Weight-loss New Year's Resolution?

No one has made that resolution or has everyone failed in their quest for fitness already?

I'm doing great. I'm five weeks into it and I've lost 13 pounds.

Well, mine started before New Year's. It's still going strong. I've lost 21% of my body fat....and 47 pounds. I'm leaner and meaner....

How's yours going, Steve?

Wow, there's some great success stories in here! Keep it up.

Ive lost 27 pounds since jan 1st

got another 15-20 to go

I have not lost any LBS but I am feeling better and my wasitline is a little smaller

I started around Thanksgiving but didn't see any real loss until around Christmas.

Since then things are going well.

I'm on my way to my goal of 165 to 175

What differences have the people who lost weight made? Working out more? Eating better? A specific diet? All of the above?

Has anyone lost weight who is very over weight... say like 100 pounds over weight?

My mom is at least 100 pounds over weight and she is having heel pain... caused from plantar fasciitis, which is of course caused from her excess weight. I'd like to set her up with a diet plan of sorts. I think her biggest problem is that my dad believes in eating only one huge meal a day for dinner, so that's all my mom eats because if she eats more my dad will "judge" her. I think this also causes her to be hungry (duh) and so she cheats on crap food instead of good food. The one meal a day they do eat is very healthy... well, I suppose not everyone would consider it very healthy, but they do because they are 95% vegan.

Anyway... any advice to pass onto my mom would be appreciated.

Oh and congrats to those who have lost weight!

WOW! 47 lbs! What's your secret obi wan?

When I had a personal trainer last year I was told that you're supposed to eat like 6 small meals a day rather than big ones. Simply because if you don't eat your body will think you might starve so it will do everything it can to keep fat on.

First came the epiphany that if I didn't do something, I would die. That was the defining moment for me.

Then, I watched this program on Discovery about gastric bypass and those who were getting it done and all I could see were their nutritional choices and it finally connected that I was well on my way to where they ended up because of MY nutritional choices.

Then, came the gym and some really lame ass working out and a refusal to change my food, because, of course, *I* knew that if I increased the output of my energy, I could eat whatever I wanted.

Then, came the part when I figured out I was wrong...the scale does not lie.

So. I came up with a caloric intake, each meal based on a percentage of protein, carbs(healthy), and low fat. 1500 calories of six smaller meals per day. These are all foods that I will eat, not just tolerate, because that leads to failure.

I ate the same thing every day for four months, until it became so boring, I had yet another epiphany. I no longer cared what I ate. I detached all emotion from eating, which included boredom, stress, anger, anxiety, etc.

It then became easy to stick with the nutritional plan. I also decided that my home was a 'no fly zone', meaning that anyone here was free to eat whatever they wanted, but they couldn't bring it into the house. That's why there are cars and restaurants.

Now, it's three days of cardio and three days of weight lifting/resistance and I'm between a size six and four and still going.

There is no great secret to this. The same thing that motivates us to make money has to apply to life style changes. If my sedentary job kills me, there's nowhere to spend the lovely dollars. It was hard work. Still is. Always will be.

I just ran out of excuses for being heavy and it was killing me. Given the choice of death versus pizza, I chose life.

Nice Raven. I'm going to send that info along to my mom.

That's a superb message and congrats on all of your progress.

You hit the nail on the head, food was meant for survival and not an emotional supplement.

Well, Steve..I know you've been at it, too, for a while. It's fucking work, isn't it?

Thanks for the kind words....they are much appreciated...not to mention all the cute clothes I can now wear...

I am now involved with the gym where I work out, creating meal plans for those whose lifestyles are not, shall we say, user friendly...

So many misconceptions out there and many simply don't know the right questions to ask....

My education was a true help, although my trainer groans because I ask so many questions....

still hanging....i'll try out the six meals just like what chase did and work out a lot.

For those of us who work from home, it's a little easier to accomplish, other than remembering to eat, which can be difficult, especially when we often get absorbed in what we're doing.

For those who work in an office, a little creativity is in order....but, my honey is doing this, too, and we've come up with ways for him to eat the smaller meals...

Just remember, that, in order for metabolism to kick in, one must eat. Skipping meals is a signal for the brain to hang onto what it's got and that kind of defeats the purpose.

From what I've learned, the food portion of weight loss is, over and above, the biggest factor....with exercising a close second.

I don't think I still need that one..

However, I once asked my sister to have one and all I got was a slap on my face..

my sister just gave birth last January and has then started hitting the gym to lose weight. so far she's doing good.

I see pregnant women at the gym. They say that birth is a little easier because of it. I know my working out allowed a faster recovery this past December when I had to have surgery....what can I say. It works if one does it right and doesn't look for the quick fix.

I made that resolution but I didnt start until the Bowflex arrived. 11 pounds gone so far and I feel great.