I need to lose about 20 pounds (at least).  I've been overweight my whole life but only started doing something about it when I was 14 (I'm now 21).  It seems I constantly go through the cycle of losing 15-20 pounds in 6 months or so and then within a year I gain most or all of it back.  I'm almost back at my starting weight when I was 14, which for me is the heaviest I've ever been.  I eat fairly healthy meals, but my weakness is totally dessert.  And I really need to start exercising on a regular basis but it's just so hard for me to get started.  Once I get to the gym I work really hard, but the hardest part is getting there.

How do you find motivation to stay away from temptation (i.e. desserts & sugar)?  How do you motivate yourself to create a workout routine and stick to it?

Hi Blake,

Motivation is the easy part, most of all I believe is acceptance of yourself that is the hardest thing, I tortured myself for years trying to lose that extra 20pounds. I guess it has only been the past year that I have honestly looked at myself and saw a great mum and kind person, I try to make everything I do matter. I wish you all the best in your challenge of losing weight, but love yourself (all of yourself) first, then things start changing after that. Pilates is great starter, it changes your body and your mind..

Good luck

Tempe

way to go! motivation is key. if you have a wii try using wiifit to keep track of your progress, very motivating to see your little person get thinner, and the weight loss chart is great too! otherwise, keep peoples photos around whose weight loss has inspired you, or even pictures of someone with the body you hope to have eventually. otherwise, just always remind yourself that eating food will never make you as happy as being thin

Hi Blake,

I know this is a old thread but I'd thought I'd chime in. I've been trying to lose weight for the last several months. I had packed on the pounds during my last relationship and was/am way over my healthy weight.  When I became vegan a month ago, I was not at all focusing on calories or exercise. Instead, I was eating WHOLE, real, unprocessed foods and really making sure I was FULL at each meal. I made sure to incorporate nuts and good fats (like olive oil and avocado) so I wouldnt get tempted by dairy. 4 weeks later, I've noticed that I steadily lost 2 lbs a week...so now I'm 8 lbs closer to my goal. It is slow, but steady, and this is healthy! I never feel deprived.  I hope this helps you.

I really love Tempest Rose's comments.  I don't think pictures of skinny people are healthy at all.  Eating healthy should be about caring about yourself.  Think of dessert as a chance to nourish your body and make you happy.  Don't keep high sugar desserts in the house.  I find that having something to enjoy a while after dinner, especially if you take some care in preparing it will help relieve the cravings.  One of my favorite things is tea.  Some fruity herbal tea can really calm the cravings, and having fruit instead of pastries also helps.  Another thing I do is shake up some chocolate almond milk thats really chilled and drink that.  It gives me almost an ice cream fix.  These ideas are not meant to trick you into thinking you had cake, but just shift what you expect from a dessert. Every now and then try a kind diet recipe like the krispie treats or brown rice syrup mochi.  Also, stay away from white sugar, even though it feeds the craving you have now it actually leads to more cravings. 

I lost 90 pounds without much will power. I think it has a lot more to do with understanding what works and what does not. Calorie restricted diets, Atkin's, and Weight Watchers fail to have much effect on the vast majority of people over a period of a few years according to a book by Gina Kolata entitled "Rethinking Thin." As a journalist, she did extensive review of scientific literature.

I started to lose weight by merely changing my food choices. However, being a whole plant based food consumer is not enough. I also learned that I needed to get aerobic exercise, free weight training, yoga stretches, and mindful eating as a spiritual practice.

Lifestyle changes work. A mental gimmic does not have staying power.