual effort to do something about it. I went online to look at how much it cost to join weight watches and found recommendations for spark. I set my account up. So I guess my first step to moving the scale in the other direction was using google. Spark helped me do the rest!

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Posts: 1,651
9/24/12 10:06 A

I was 305 pounds and honestly felt hopeless. But somewhere within me I got scared enough to try one more time. My first step, literally, was a short walk outside my door. I was nervous because I had not exercised in over a decade. Day by day I stuck with my commitment and had great success. Of course, I also cut way back on how much food I had been eating.

The first step is often literal - a step out the door to change your life.

SparkPoints: (11,505)
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Posts: 98
9/24/12 9:57 A

taking the first step? sitting on the couch looking for an answer .... and sitting on the couch is never ever really where you find the answer! ... but luckily for me i found the spark people book ... and read it .... and then decided to try it ... and found the website ... and had an awesome six months ....

i've just come off of three weeks of fever and sickness and horribleness .... and ZERO exercise .... so yesterday, with about my first exercise in 20 days, i jogged ... sad that it was so hard ... happy that i'm at it again .... taking the first step for the second time.....went to the gym this morning ... feeling motivated ....

i think "the spark" is real ... and once you're a convert, once you've really found it, once you really, really, really believe it, you won't ever go back to what you were ....

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9/24/12 8:02 A

Knowing I had reached the heaviest I had ever been.

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9/23/12 4:06 P

Finally making up my mind that it would not go away until I did something about it. I had a friend who lost her husband, then her only 27 year old son six months apart. Then six months after that on her last day of work after 40 years, she died of massive heart attack. I think about her often, and I try to nurture myself into eating right and exercising .

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9/23/12 3:25 P

You come to the realization that your quality of life can be greatly improved with better physical conditioning and better eating. Living is better than the alternative!!

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9/23/12 3:16 P

a woman at the store told me to go to the plus size

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9/23/12 3:16 P

Saw my doctor; saw all my numbers; decided I really was turning into my mother (!); and told myself to do something about it!

Began focusing on what I CAN do--eat right; drink water; and walk--and went from there.

Five years later, I'm still here, 35 pounds lighter, and have kept most of it off for GOOD!

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9/23/12 2:48 P

Yes! Pictures! Facebok is what got me thinking that I should do something about my weight. Then weighing myself in got me the reality check I truly needed. Painful but powerful.

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9/23/12 1:01 P

None of my jeans fit and with some cooler weather now I had nothing to wear. Although I could do the zipper up, flab was hanging out all over and the feeling of my middle rubbing into my arms was enough for me to be disgusted with myself for waiting so long to take some charge of this issue in my life. I don't want to feel like someone is sitting in my lap when I bend over! No more of this - I am on the trails, counting calories, and trying to be patient.

Edited by: SKYWATCHER6 at: 9/23/2012 (13:05)

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9/23/12 12:34 P

I finnally realized that I'm worth more than how I previously treated myself, and that if I'm unhappy, then change it and stop feeling sorry for myself. I used to lose weight for all the wrong reasons, this time, it's personal ...

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9/23/12 12:31 P

I am just beginning so my first steps are recent. I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. I had a heart to heart with my spouse and asked for support and the specific things I needed such as not bringing into home binge foods, partnering with me when asked to walk, and encouraging me through words of affirmation. I am one who wants it all done yesterday so I am praying each day for God's guidance and for grace. For me each choice ie. not going back to bed today after eating lunch and going out on a brisk walk that is the first step each time. Blessings on your journey.

current weight: 255.0

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9/23/12 10:55 A

I had to find out what the problem (s) were. Through the tracker and end of day meals I found out I did not meet: calories, nutritional requirements, too much fat which occurs naturly in foods, unbalanced meals.

Then I learned I'm a night and weekend eater.

Then an emotional eater...cigaretts were used in place of this

Then I'm a carbo eater at night..because I'm hungry due to unbalanced meals

current weight: 225.0

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9/23/12 9:16 A

Started tracking my foods and cut down on diet soda. I discovered diet soda seemed to fuel my sweet tooth and when I cut it out I didn't want sugar the way I did before. And my energy didn't fluxuate like it used to.

current weight: 176.5

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9/22/12 10:19 P

Got tired of making excuses and signed up for a gym membership. I really never had a problem working out, the problem was overdoing it and burning out. This time I'm taking it one day at a time. I am learning alot about what a put into my body. DETERMINATION is my name!

SparkPoints: (7,218)
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Posts: 39
9/22/12 9:13 P

Signing up for SparkPeople and following the recommended calorie intake each day was how I got started. When I realized that I was seeing results, I started exercising more regularly.

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Posts: 4,927
9/22/12 5:28 P

My boyfriend's cousins girlfriend told me about spark people and i decied right then and their that i was going to start working out agian and i wasn't going to give up. i also had a honset converstion with myself before she ever told me about and said to myself it is easy to be miserble or you can chose to be happy.

Edited by: JUMPINJULIE at: 9/22/2012 (17:31)

current weight: 141.0

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Posts: 1,091
9/22/12 10:15 A

My first step was to learn to give myself a break. I have learned that "lack of motivation" is often exhaustion. When I learned to get 8 hours of sleep (YES, EIGHT HOURS) and stop the negative self-talk...that's when I was able to move forward.

You are worth the effort!

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9/22/12 9:12 A

I had a car accident where I needed pt and i followed their orders and did not stop when i was done with pt.

current weight: 244.2

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9/22/12 8:36 A

I was in decent shape until I started a desk shop with long hours, lots of evening meetings and meals on the run. I put on over 50 pounds. I also had a heart issue that caused me to be very tired. When I saw the rhythm was ventricular tachycardia I had my motivation. I wasn't getting very far so I started SP and am down 30 pounds.

Posts: 154
9/21/12 9:23 P

Awesome results! I am going to step up my game!!

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9/21/12 9:20 P

Got and budddy to go to a nutritious every 2 weeks and joined the Y!

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9/21/12 8:10 P

I won a biggest loser competition at work that we did for 6 weeks. After that I just said to myself..."why stop now?" and so I didn't.

Pounds lost: 65.0

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9/21/12 5:19 P

I put my back out pretty badly, but I refused to get treatment while I was so much over-weight. On that day, I decided to get to the root cause of most of my health issues. I played TigerWoods 2012 Kinect game and drank V8 instead of Diet Coke as a first step.

That was exactly 5 months ago.

70 lbs later, I'm running 8km/day.

Edited by: STEPHEN_NANNY at: 9/21/2012 (17:20)

current weight: 149.5

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9/21/12 5:15 P

Two weeks ago I told myself that I could make all the excuses I wanted to, but it wasn't helping me to lose weight. I was brutally honest with myself, took pictures of myself in the mirror in a sports bra and shorts, and took a look at them. I labeled them "day 1."

I also said "tomorrow" is always a day away and so there was no better time then now. And that's how I decided to start.

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9/21/12 1:11 P

I had lost 137 pounds before. And then I got prego and slowly put about 80 pounds back on including baby weight. I felt unhealthy and tired all the time. So I decided to get my butt back on track. But now that I am 30 it seems harder to lose the last 35 pounds. But I am determined to do it.

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Posts: 2,571
9/21/12 11:47 A

Don't go home.

Go to the mall.

Walk the mall!!

Once I get home that's it, it's over. I WILL NOT do anything... so I go to the store and either actually shop and deliberately make myself walk back and forth through the whole store (and I'm talking Walmart of Meijers... BIG stores) so I end up making 4 trips back and forth or I go to the mall and walk the perimiter.

current weight: 246.0

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9/21/12 6:38 A

The first step this time was seeing a picture of myself. I have lost weight before but this time it is an even slower process. But I feel like this time it will stay off.

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Posts: 104
9/21/12 3:23 A

Although this was not my first time taking that " first step" it was a life changing moment for me. I found myself eating sweets when I wasn't hungry; when I told myself I wouldn't. Of course it tasted heavenly but I was sitting there HATING myself. And I decided right then that I had had enough. I couldn't wait any longer for the right time to make the change. It had to be NOW. And it was. And I'm quite proud of myself so far

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9/20/12 9:02 P

I came "back" to Spark People and just decided to do it.

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9/20/12 6:32 P

So, FREEDOMCALLING, you got a lot of responses to your questions...what motivated you, inspired you, encouraged you? What are you doing?

SparkPoints: (267)
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9/20/12 6:01 P

I love my garden and found myself too fat to get down and up in the dirt, so I saw my beautiful garden die and become full of weeds and grass.
It was so hard to get myself up the stairs to bed at night without pulling myself up with the railing.
This was not the life I wanted for me. Started back to weight watcchers. After losing 60 pounds I found myself in a very stressful time in life and got back into my sugar addiction and quickly put back 20 pounds.Got scared and recommited to the fitness journey. Joined the gym and detoxed throughthe sugaar and diet cola. Am down ten of those pounds and once again BELIEVE . Thankfull for all the people around me along the journey.

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9/20/12 5:10 P

committed to only 10 minutes per day - no excuses. variety and finding what i like to do.

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9/20/12 1:11 P

Originally: when a family member had a heart attack, it shook me to the core so I went to get bloodwork done and that's when I found out that my triglycerides were hight. My cousin at the time, told me about SP. I joined and within 6 mos or less I lost 30 lbs. This was back in '06.

Since then I have been eating well but not as well as I once had. So here I am trying again to lose those pounds I put on since 2007 and trying to keep it off.

What sparked me this time, I saw some recent pictures that were taken and I really didn't like how I looked in them. So I have decided I will eat the way I once di & stay active. I want to be able to get a picture taken w/o thinking "how do I lool," or "take it again bc I look fat." I want that confidence back where I was proud at losing 30lbs and knowing I did it the right way. I was confident in everything. I felt confident. Now, I know I have packed on about 15lbs and I want to take it off. Only this time it went in different areas that will require more work to shed (bat wings, back fat, etc). I will get there again. I believe in myself!

SparkPoints: (2,553)
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9/20/12 12:54 P

Small goals. I have a couple of small goals to set every week. And take one day at a time.

SparkPoints: (1,554)
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Posts: 33
9/20/12 12:46 P

It took trial and error, really. By doing 15 minutes of Cardio daily, it really hurt my knees and back (chronic pain resides there and is easily roused into a grumpy painful state). I learned that it's best, for me, to start out with strengthening and flexibility exercises. So I do Swiss Ball exercises daily such as crunches, push ups, a few wall squats, and just general rotating and bouncing on the ball (the last two really relax my spine). I also lift with a 15 pound dumbell and do a few exercises with that. So far, it's working, and I can tell that my muscles are responding well (AKA...they hurt! lol).

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9/20/12 12:38 P

When my work schedule went back to solid third shift I joined the YWCA. I pass it every morning on my home from work. Since joining I have lost my first 10 pounds. Next week I am going to have one of the personal trainers teach me some new exercises so that I do not get bored or stagnate. Also trying to eat better since starting to work out I find that I do not have quite the appetite that I used to have some days I have to make myself eat as I do not start any unhealthy habits

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9/20/12 11:22 A

Change your routines. Don't stick to one type of exercise all week. Zumba, yoga, bootcamps, running, weight training, I do it all so I don't get bored and won't want to work out. I have found too, that working out with friends (ie doing a bootcamp at 6am) motivates me to get out of bed and get to the gym, I'm not alone and that makes me accountable! You can do it girl and the feeling of getting stronger is amazing!

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9/20/12 10:10 A

How do you get over a hump - now that you've taken the first step? I'm at a plateau.

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9/19/12 6:00 P

I bought an Ipad and put my favorite music videos on it to workout too. It is so much fun, I look forward to it. I also watch movies too.

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9/19/12 5:44 P

I was so tired of feeling depressed about my weight...i started working out with my zumba cds...IM on day 3 of working out...I keep telling myself that its hard to start but once im finished with the workout i feel better..my stress and anxiety dont feel as bad and trying to go forward and make myself whole again...Its hard to eat the healthy foods on a low income house hold and being in a commited relationship...but i portion control and i always loved my fruits and vegs...It difficult at nite wanting to snack but now i think of the workout i just did and i choose not too...hoping to keep up with it all..when i keep on track i do loose the weight slowly but it comes off...good luck to everybody in the same boat with me...at least i know im not alone out here...;}

SparkPoints: (1,247)
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9/19/12 12:08 P

My first step was an easy one. I simply said yes to a 1 mile walk. After it even though it was a small step, I remembered how good it felt to actually try to fix my problem. I have battled weight all my life and I got lazy and had given up hope. I have a wonderful (& a little pushy) friend that wants to loose weight and simply become more active. We have common goals and help each other through! It's so much easier with a support system. I believe that will be the turning point for me.

Time will tell

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9/19/12 11:29 A

I've taken many first steps....but walking seems to be my go to exercise. I like to do the exercise of the day on the Spark website. One thing leads to another and then you find yourself getting into a routine and really missing exercise if you can't find time to fit it in.

current weight: 190.6

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9/19/12 8:20 A

The very first thing I did was switch from sugary soda to diet. After a couple weeks I didn't miss the sugar at all.

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9/19/12 7:45 A

I was tired of being tired and watching my clothing size continue to go up! Found Spark people and I now have a more possitive attitude towards health and what goes into my body.

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9/18/12 10:41 P

I went and found a gym that I really love. I know that if I find a place I want to be most days I will go. If it's a gym environment I don't like I won't go.

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9/18/12 10:33 P

Great Idea!

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9/18/12 9:12 P

I finally got tired of wearing the same thing...because I swore I was not going to buy any new clothes in a larger size. My husband & I started a new business a little over 2 years ago so my focus has been on building the business and not much time on taking care of me. (I gained 40 lbs during this 2-1/2 yrs!) So since I'm usually exhausted by the time I get home at 6pm or 7pm & realized that my energy level is highest during the day when I'm at work, I decided to do something at work. What I'm doing is every time I send a print command to my printer I do 12 toe touches or 12 sidebends or 12 squats. This may not seem like much, but in an average day I send 20 - 30 print commands. So add that up it amounts to quite a bit. This motivated me even more and has given me energy to actually get up 30 minutes earlier to walk on my treadmill. I'm not saying it's easy, but it's definitely worth it!

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9/18/12 9:09 P

Agree. Just do it. Instead of making excuses, just do it. Give yourself 10 minutes and go from there. JUST DO IT

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9/18/12 8:37 P

Start with TODAY and toss TOMORROW out the window. :)

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9/18/12 8:27 P

My advise is to just do it. You don't have to find something you love to do, you just have to find something you're willing to do. I think walking is a nice place to begin. When you get home, do NOT go in the house...it's a suck that won't release you once your in it. Put your sneakers in your car, and go for a walk the minute you park your car in the driveway. Change clothes before you leave work or walk in your work clothes (if you can manage it, change in the car). So what if you're walking in your work clothes...you'll have to buy something new in the near future anyway once they start hanging on you.

Here's the truth about me...I exercise 6 days a week, and I hate every single minute (I work out at least an hour each time). All of these people who say they exercise and love it, good for them. I wish I could get in that space, but I'm not and I've never been. Every day I struggle with making myself exercise. What I DO like about exercising is: 1) I feel better physically and emotionally, 2) My clothes fit better, 3) I sleep more soundly, 4) I can maintain my weight and ear more when I exercise, 5) people think I'm younger than I am, and 6) I feel as though I'm delaying some of the aches and pains that come with aging (I'm 54). For the longest, I couldn't find anything I liked about it...and then my clothes started feeling too big. Three years later, I can compile a list (see above) of what I like about something I hate.

Posts: 31
9/18/12 7:49 P

I'm just getting started for real. Don't know what exactly made me start again. But I started on Saturday, and we happened to go out to lunch (not healthy). Knowing I was going to track really made me feel accountable, though, especially at dinner. I work to stay within what I consider a reasonable amount of calories, and log just 10 min of exercise a day, and try to be concious of the breakdown of cals per SP recommendations. Putting that together is giving me small, attainable goals, that I'm able to stretch slightly to reach. It's the end of day 4 now, and I feel great! I feel my clothes fitting a little better already (though no actual weight lost), and my energy level is up, and my mood is more even. All good stuff!

Posts: 241
9/18/12 6:18 P

Which time? I keep taking the first step and go for weeks, months and or years then need to start I again. This time I felt really gross and want to change my life and be healthy

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9/18/12 5:29 P

I promised myself that I would try jogging/walking three days a week for three weeks. If I still hated it, I would figure something else out at the end of the three weeks. I didn't make any long term fitness or health plans besides those three weeks.

Posts: 35
9/18/12 5:23 P

I challenged myself to do one exercise video everyday this week.

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9/18/12 5:13 P

I stopped buying junk food, started eating more vegetables and fruit, and started working out at the gym for at least 45 minutes to an hour. I also stopped eating refined sugar, and candy, and replaced those with sugar free protein bars, or things with natural sweetener. Now my face has cleared up, and I am slowly, but surely losing weight.

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Posts: 1,253
9/18/12 4:41 P

I did a great deal of research to find the most logical and healthiest eating plan. And then did even more research to corroborate what I had read, all the while getting my mind ready for the change. When my mind was on board, I started in the middle of the week.

Pounds lost: 25.6

0 16 32 48

64

SparkPoints: (32,198)
Fitness Minutes: (35,575)
Posts: 2,869
9/18/12 3:26 P

I started by staying commited to sparkpeople.. 1 year and 5 months later.. im down 85 pounds :)

current weight: 217.4

298 262.25 226.5 190.75

155

SparkPoints: (746)
Fitness Minutes: (553)
Posts: 2
9/18/12 3:00 P

I started by joining Planet Fitness. I joined with my best friend (and boyfriend) Ryan. We have only been working out since Sunday but we LOVE it. We are meeting with a trainer today. We signed a year membership and i am getting my $'s worth! LOL Staying motivated by keeping track of my meals. I never really noticed how much I eat until I started tracking everything! I am weighing my food as well.

Pounds lost: 0.0

0 18.25 36.5 54.75

73

SparkPoints: (4,705)
Fitness Minutes: (3,640)
Posts: 152
9/18/12 12:52 P

Started walking my daughters puppy, he would be up all night wanting to play. Found that walking him 6 times a day or 4 times (work days) uphill, making him run and chase me around the track would get him tired and we would both sleep all night. Started walking on the treadmill daily to have the energy to do more with him and it has been going well.

Pounds lost: 38.0

0 17.25 34.5 51.75

69

Posts: 46
9/18/12 12:42 P

just show up, let the rest follow....

current weight: 164.0

164 156 148 140

132

Posts: 7
9/18/12 12:15 P

I got too frustrated with myself. I started taking the babies for short walks and worked my way back to running short distances. Then, I realized how much I missed being in shape and started running more. and more. I was missing such a huge part of my life, now I am working to get it back!

SparkPoints: (953)
Fitness Minutes: (360)
Posts: 27
9/18/12 11:31 A

I started tracking what I ate and started moving more. I have only been working out for about 20-30 min a day. But its a start and I know it will grow into more!

current weight: 218.0

218 201 184 167

150

SparkPoints: (35,015)
Fitness Minutes: (10,241)
Posts: 2,478
9/18/12 11:10 A

I walked for 15 minutes and tracked it.

current weight: 138.0

199 180.5 162 143.5

125

Posts: 2,141
9/18/12 9:21 A

I quite literally took the first step. I started walking for an hour each day. Then I started tracking everything I ate. I used the Spark and it changed everything.

current weight: 191.8

245 222.5 200 177.5

155

Posts: 3,349
9/18/12 12:24 A

One tiny step at a time with measurable progress........reading The Spark and joining teams has been very important.

May Minutes: 1,060

0 250 500 750

1000

SparkPoints: (6,931)
Fitness Minutes: (4,067)
Posts: 78
9/18/12 12:19 A

I cut out my unhealthy snacks, then worked my way into eating healthier throughout the whole day. For fitness I started with Leslie Sansone's "Walk Away the Pounds." Great exercises for beginners!

current weight: 199.0

218 198.5 179 159.5

140

SparkPoints: (13,835)
Fitness Minutes: (12,476)
Posts: 302
9/17/12 10:22 P

When I (re) started SP in January, I only tracked my food about 2-3x a week and exercised for 10 minutes on my indoor bike about 2-3x a week. I also identified some of the foods I liked that would fit into a healthy eating plan and stocked up on those foods. I also made it a point to NOT change everything at once.

Now, I exercise about 4-5x a week for 45 minutes to an hour. I track daily and have continued to try new recipes and tweak my eating habits.

Pounds lost: 51.5

0 16.75 33.5 50.25

67

SparkPoints: (17,518)
Fitness Minutes: (10,963)
Posts: 342
9/17/12 9:34 P

Read "The Spark" It will get you moving!

SparkPoints: (19,179)
Fitness Minutes: (11,499)
Posts: 251
9/17/12 9:31 P

Get moving - Put one foot in front of the other
Get rid of the junk in the cupboards and in your refrigerator

Good luck!

current weight: 151.0

184 170.5 157 143.5

130

SparkPoints: (1,459)
Fitness Minutes: (34)
Posts: 49
9/17/12 8:43 P

Way to go...This is my first week...How do you find people to talk to? I need SP friends..

SparkPoints: (1,459)
Fitness Minutes: (34)
Posts: 49
9/17/12 8:41 P

Amen....

SparkPoints: (12,961)
Fitness Minutes: (8,662)
Posts: 504
9/17/12 2:33 P

My first step was just tracking everything I ate. Then as I went along I was trying to meet the goals SP set for me on nutrition. After I felt like I had that under control I started exercising and logging it. At this point it starting coming together. As I went along I started fine tuning my nutrition and increasing my exercise.

current weight: 145.0

173 163.5 154 144.5

135

Posts: 62
9/17/12 11:14 A

My first step (this time around) was ditching my major trigger food (M&M's) and cutting back on the frequency I ate others (like pizza and burgers). I also did some food exchanges. For instance, instead of buying chips, I bought crunchy vegetables, like carrots, celery, and mini-cucumbers. Instead of ice cream, I whipped up some Greek yogurt with honey and almonds. It's not to say that I never have chips or ice cream (how realistic would that be?), but I only purchase individual serving sizes so that I'm not tempted to reach out for more.

Changing what I ate was actually a lot easier than changing how much I moved. Incorporating exercise didn't happen for another two months after I started eating better, but one evening in June I decided to take a walk around my neighborhood, and I knew I'd keep doing it. (And I have, though it's been evolving into RUNNING around my neighborhood.)

current weight: 118.8

177 162.45 147.9 133.35

118.8

Posts: 217
9/17/12 12:41 A

I was so frustrated with my lack of motivation and slouchiness. I have a lot of healthy habilt knowledge but I was ignoring what I know works. I have lost baby weight before. After my fourth baby, I lost 50 lbs and and was at a healthy 130 being 5'4". I thought we were done with babies, but two years of easy maintance later, I became pregnant again and followed that with two more babies in two years. Three pregnancies in a row does stuff to you. I had a difficult time finding frequent exercise and eating right happend when I didn't have cravings. Now, with my littlest over a year old, and weighing more than I did when I was 9 months pregnant, I knew I needed to do something. I picked up Dr. Phil's The Ultimate Weight Solution and it talked about triggers. I have a few of those. So out with the cookies and brownies and in with lots of fruit and homemade lowfat muffins. I also had to work on my portion control and start thinking about what I was eating. I am just getting started, but I am down 7 lbs and not starving. Sparkpeople has been invaluable. I love the colorful and easy to use trackers and all the motivators. I am beginning to feel like success is possible. Not quickly, but with persistance, in sight.

Pounds lost: 31.8

0 9.5 19 28.5

38