Where Do You Get Your Willpower From??

SunsetRunner · ‎10-27-2015

Hi Guys and Gals 🙂

I have over 5 stone to lose - lost 10 pounds in a month and then put it all back on in a couple of weeks as my willpower disappeared and all I wanted to do was sit on the sofa and eat! So I did!

Sooo I need your help! Any tips on willpower and how to keep going? What do you do to continue, rather than giving up at the first hurdle? I need a kick up the bum!

Thanks 🙂

Kat x

SebringDon · ‎12-11-2015

I get my willpower from a higher power: The FitBit around my wrist and an understanding of basic mathematics.

Calories In - Calories Out WORKS. Eat 500 less a day than you work off, and you'll lose a pound a week.

Do that a very few weeks in a row and you'll learn that the math can be trusted. Then trust it. If you want to eat more than the bare minimum, you're going to have to exercise somehow to earn more calories to eat; walk, work out, jog, whatever works for you. Earn the extra food you want to eat and you don't need to feel guilty about it.

Once you're sold on the math, you realize that eating junk is leaving you hungry at the end of the day. So your start cleaning up your diet out of necessity. More protein, less fat. Empty calories in drinks have no appeal anymore, because those same calories can feed the muscles you're building by walking and other exercise. The days of going to bed hungry end quickly as you start eating healthy.

Suddenly you're ending the day with some calories left over. You leave them on the budget and eat a bit more, a bit earlier in the day the next day.

Your tastes change and that junk food doesn't even taste good any more.

All because you trusted basic mathematics and that little band on your wrist.

SebringDon | Florida USA | Fitbit's Food Plan Demystified

Charge HR, Flex | Windows 10 | Android | iPad

Take a look at the Fitbit help site for further assistance and information.

buckf · ‎12-12-2015

Will power is as individual as dieting, so I hope these multitude of replies help you find your path. I have failed on more diets than I can count, but this time, I've lost 50 pounds, and feel that I will easily be able to lose the last 30 I want. Here are my secrets, I hope they help they work for you.

Find your motivation. I couldn't lose for my health, even though I've had two doctors tell me I would probably be dead in 5 years if I didn't. I couldn't lose for my beauty, though I had gone from a very attractive man to a rather unfortunate blimp. For me, the motivation was to get paid for losing weight. Check out healthywage.com. You make a bet, and depending on the amount of weight you want to lose, you'll get a return on your bet from about 30-70% if you are at your goal weight at 6 months after you make the bet. I bet enough that it would hurt if I lost, but allow me to get something I really wanted to get if I succeeded. Come December 22, they'll owe me $1920 on an initial bet of $1200, taken on my credit card over the 6 months. I am embarrassed to admit I'm basically a whore, but whatever it takes to work, I'm for it. Whenever I wanted something that I knew wasn't to satisfy hunger, but something else, I said, "Look, you're getting paid to do this, keep on and find something else that will satisfy you."

Be aware of your body. Everytime I wanted to put something in my mouth, the first question I asked was, "Is my body really hungry, or do I want to eat this for other reasons." If you're not hungry, even if you've got 2000 calories left for the day - don't eat. End of story. I found most of the time I was actually thirsty when I thought I was hungry, and a glass of water and a five minute wait showed me I wasn't hungry at all. The corralary of this is, if you are hungry - eat. You don't get brownie points for feeling bad. Which leads to ...

I refuse to be hungry - ever! God bless those people who love to deny themselves somthing, but I'm not one of them. Hunger (real hunger as noted above) is your body telling you that you need nourishment. Listen to it. The trick here is to find go-to items that you like that are low in calories. For me these include:

A good salad, with a moderate portion of dressing - you know, one of those one with all the veggie goodies and a very slight indulgence of perhaps some cheese. I eat a very fresh salad a day with three of my favorite diet dressings (look into Ken's Steak House diet dressing, the Ceaser in particular is wonderful).
Taco Bell steak tacos fresco - Very tasty and 150 calories for several several mouthfuls of food. A go to when I want something yummy and low cal.
Expensive Fruit - I have fresh berries galore in my fridge, the best honeycrisk apples, fresh bananas, etc. Sometimes I don't eat them before they spoil, and they go to waste. But when I need something sweet and sinful, cut up strawberries and bananas are amazing (and low cal). Fresh raspberries with splenda are amazing. And I love grapes. These work for me and indeed I find them better than chocolate now.
Bibigo Chicken cilantro wontons. You can eat 40 of these things (a very big bowl) for 500 calories. They go from freezer to plate in 10 minutes, and I fry mine in a tablespoon of butter for a savory final kick. A completely fulfilling dinner at 600 calories, and I feel induldged.
Genghis Khan Restaurant. Make yourself a bowl filled with lean steak and plenty of veggies. Easy on the sauce and starch and you will get a very filling and tasty meal for very few calories.
Smoked oysters and gefelte fish - not for everybody, but these are delicacies of my childhood. Both are very low in calories and make feel like I'm a rich man (take that Tevye).
Popcorn! Many brands (act two for example) are 300 calories for the full bag of popcorn. Instead of the chips, I pig out on something just as tasty.

Record everything you eat. No would have, could have, should have's here, simply give yourself data to see what you eat, when you eat it and how it adds up on you. I use "myfitness pal" because it's easy, it has a huge database of foods, and I can do it on my mobile so I never have an excuse not to record. This is never to beat yourself up over some false goal - again, always eat if your hungry. But by seeing what I eat, I can get an idea of what works for me, and what doesn't. I was very surprised to see things I thought were relatively healthy were horrible, and vice versa. Knowledge is power. Don't beat yourself up - but know what you're doing.

Stop the Diet Sodas OK, I didn't want to believe this one, and actually scoffed at my doctor when she told me this. I would drink 10 diet cokes per day, but hey, it's good for me because I'm getting all that liquid to keep me from being hungery, right? But when I decided to do this diet, I said that for two weeks I wouldn't touch a diet soda (but I would do club soda if I needed a fiz fix). I'd do water instead. I didn't want to believe it, but I found that I was less hungry. I even broke this after three months and did a week of diet soda, and I found that it was harder to stay on my diet. Why does this work? I have no idea. Maybe it's all in my head. But my theory is that diet sodas are very high in sodium, which makes you thirsty, which makes your body think you're hungry. which destorys my will power.

Finally, each time make it just slightly a bit better. No one will be super will power person all the time, but one thing I can do is say, instead of that huge hunk of cheese cake that I just must have right now, I'll have a smaller iced brownie. Instead of the extra large french fries, I'll have a baked potato with butter and sour cream. None of these are great for my diet, but the second one is always slightly better than the first. No denial, just a slight redirection.

I hope these ideas help you. It's not will power, but finding things that make you want to do, that just happen to be OK for your diet. Look for them for yourself. Ask others. There are plenty of "indulgences" that really are good for you. Find yours

Finally, never beat yourself up. You are positively trying to find not a diet, but a better way of living. Once I found that I could eat things that I liked and still be satisfied (and not feel deprived or hungry). it became easy. At 30 pounds down, I decided to start exercising in the same manner as above. I did what felt good to me without should have's or could have's. I now run about 4 km per day, but only because I want to. I didn't want to yesterday, I just didn't feel the call, and I didn't. Today, I couldn't wait to do it.

You can do this, just you need to believe in yourself and find the things that work for you. I wish you the very best of luck.

Aqua671 · ‎12-12-2015

@buckf good for you. My friend is the same way and he made $600 for an 8% loss.

Trooper · ‎12-13-2015

In my liftetime I have know at least three relatives who were told they would be dead in five years if they did not lose weight. One was told in 1980 and he died in his sleep of a heart attack at age 45. He ate all the greasy food he wanted, including home made pork rinds, drank all the beer he wanted. His brother, my stepdad followed in his footsteps. In 2000, he had a heart attack scare, and was told to stop drinking and lose 20 pounds. He didn't do it, and died in 2005. A niece of both men is currently following in the path of both her uncles.Nell Carter of the show "Give me a Break," was also told the same thing. She also died within five years. If a person decides to stay on this destructive cycle, at least they should spare the surviving families the expense of the future burial , and make pre- funeral arrangements for themselves.

AussieDen · ‎12-20-2015

I agree.

Do just one thing at a time. One small thing, that you can sustain. You don't reach your goal weight by being dramatic for two weeks and then finding that you can't keep it up - you reach your goal weight by taking small steps, sustainable steps, and then building your success on that.

Good luck, and let us know how you go!

jessycate · ‎12-21-2015

What's the Magnesium powder like? Taste? Do you just mix it in your water? I could use help with the cravings!

KCCox · ‎12-22-2015

It comes from within. People can motivate you, but eventually, that isn't enough.

YOU have to want it for yourself-and not for someone else-YOU have to want it. You need to find your "why." Why do you want to lose weight?

Set goals, and give yourself small no food rewards.

Don't cut out certain foods (carbs, low fat, etc). Once you tell yourself that you cannot have something, you want it even more. "Everything in moderation." Its about controlling portions. Give yourself the ok to have something like chocolate or cheat meal occasionally, just don't make it a daily thing, and out of control.

Hitting your goals and staying there is about making lifestyle changes, It's hard to maintain if you don't.

Clozer · ‎12-27-2015

What i have learned to do is mindful eating. I slso put my fork down and sit back in my chair between bites. I pay attention to how my stomach feels. When i feel satisfied i stop eating. This works best at home. Its more of a challenge when out or work parties.

Archangel76 · ‎12-27-2015

For myself, it's all about mentality. Sure, there will be days where you feel like scarfing down a $10 order from Taco Bell and adding 1800 calories to your day, but it doesn't mean it's a failure. Take each day seaparately. If you do bad one day, use what you've learned to improve the next. There were days where I completely hammered my diet, but still managed to lose three pounds that week simply because I was able to maintain my focus on the other six days.

Never view a failure as anything but a learning experience. Success is acheived by knowledge, and what better way is there to learn than by trial-and-error? When you smash into that first hurdle, there is nothing that says you can't try to clear the next.

Personally, I don't beleive you have to starve yourself of some of the tastier things in life - as long as you enjoy them in moderation. Two cordial cherries is a serving, not the whole box. 😉

As for my willpower, I guess that spawns a bit from my ex-wife. I want to look like eye-candy for my current wife to make my ex jealous...is that wrong? Sorry, you jumped off this ride before it came to a complete stop.

All kidding aside, I want my daughters to be proud of who I am. I don't want them to think of me as some fat slob who spends all day at the computer. I need to be more than I am now for them - quality, not quantity. 🙂

"This, above all, to thine own self be true." - Polonius

Lynn9 · ‎12-27-2015

My willpower comes from runDisney marathon-a none refundable ticket and from keeping in mind diabetes runs in both sides of my family...so I kinda don't want that. I already have epliepsy so I don't want another medical problem.

flare · ‎12-28-2015

If you have a serious issue with food, then imo it's like giving up cigarettes or anything else you are addicted to. Its hard and you will try over and over and over again. And fail as many times. And then one day you will succeed. It's in the moment and you will find that moment. You need to grab it when you it comes. Don't ignore it because it is the most powerful weapon you will have.

For me it has always begun and ended in the moment. There is a point, a moment in time, where you just begin. You don't plan it, you have probably thought about it (giving up food, **ahem**s, whatever) for a long time and then one day it just happens. You stop eating too much and the wrong thing. You start exercising. You become focused. You just begin. When that moment arrives, its the beginning of success. I gave up cigarettes on one of those moments, 26 years ago. I remain a non-smoker. I gave up overeating and under-moving in one of those moments, 2 years ago. I lost nearly 20kg in 6 months and it lasted for a year and a half until I broke my ankle and was unable to walk for 2 months and after that, with difficulty. That happened at the beginning of this year and I ate what I shouldn't and didn't exercise and I put on most of the lost weight.

Now I have found that moment again. It is often helped by some thing. A focus point. For me, now, it is a Fitbit. I asked for one for Christmas and today is my first day. I have already used it to increase my steps and my stairs - just to reach a set goal. I am very competitive with myself. For me, its not about eating bad food, its about eating too much food and the wrong food. e.g. I love bread. Its my life blood. But I can't eat it or I pile on the pounds. I swell, my joints ached - it is bad, bad, bad. But it is my weakness. I cannot have it in the house. I go for breakfast once a week for a poached egg on toast. Thats how I get it without destroying my diet. I don't have to buy a loaf.

Practically, you need to throw out all food and drink that will bring you down. You cannot have food in the house that will tempt you. It is surprising, and wonderful, how quickly you notice salt and sugar in excess in food you have not made, once you have minimised them in your diet. Probably fat too, but I'm a Jack Spratt so never was my problem.

Everyone has their moment and their weakness to be overcome. You have yours and I think you must find your moment.

Good luck.

flare · ‎12-28-2015

BTW, I just found my post edited because I used a colloquialism for cigarette. We used to call them. and I am now going to try to circumvent the auto-moderator, f.a.g's. I know that has another meaning in this day and age but mine is about cigarettes.So in case you are wondering what ahem means, it means cigarettes.

@flare wrote:
If you have a serious issue with food, then imo it's like giving up cigarettes or anything else you are addicted to. Its hard and you will try over and over and over again. And fail as many times. And then one day you will succeed. It's in the moment and you will find that moment. You need to grab it when you it comes. Don't ignore it because it is the most powerful weapon you will have.

For me it has always begun and ended in the moment. There is a point, a moment in time, where you just begin. You don't plan it, you have probably thought about it (giving up food, **ahem**s, whatever) for a long time and then one day it just happens. You stop eating too much and the wrong thing. You start exercising. You become focused. You just begin. When that moment arrives, its the beginning of success. I gave up cigarettes on one of those moments, 26 years ago. I remain a non-smoker. I gave up overeating and under-moving in one of those moments, 2 years ago. I lost nearly 20kg in 6 months and it lasted for a year and a half until I broke my ankle and was unable to walk for 2 months and after that, with difficulty. That happened at the beginning of this year and I ate what I shouldn't and didn't exercise and I put on most of the lost weight.
Now I have found that moment again. It is often helped by some thing. A focus point. For me, now, it is a Fitbit. I asked for one for Christmas and today is my first day. I have already used it to increase my steps and my stairs - just to reach a set goal. I am very competitive with myself. For me, its not about eating bad food, its about eating too much food and the wrong food. e.g. I love bread. Its my life blood. But I can't eat it or I pile on the pounds. I swell, my joints ached - it is bad, bad, bad. But it is my weakness. I cannot have it in the house. I go for breakfast once a week for a poached egg on toast. Thats how I get it without destroying my diet. I don't have to buy a loaf.

Practically, you need to throw out all food and drink that will bring you down. You cannot have food in the house that will tempt you. It is surprising, and wonderful, how quickly you notice salt and sugar in excess in food you have not made, once you have minimised them in your diet. Probably fat too, but I'm a Jack Spratt so never was my problem.
Everyone has their moment and their weakness to be overcome. You have yours and I think you must find your moment.

Good luck.

NineToTheSky · ‎12-28-2015

Thank you @flare - an inspirational post. Just one thing that puzzles me: where do you get one slice of bread for your poached egg, if you don't buy a loaf?

Farica · ‎12-28-2015

Flare said she goes out for breakfast once a week - there should be no problem getting one slice of toast with one's breakfast in most restaurants. If they insist on serving me two I either leave it, or, more likely, feed it to my husband.

Farica · ‎12-28-2015

That's exactly how I quit smoking - it was't planned and I honestly loved smoking and had always dreaded the idea of quitting. But one moment one day fourteen years ago I thought, 'Hah! I love a challenge! I'm never smoking another cigarette! Even if I'm going in front of a firing squad, I will refuse that last cigarette!' And I've never had another.

The times when I've been most successful with diets I've done similar 'in the moment' things. Just - that's it. I'm going to do better - not 'someday', but right now. And that works well for me. Unfortunately I do have to keep amending my ways, because diets are tricky; with cigarettes you either smoke 'em or don't, but there are many insidious, devious, delusional, and sometimes even 'not your fault' ways of sliding off a diet and I don't always notice I've gone wrong until I've gone way wrong. But grabbing 'the moment' is very powerful.

Also I think it's important to start where we are - right now! I've seen too many people who think they'll lose weight - just as soon as they can afford a gym membership, or they'll join a gym as soon as they've lost weight and don't feel self-conscious, or move to a nice neighborhood where they can walk. Nope. Got to start here and now - never mind the flab, the low budget, the lack of fresh kale, or whatever, and just do something - anything.

LedMatrix · ‎12-29-2015

My willpower comes from a dreadful doctor's report I received three years ago, and determining to look and feel better. When death comes inching towards your door, it tends to motivate.

I use:

FitBit Aria
MyFitnessPal and MapMyRide, Garmin VivoSmart

I-train-hard · ‎12-29-2015

LedMatrix

Best motivation I know of. Most of the time works.

When it doesn’t, well….good luck Charlie.

LedMatrix · ‎12-29-2015

Yeah, death is one of the most difficult health problems to bounce back from. Completely resistant to antibiotics.

I use:

FitBit Aria
MyFitnessPal and MapMyRide, Garmin VivoSmart

MeriBeri75 · ‎12-30-2015

I am going off script here but when you need power you need God. Proverbs 16:13 says, "committ your works to the Lord and you will not fail." Use every other response written but at the base of all that ask God the help and he will truly lift you up on eagles wings.

Glamper · ‎12-30-2015

Two simple words: "distract yourself" That's the easiest thing I've found for willpower - lol. If you are feeling peppy, then do something active. if you are feeling couch-like, then don't just watch TV... do something to keep your hands busy too (e.g. knit, colour, draw, surf the net, write in a journal, etc.). If you still feel like eating in 20 minutes, then go for it. In the meantime - distract yourself to avoid the 'in the moment' temptation. 🙂

Join us on the Community Forums!

Community Guidelines

Learn the Basics

Join the Community!

Not finding your answer on the Community Forums?

Go to the Help Site

Contact Support

SunsetRunner

SebringDon

buckf

Aqua671

Trooper

AussieDen

jessycate

KCCox

Clozer

Archangel76

Lynn9

flare

flare

NineToTheSky

Farica

Farica

LedMatrix

I-train-hard

LedMatrix

MeriBeri75

Glamper