So I have been visiting the site for a while now and I am finally ready to start getting in shape. I have been working out some off and on but I want to start a serious routine. Problem is that I have no willpower. I can talk about doing this but as soon as I get hungry the good diet goes out the window. I think if I could start eating right it would be a big step since the working out doesn't bother me as much. Any advice?

Never let yourself go hungry. Find veggies and good low sugar high fibre fruits that you like and can eat a lot of. That way you can add a few filling meals that won't give you too many calories.

having a sensible diet plan helps alot, not starving yourself (ie: 1500calories per day) and making sure you stick to that plan

personally, i wrote down what i was going to eat, and when i was going to eat it, this helped me stick to my diet 100%

Apart from the wonderful advices above, I think the bottom line is that you will begin to stick to your programm only when your desire for achieving your goals will be more powerful than your desire for eating junk.

It is easy to say "I'm gonna be good" after a nice meal, but that's not will power, I think. Or you can see a plate of cookies during an after meeting tea, and stick to your plain tea, although you feel like having a cookie. That's willpower and that comes from the visualisation of your goal and the true desire for achieving it.

Just my thoughts. You know you can do it, so, if you want, don't be afraid and go for it. :tucool:

You're 21 years old, you're metabolism is just waiting to be set off. Once you do, you're body will be burning calories like a wildfire, and you will find no easier time in your life to lose weight or gain muscle.

Obviously, you have accepted that you're unhappy with your physique, and/or your overall health. Now you have admitted it, and are seeking help. Those are the first two big steps most people will never take.


"The will to change must be greater than the will to stay the same."

~Swolecat's Board~

Do you want to be out of shape all of your life? Because it's easier to just eat junk?

At some point in your life you're going to have to realize that the junk food you eat isn't your friend. It's what is keeping you from achieving your dream physique. There are very little health benefits from eating cookies, pizza, ice cream, and chips. If junk food is the majority of your diet, it will eventually start to hurt you once you get older. There is a time and a place for everything. It's called a cheat day. The whole point of the cheat day is to make junk food WORK FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU.

You say you don't want to start a program, because you can't control your eating? Welcome to Addiction. Once you get "On the Wagon" you are going to have to fight the urge everyday to eating that unhealthy stuff. But if you have a plan of attack, in the form of a diet, a cheat meal/day, an exercise plan, you will be able to overcome anything. Getting in shape, exercising, and eating right is going to be one of the hardest things to stick to. But once you get over that initial hump, you'll be hooked. The physical, mental, and health benefits are too great, not to keep going.

good luck

So I have been visiting the site for a while now and I am finally ready to start getting in shape. I have been working out some off and on but I want to start a serious routine. Problem is that I have no willpower. I can talk about doing this but as soon as I get hungry the good diet goes out the window. I think if I could start eating right it would be a big step since the working out doesn't bother me as much. Any advice?

No one can give you willpower. You have to want to be healthy, fit, and trim more so than you want to eat that slice of pizza. When you do, you'll have the willpower to achieve your dream body.

Perhaps some sort of deterrant? Take a picture of what you don't like about yourself and every time you consider ordering out or pigging out, just look at it. Then again, that may not be incredibly healthy for your emotional well-being.

Hey buddy,

Maybe try this. Instead of counting calories why don't you eat your normal amount but replace your unhealthy food with healthy food. It's worked dramatically for me since I don't have the time to count calories. For example: Typical dinner at Chilis in the past-
Hamburger with cheese and bacon, french fries, and the never ending chip and salsa basket.
Dinner at Chili's now-
Caribean chicken sandwhich with dressing on the side and a side salad instead of fries for my appetizer i now have them bring out the side salad first.

Little changes like these help cause your not really eating less your just replacing bad foods with better foods thus less calories. For example
French Fries-Side Salad
Ice Cream-Fat free Yougurt
Chips-Pretzles
White Bread-Whole Grain wheat nut bread.
Burgers-Chicken Sandwhiches
Fried shrimp-Grilled catfish

As you can see the list goes on and on YOU DONT HAVE TO STARVE YOURSELF. As a matter of fact thats BAD. Just slowly start to work on replacing bad foods with good foods you'll notice you feel less bloated and you stay full longer.

As far as workouts, what motivates me is just putting the alarm clock on the other side of the house and setting the computer alarm clock. I wake up to turn both off and then when I head back to my room I have a big note on the door that says FIDO which is F**K it Drive On, and I go workout. Everything in moderation, baby steps are the key. Good luck and ask any questions the JSF crew are a helpful if sometimes blunt bunch :).

-Phil

Wow thanks for the advice everyone. I am really starting to be more optimistic about this. I am just hoping that changing my diet and working out a good bit will give my body no choice but to change. :cool: