Weight Loss Motivation

[purple21]

Ok - LS peeps - need your help again

I need some words of advice on staying motivated in losing weight.

I was doing pretty well back in Nov - Dec - lost about 16 lbs and then it just stopped. I basically was just trying to eat as healthy as possible and cut down on junk. It's just pretty ironic to me that I was able to lose weight in the 2 months most people gain weight - lol.

 

Well, if I continued as planned I would probably be close to my goal weight by now and that is really pissing the hell out of me. I know I should just buck up and do what I can now but I just need to get over being pissed at myself and stay motivated. But my problem is that I use food for comfort. I've been walking but I obviously need to do more to lose weight. Sometimes I feel that it's no use in trying now - even though that is not true. Anyone else go through this? And how did you snap out of these thoughts? That's basically the short story.

 

I've included the long story below - since it's feeling good to write it all out - I appreciate all who read it and will send you a prize - lol:

Arg - actually the whole weight thing has a long bit of history that I just can't seem to shake - when I started dating my ex 6 years ago I was about 35 lbs lighter and my ex was about 45 lbs heavier. Well needless to say he lost all the weight and I ended up gaining it. I think part of it was due to starting antidepressents and some other medications I was taking for my sinuses at the time. He became a serious runner and actually I was working out tons along with him but it just didn't seem to be working. My weight gain was a huge deal to him and he always pressured me about it - he would try to help but then he would tell me things about how he wasn't attracted to me anymore and other things that hurt. We had other problems in our relationship as well - but those words stung - especially when you were trying to lose weight - I also lost my attraction to him as well (which was never quite strong) - yeah he was in shape and all but his personality was less than to be desired.

 

So as we finally broke up a year ago - I was more determined than ever to lose weight - but at that point I also stopped working out hard - I was walking a lot but it wasn't enough - but then I was so pissed at myself for wasting so much time with the loser and other things that I spent more time beating myself up.

 

Then in Oct this guy at a party hit on me out of the blue - (I'd been out of the whole dating scene for over 6 years at this point and wasn't feeling too hot) - and was pursuing me throughout the whole party, we talked all night, and he kissed me at the end of the night - it was like a total awakening to me - like i felt alive again - lol - nothing really happened with him after that - but it motivated me with the weight loss - plus friends and stuff were telling me how i was looking good and thinner (yeah they may have been only being nice but it still felt good)

 

But as I was losing some of the weight - I also met a few loser guys - that ended up just using me for sex - at first I thought I could handle the casual thing - never really went through that phase before - but i guess i couldn't because it ended up hurting me alot and the weight loss stopped.

 

I would get really motivated lose some weight and then eat it all back - it's been a never ending cycle for the past 6 months.

 

I think part of it is that I am really hard on myself - I need a good dose of self esteem i guess - it's a few things - the guy situation as taken a toll on me even though I know it shouldn't - I have actually been talking to one guy a lot for the last 6 months - but it is only email and online - but everyday practically for awhile - we did meet in person once and I thought we had a great time - but part of me blames this online only relationship on the fact that I'm not exactly skinny. Yeah he could just be kinda weird but part of me has that feeling that my weight has something to do with it. He just said he doesn't have time for a relationship now or says he is a loner but whatever. I've met some others too as you probably seen from my other posts - they seem to dig me when they need something or as a friend.

 

I just made a few mistakes that last few years (in relationships, school, and finances) and I really have to stop thinking about it and move on - a big problem is that I use food for comfort - I already walk a lot because I love walking and listening to music - which I think is helping from me gaining anymore weight - I also don't eat tons but it's enough to keep my weightloss stalled - I just think unfortunately I have to do a hell of a lot of work to lose a bunch of weight and since I keep beating myself up over things I just don't have the energy. Just a lot of stress happening all at once.

 

I also losing my job in 4 months and may be possible moving out of town - so there is this silly part of me that really really wants to get my shxt together and show everyone I can do it before I possibly leave - of course I want to do it for myself to - but I can't get this thought out of my head - just now I'm pissed that it's alreay the first week of June and I'm still not doing anything (well except for walking - why can't that work for me I keep getting mad because even if I did start working out alot harder now and eating better I still won't lose as much as I wanted to before I possibly leave. I know I should only be worried about my health but i'm not i guess.

 

Ok - I'm done spewing on my weight loss issues - but it's driving me bonkers - if you read all this then I will send you a prize - lol - someone talk some sense into me please

[lindya]

You already know all the things you need to know about healthy eating and exercise, I'm sure. This seems to be more about helping your mind to help your body.

 

In some ways your mind is a bit like a classroom full of potentially unruly pupils. You are the teacher, and it's up to you take control. Allow the aggressive, bullying kids (your negative thoughts and bad memories) to have too much of a say, and the quieter, more vulnerable kids (the real you) will simply fade into the background and end up underachieving.

 

Your task is to bring the more positive thoughts out of their shells, and put the disruptive elements firmly in their place. I use the "classroom of the mind" metaphor purely because it sometimes helps to visualise your thoughts in some sort of tangible form. Dissociating yourself from them in that way can make them seem like something you're better able to deal with and control. I think that once you can get a grip over these negative thinking patterns, it might help you to achieve goals such as weight loss.

[purple21]

wow lindya - that is such an excellent and easy to understand way to think about what i'm going through right now - perfect - thanks so much - very helpful

 

yeah in a better frame of mind today - now I just got to work and keeping it that way

[Teag]

Hi, I know exactly how you feel except part of my problem is comfort I guess. I gained 70 lbs when I pregnant & didn't lose any og it after I had my daughter. It took me 2 years to get motivated & I went to a weight loss center & got help, I didn't really know where to start. I didn't think I was eating bad but I couldn't lose any weight. I found out I completely screwed up my matabolisim when I was a teen. (I got preg when I was 19) I would go & go & go all day w/out eating anything except at night, not b/c I had any kind of eating disorder just b/c I didn't have time to eat & wasn't hungry so what was the point, so I thought anyway. Wel last Sept. I went to this place & they helped me alot, I lost 50lbs in 4 months but I wasn't at my goal weight unfortualtly. My husband kept commenting how good I looked although he always told me that he didn't care how big I got as long as I didn't get unhealthy & he always told me how sexy I was even at my biggest. I got off my diet the middle of January & told myself that I would keep it up b/c I only had 15 more lbs to lose to get to my goal weight but guess what?? That didn't happen, I started going out to eat alot...again & since January I've gained back 15 lbs which sucks so bad. I've finally got tired of it & I've started my diet again, been on it a week & i've lost 2 lbs so hopefully I'll keep my butt in gear. I just get so tired of looking at myself in the mirror & I look so big & none of my clothes fit...again. Its so frustrating. I hope you get to your goal & try to stay at it. Good Luck.

[moimeme]

I use the "classroom of the mind" metaphor purely because it sometimes helps to visualise your thoughts in some sort of tangible form.

 

And an excellent metaphor it is I believe our Thinkalot may enjoy reading about it, too.

 

As for using food for comfort, you have to get that particular 'student' on a short leash. You already know you do this so you have to find some other way to self-comfort. I had a horrible job for a while and I was also in a very stressful relationship. I was eating a couple chocolate bars a day plus other stuff for comfort and to counter stress. In the end, I put on almost 20 lbs and was even less pleased with myself.

 

The trick for me was not to dislike what I'd done and scold myself (which only makes you want more comfort). Instead, I decided to love myself. We know what awful effects obesity and unhealthy foods have on the body; I focused on wanting to feel good physically and I found that when I ate better and exercised (just walking will do), I felt better. After a while, it was the feeling better I was addicted to - and still am. When you drop the weight, wear your clothes well, and overall know you look better, you feel better - which makes you want to continue it.

 

Start by going for walks - they can help raise your mood. Then, because you've done something positive for yourself, you'll feel better and the cycle of feeling good will begin. From there on, focus on how good your body feels every time you do something healthy - you'll see that that feeling even surpasses how good you feel when you eat badly because eating badly pleases only your tongue but exercise and eating well makes your whole body feel fiiiine

[purple21]

Thanks Dyllusional Angel - 50 lbs - that is wonderful!!! You'll get to your goal. Sounds like you got a good man there to - that's great. It is so frustrating not being able wear what you want or not feel comfortable - I know that for sure. But wow 50 lbs in 4 months - that's pretty quick. You just needed a little break Don't beat yourself up like I do.

 

Thanks moimeme for telling me your story - that helps to hear other people's real experiences. Yeah I definitely gotta change my mindset and keep those negative away and just concentrate on making myself feel better. I'm drinking more water today instead of diet coke and trying to imagine how it is helping me and flushing out toxins. I'm planning on my walk tonight with my favorite music and maybe do a few strength trainging things. All in all I gotta treat myself better and not scold myself for things in the past anymore - that isn't gonna help.

 

It seems to be the worse though when I go home to my own place - that is where I am gonna have to try the hardest

[scarlyjones]

I think diets are THE problem. Instead of thinking of it as a weight-loss "diet". Think of it as a living diet. One that you like and you dont have to go off of once you get to a target weight. Alot of an additional problem is when we lose a good amount and then we get on our "pink clouds" and then we allow ourselves little "rewards". But think about it......that food made us fat. How is that a reward ? If your kid scores the winning goal,...would you yank him off the team??? No. That would stump his soccer growth. So,..why on earth would we reward our weight loss with a twinkie ? Insanity thinking isnt it? UGH!!! I went through this. But what I found out finally was that "walking" was the lazy way out. I did it. Got home. And for a while I felt good because in my mind I had gone out and DONE something. But it finally hit me. Im not going to lose any good amount if I dont jog. Thats it. End of story. You have to run. Treadmill. Elipticle. Stairclimber. Whatever. But good, rapid heartrate cardio is the only thing that works. Plus you have to eat right. Train your mind into liking the foods you eat. I know, I know........easy for me to say. But,...I finally made it there. Join a gym. Jog. Low fat. My trainer told me to eat 5 tiny meals a day. That way theres isnt a looooong stretch of time I must wait between meals where I can be tempted to snack on crap. With this plan, it literally felt like I was ALWAYS eating. Yet the pounds fell off so fast. I kept on saying atleast once a week........"I cant believe Im losing so much weight....Im always eating!!"

 

 

PS: San Diemas High School Football, RULES !!

[blind_otter]

Hey purps - ever see "Supersize Me"? I watched that a coupla times and for some strange reason it motivated me to lose weight. i don't weight myself...but I'm already down 2 pants sizes.

[lindya]

[ We know what awful effects obesity and unhealthy foods have on the body; I focused on wanting to feel good physically and I found that when I ate better and exercised (just walking will do), I felt better. After a while, it was the feeling better I was addicted to - and still am.

 

I think that's key. Focusing not on the fact that you're depriving yourself of things, but concentrating on just how good it feels to have that feeling of vitality and energy that you get when your diet's healthy and you're getting the right amount of exercise.

 

Like Scarly suggests, it's best to start off gently with the exercise regime - then your body starts craving a bit more of it. Some of us just aren't of the mindset to do really rigorous work-outs. I did tend to really go for it in the gym when I was in my twenties, but now I'm gravitating towards the gentler stuff like yoga, swimming and walking. It still works for me just fine

[scarlyjones]

Right,.....but its easier to STAY fit and slim,.....than it is to GET fit and slim. One can use walking or the like, to maintain fitness,...but once you have let yourself go,...you cant JUST walk. That doesnt work. YOu have to run. Get the heartrate up. Cardio. Its proven. Running burns FAR more calories than any amount of walking. WHen you get to the point of being 20 or more lbs overweight,...walking just doesnt cut it. When I was fat,...I realized finally one day that "Ya know,....Ive been walking my whole life,....look where its gotten me" American Medical Journal describes being Morbidly Obese as being 30 lbs or more overweight. Some people hear that word "morbidly" and think it sounds more of an opinion word. So they think of that as people like 100 lbs or more overweight. But medically speaking,...you are "morbidly obese" at 30 or more. Just the way it is. And Im getting sort of disgusted with seeing all the cops in my area that are waaaay overweight. I mean,..isnt there a STANDARD they should be held to? I saw a cop walking downtown that was so fat, his Utility belt was bouncing all over the place..........I half expected his gun to go off on accident. And talk about walkie talkie static and turbulance.....whoa.

[purple21]

lol - yeah you think cops should be in pretty good shape

 

Thanks everyone for the advice - I really appreciate it.

 

Had a good day all day yesterday - even when I got home - just came home and read everyone's replies again I worked late so I didn't work out but instead of sitting and moping I kept myself busy around the apartment cleaning, making some brown rice and black beans for lunches. Went tanning before I went home to get some color.

 

My ex the runner stopped over yesterday - even though we had some issues we are still friends - (he's chking in on my cats this weekend when i'm out of town) - before he left he mentioned - oh you should try running again they had a big article in a running magazine about Austin (where I might be moving to) you can start now and you will be in super shape and super hot when you get there and have fun running there. The old me would have been a little pissed and told him I'm hot now dammit - but I understood he was just trying to get me motivated.

 

I love walking and still will - it's very relaxing for me. But I'm gonna also start the beginning running program again - you walk and add a few minutes of running gradually. I've done it a few summers. I've never been the best runner - my ex always wanted me to do those 5Ks with him - and I would be one of the last straglers in - lol. I'm not even gonna think about races now and just enjoy and run at my own pace for me and not for anyone else. 5Ks are fun but I'll wait until I'm really ready next time.

 

I also should get my butt to the gym I have a membership and it's 5 mins from my place. I rather be outside but I should still go and do some classes or strength training a couple times a week - just because it's something diff and more strenuous plus there is other people there so more of a possibility of meeting new friends - lol

 

But again - it's like I know what I need to do I just gotta keep my mind in chk and not let those negative thoughts creep in and do their damage. Can't dwell on the past.

[moimeme]

Running burns FAR more calories than any amount of walking.

 

I'm sorry, but that's a myth. Which I used to believe, too. Cardio does NOT burn calories! Wierd, eh? But it's true. You burn EXACTLY as many calories walking one mile as running one mile. If you don't believe me, check out any medical site you think to be reputable. The thing with running is that you travel more distance in the same time so you'll burn more calories if you run for an hour than if you walk - but that's because you've covered more distance!!!!

 

Now muscle does use more calories to maintain, but you have to build a fair bit of muscle to get that benefit and that's better done by using weights.

 

Jogging and running can be terrible for your body - if you have ANY knee or foot problems I wouldn't recommend it. Better to walk in more difficult terrain like up hills if you want to get your cardio up. Making sure you do cardio is important, but it doesn't burn the calories. And if you're already overweight, it might stress your heart so you should check with your doc to be sure it's ok for you to start.

[GMac04]

you know what i just started doing. before I order my food at a resturant or eat at home, i either look in the mirror or take a picture of myself on my cell phone. If im not happy with the way I look, which im not at the moment, i will eat less, it motivates me to keep my diet in control.

[lindya]

Originally posted by GMac04

you know what i just started doing. before I order my food at a resturant or eat at home, i either look in the mirror or take a picture of myself on my cell phone. If im not happy with the way I look, which im not at the moment, i will eat less, it motivates me to keep my diet in control.

 

You see, the thing that worries me about that is that there's too much focus on having a negative image of the way you are just now. I know it works for some people, but it can also be a factor in the development of eating disorders.

 

Starting from the position of trying to feel better about oneself leads to a more positive type of "control". That way, the emphasis isn't purely on losing weight but is also on pushing out the destructive thoughts and feelings that fuel eachother - and can lead, in extreme cases, to bingeing/starvation episodes.

[moimeme]

Exactly. Hating yourself is not healthy. Better to take a photo and say to yourself 'there's a person who'll feel a whole lot healthier and more fit if she stays away from fat-loaded crap'.

[Stone]

Losing weight after pregnancy is very hard I never lost the weight of my 1st child, now I'm cooking the 2nd one.

 

My doc recommended Walking and Swimming, Swimming is great and doesn't put your body under any stress plus it's a great summer activity. I am taking an Aquatics Exersice class now and it's refreshing. Weight Watchers is also a WONDERFUL program and IMO one of the only diet's out there that actually works. Plus tons and tons of WAter I was doing very well drinking 1 gal of water a day then I stopped for 2 weeks and switched to soda & Juice and gained 8 lbs in two weeks

[moimeme]

1 gal of water a day

 

 

Didn't you end up living in the washroom?

 

The recommendation is to drink 5-8 8-ounce glasses of water a day. (40-64 oz) A gallon is 128 oz! You can actually drink too much water, BTW.

[mental_traveller]

The more enjoyable your weight loss plan is, the more likely you are to do it. So try to find tasty foods that are also healthy, and eat those whenever you want to "comfort eat", instead of high fat stuff. Mediterranean salads are good, also fish dishes (sushi even) and so on. Think of the consequences of eating fatty foods whenever you see them e.g. every time you see a chocolate bar, imagine a really disgusting, fat, flabby person, and ask if you want to become like that. Try to find enjoyable ways to exercise.

[sophia34]

On the walking vs. running question, I have to disagree with the idea that walking and running have the same effects, calorie-wise, on the body. And I also have to disagree that cardio doesn't burn calories! Any activity burns calories proportionately with its duration and intensity. The best way to burn calories is to have a well-rounded fitness regimen that includes cardio (to burn calories, decrease body fat, and increase stamina), weight training (to increase strength and muscle mass, and increase the number of calories you burn at rest), and flexibility (to help avoid injury in the other two areas).

 

Yes, walking and running burn the same calories per mile--that's proven. However, you also want to take into account the "after-burn," so to speak. That is, the time that your body will continue to burn extra calories AFTER you've worked out.

 

If someone hasn't been working out for a while, any activity is good, and will have positive effects during and after the workout. However, once you get in shape and start to lose weight, beware the dreaded "plateau." That's when your body gets comfortable at a certain weight, and won't drop any more pounds no matter how well you're sticking to your nutrition and fitness plan. This is the time when walking vs. running, or perhaps I should say low-intensity workouts vs. higher-intensity workouts, really comes into play. That is, once you're fit, working out at low intensity burns calories while you're doing it, but there is very little boost to the metabolism afterwards.

 

At a certain point in your weight loss, you've got to bump it up a notch in intensity, if not by running then by doing the stair machine, jumping rope, or other high intensity workout. Doing intervals (alternating between medium intensity and high intensity) also helps. Science has also shown that higher intensity workouts increase metabolism over the course of HOURS, rather than just during the workout, helping you burn more calories throughout the day.

 

I also know this from experience. After losing 15 pounds, I got stuck ten pounds from my goal weight for SIX MONTHS. The scale wouldn't move. However, once I moved to high-intensity exercise (for me, alternating running with power walking) and a higher protein diet (NOT low-carb! Just more protein) the scale started moving happily down once again. I also had some trouble with knee and foot pain when I started running--this was fixed with the right pair of shoes (I had been wearing a pair that did not provide me enough cushioning where I needed it most).

 

And yes, jogging/running can be hard on the joints, especially the knees. But you can avoid these problems by 1) buying the right shoes for your feet--you need lots of cushioning where your individual foot hits the ground (a knowledgeble salesperson at a running store can help you find the right shoes), 2) doing strength and flexibility training on alternate days to build the muscular support around the knees, which helps avoid injury, and 3) not pushing it too hard (overdoing it can cause injury--start out slowly and work up gradually).

[wishinggirl]

you all seem to know soo much.. so I hope you can help me! I just started recently exercising and dieting for almost a week now. I use to be in great shape but then I just got lazy and didn't think my weight would catch up on me but man was I wrong. I'm 190 lbs now and Ineed to lose at least 30 lbs in 6 weeks. But I feel like I'm a failure at this thing. because none of the weight has come off yet. I've been walking riding bikes doing arobics and drinking water, but I still haven't seen any results. How long will it take for me to see the pounds come off? I'm tired of getting on the scale and seeing no change! How long did it take all of you to see results?

thank you so much for all your talks they are great motivation keep up the good work

[sophia34]

hi wishinggirl,

 

you didn't mention any changes you have made to what you are eating...how have you reduced your calories? You've got to know what you're taking in, so you can better judge where you stand in your weight loss effort.

 

I've found it incredibly helpful to keep a food journal for a few weeks to see exactly what I'm eating (write EVERYTHING down, even if it's just 5 chips or two almonds), and then write down how many calories that represents (either look at the package--being truthful about serving size--or visit a site like http://www.caloriecounter.com) and add them up at the end of the day. You might be surprised at how many calories you're actually taking in. This will also help give you an idea of just how many calories certain food items make up, so you can be a better judge.

 

Then, reduce that amount by 300 calories a day (equivalent to three slices of whole grain bread or two nondiet cans of soda) and exercise off an average of 300 calories a day (equivalent to walking approximately 3 miles). That will get you a weight loss of 1 to 1-1/2 pounds a week. If you want to lose more, reduce that amount by 500 calories (equivalent to five slices of bread or two Snickers bars) and exercise off an average 500 calories a day (equivalent to walking approximately five miles) for a weight loss of two pounds a week.

 

3,500 calories = one pound. It's just mathematics. You have to do the math--or at least respect it--to lose weight. If you're not losing weight (and one week is really too soon to tell!), you're probably not hitting the 3,500-calorie reduction mark per week. If you follow the math, and reduce the number of net calories you take in by 3,500 to 7,000 calories per week, you WILL lose weight at a healthy rate unless you have an underlying medical condition such as a sluggish thyroid or something (in which case, a doctor's visit is in order!).

 

And as to losing 30 pounds in 6 weeks--that's too much, too fast, not to mention insane! You're expecting results way too soon. You can only do that in the unhealthiest of ways, and because you'll be depriving yourself so much to do it, you won't keep it off long term. You should lose no more than 1 to 3 pounds a week, and no more than 10 to 15 pounds in six weeks.

 

It's taken me 8 months to lose 17 pounds--I lost 14 pounds in the first three months and 3 over the course of the next five. But slow and steady means I'm keeping them off for good! I keep my calories to around 1,400 to 1,800 a day--splurging once a month or so for special occasions. I exercise for 45 to 60 minutes most days of the week (power walking, jogging, roller blading, strength training, or doing yoga). I rest only on days my body tells me it needs it. I no longer keep a regular food journal, but I return to it every so often just to remind myself to stay on track.

[wishinggirl]

thank you for your input and advice but I already knew what I had to do. I know about the whole calorie count and believe me i've done nothing but that. I'm also not looking for a slow and steady pace of losing weight I don't care how I do it but I have to at least lose 30 lbs in 8 weeks. there's this diet that I'm going to try I found out about it through friends and a doctor said it's safe. EAT ONLY PEANUT BUTTER ON BREAD.

 

BREAKFAST: EAT 1 SLICE BREAD WITH PEANUT BUTTER

 

LUNCH : 1 SLICE OF BREAD WITH PEANUT BUTTER

 

DINNER: 1 SLICE OF BREAD WITH PEANUT BUTTER

 

and thats it do that for 3 days and you could lose 8 lbs with the help of excersing too

 

I just want to know how long it will be to see results. How long am I going to exercise to see results?? I know I have to keep exercising but I'm tired of it not paying off! I'm sure you all have felt this way

[sophia34]

That diet sounds like it will really work for eight weeks. Best of luck to you.

[wishinggirl]

thanx for the motivation, because I feel hopeless. I'm not having a problem dealing with the food I'm just having a problem with waiting to see results. do you think that with in the next week I will see results or sooner? because every time I step on that scale I get really depressed.

 

But I'm still out there exercising Like I just got back from doing a 9 mile bike ride!!!!

 

But you would think that from that I would lose at least water weight but nooo still nothing but I'm still doing it!!

[moimeme]

I do it but I have to at least lose 30 lbs in 8 weeks. there's this diet that I'm going to try I found out about it through friends and a doctor said it's safe. EAT ONLY PEANUT BUTTER ON BREAD.

 

BREAKFAST: EAT 1 SLICE BREAD WITH PEANUT BUTTER

 

LUNCH : 1 SLICE OF BREAD WITH PEANUT BUTTER

 

DINNER: 1 SLICE OF BREAD WITH PEANUT BUTTER

 

What doctor said that? Your doctor?

 

That would be a real stupid thing to do for any length of time and you shouldn't be trying to lose 8 lbs in 3 days. You are supposed to aim for 2-3 lbs a week.

 

All you have to do is shut your piehole. Seriously. Eat small portions of healthy food. There are a million sites out there that tell you the healthy way to lose weight. Essentially, drop all the fatty crap like chocolate bars and chips and burgers and ice cream. Eat veggies veggies veggies and fruit and have a little bit of protein - the size of the palm of your hand (and not five inches thick!!!!). Drink lots of liquids (NOT POP OR SUGARY JUICE) and be sure you have some whole grains - bread or cereal, again not six soup bowls of cereal but 1/2 to 1 cup of cereal with some low-fat milk. And continue to exercise. Then stay off the scales except once a week.

 

You certainly won't see it or feel it after a week or two. The soonest I have ever noticed results is about 3 weeks and sometimes not even then. It will be gradual so just keep on keeping on. One day you'll notice the clothes are looser and you're feeling stronger and then you're on your way.