Body Transformation

Even if you only lose 5-10 pounds you're still ahead of where you are now.

Go for it and see what happens!

Perfection is the enemy of completion!

ETA: I am running a half-marathon at the end of February and until now had never run more than a mile (maybe 2?) in my life. I'm scared to death. But I'm going for it!

Hello

I am down 8 lbs in 10 weeks.. this is without exercise as I have had a foot injury that has been keeping me from doing too much.. I have lost the weight by practicing the principles of OA... The weightloss might not seem dramatic, but boy oh boy is my attitude.. I am in such a better place emotionally, mentally, spiritually....

I am someone who has taught myself a lot of about nutrition and exercise and I am very familiar with how my body has changed from my 20s to my 40s and that what I USED to do , no longer works..

So what has been working for me..... OA.. I am in my 10th week... it's been life-changing on so many levels.. Moreover, I have managed to reduce my stress and anxiety I have around food and in life in general...

At first I went to quite a few meetings a week .. but now, I go once a week.. (they also have them online if you can't get out)

Initially, I went to OA with my mindset on losing weight.. However, I have been learning that it's LESS about weightloss (that is just a sidebar) and more about managing life in general..

It's been enlightening to say the least to learn about my triggers and how I used food in the same way a drunk might use alcohol...

All I can say is.. OA is been one of the best things that has happened to me in a long time.... The calm I feel compared to just weeks ago is such a blessing...

If you like, you can go to OA.Org << answer some of the questions and see IF OA is a fit for you..

Try and release your feeling of being scared... You don't have to take the journey alone.. My experience in OA has been that of acceptance and kindness.. the people are just so great... However, like anything, you have to check out a few different meetings to find the one that is right for you..

good luck in whatever you decide to do

Failure means giving up.
If you don't give up... you can't fail.
Failure also means, comparing yourself to others all the time, and not being "proud" of your OWN personal accomplishments per YOUR own progress.
Because if you always compare yourself to others in the gym and how THEY look compared to you.... you will fail. Because, each person has their own body shape and fitness level and health concerns.
OWN your own... progress and efforts.
Not others.

If you studied fitness and nutrition, you know this is an internal transformation before the external (body) transformation. That being said, is there someone you can be accountable to or do this with? You know how, its just the fear is getting in the way. If you can step into that with someone else, all the better. Be gentle with yourself when it comes to set backs!!!

You won't fail unless you don't follow through with your actions. Which isn't even failing, it's just not doing it, which still leaves an opportunity open to doing it when you REALLY want to. I recently won a battle that has made me SO thankful. I'm a life-long healthy eater and exerciser, but at 42, the same hard work and good diet was not letting me lose 20 pounds which somehow snuck on over the span of a year DESPITE healthy lifestyle. I fought tooth and nail against that 20 pounds for the whole past year to no avail. I've done many adjustments to my lifestyle (more and more healthy) over the years which have all succeeded with new phases, so I knew I had to find the one right for me now. LUCKILY I came across a book from the 80's when I cleaned out may basement which I never read. I would have ignored it in the 80's because I was pretty effortlessly active and thin back then. But the information for me NOW was crucial, because I learned that a lot of the healthy food I was eating (on advice from the exercise community on protein etc) was actually overkill and not so healthy. Now I eat food in different combos and with my body clock, but I don't have to go hungry or count calories I just eat tons of healthy fresh food at the right times. I have lost weight more rapidly than EVER BEFORE IN MY LIFE (15 pounds in first three weeks then deliberately slowed it down for last five, and now I don't gain weight). I even complained on here because I had a stomach sag from losing weight too fast....but that has resolved with lots of working out...and ACTUALLY, that's the most amazing thing-I have so much more energy, I'm effortlessly increasing my workouts. So anyway, the book is Fit For Life by Diamond. Again, it came out in the 80's.

But also, I have lost weight many times before with various work-out increases and healthy eating regimes (lost 40 pound three times for three kids) even without Fit For Life. After age 35 it took weight training and some extra work compared to my twenties. It DOES work if you DO IT. Don't be afraid to fail, just grab a scale, get to work and watch yourself succeed.

I have friends who do not want to modify their diets or lifestyles-and they don't lose weight. It's that simple. And maybe they do stuff, but it's always weird unhealthy stuff and fad-ish diets that don't last long. But if you seek thin, fit people, and find out how they live, you'll see they eat healthfully and exercise a lot. it works.

If you do it, it will work.

I don't have a whole lot of advice. Just remember that losing more than about a pound per week can cause a higher level of toxins in your breastmilk, so it's best to loose the weight gradually while nursing. Breastfeeding will help you with the weight loss, though, and it's the best food for baby either way. Good luck!

I've never gone through a total body transformation, but having a goal in mind at the end really helps me to stay on track. For example, I might take on a 12-week running program where I also want to be extra vigilant about my nutrition...because I know that proper nutrition will help me to feel my best and recover from all the long runs. My goal is usually to run a race in a certain time. The reward is usually achieving that goal and being pretty fit by the end. Without having the race to do, I think I would fall off track too easily.

Change is scary.
BUT.......
When you step into that change and get through it you come out on the other side as a victor.

About 8 months ago I decided it was time to make a change. I started going to the gym and most importantly started eating healthier and tracking the calories I was intaking. There is a great app for android phones called My Fitness Pal. It is great for tracking your daily habits and your progress. I was floored by how many calories I was intaking on a daily basis on that first week, even as I was trying to be good. It did take some time to input my meals for the first little while until I got my frequent meals saved, but it was totally worth it. I could see in black and white how I was doing and where I needed to do better. You can also add friends which makes you accountable to each other and it is great to have cheerleaders as well. So far I have lost 35 pounds and have 5 more to get to my goal weight. I feel so much healthier and better about myself. If I knew how good losing the weight would be for my self-esteem I would have done it years ago! Good luck!!