How to not give up so easily

runnergirl246

its only been 10 days since starting to get back in the healthy wagon and already a botched 3 days. When you fall off the wagon how do you not give up? For me when I fall I let myself continue to fall because I think "What's the point? I already failed. I obviously can't do this." How do I stop this negative thinking, brush myself off, pick myself back up and just think while I'll work harder this time?

WonderWhitney11

Do your best! Every consecutive day gets easier... so the longer you're at it, the less work it will seem to be. Do it for yourself. When you feel yourself slipping, think about (or even write down) the reasons you want to get healthy. I find that keeping a journal (specifically a running journal) helps keep me motivated to keep at my goals.

melly0405

You have to take it one day one choice at a time and stop letting yourself believe that if you slip up one day or at one meal that it negates the remainder of the day so you should just throw in the towel. I recently heard something which really hit home for me and that was " if you hate starting over quit giving up". Look forward not backwards this is a journey not a race. You can do this

suruda

Give yourself some credit for what you are doing right...are you really messing up an entire day or just a meal? The good thing about tracking your calories and working toward a goal is that if you step off the path, you can get right back on...the next meal, the next day or the next thing you eat or drink. That's the point...it's about learning to forgive yourself, move on, and realize that sometimes we all are going to splurge on a food or beverage that takes us over what we normally eat. That's ok...we just can't do it every day!

lpendleton58

For me, I understand that healthy living is a long, hard process that comes with it fair share obstacles. Therefore, I accept that failure is part of the process, but with that failure, comes an opportunity to learn from my mistakes and pitfalls and improve going forward, so that I do not go back to where I started. This mindset has helped me get back on the saddle and continue to move forward.

Good luck finding what drives you!

ninerbuff

runnergirl246 wrote: »

its only been 10 days since starting to get back in the healthy wagon and already a botched 3 days. When you fall off the wagon how do you not give up? For me when I fall I let myself continue to fall because I think "What's the point? I already failed. I obviously can't do this." How do I stop this negative thinking, brush myself off, pick myself back up and just think while I'll work harder this time?

Because in 5 more years you'll probably still be alive and at that point looking back you'll say to yourself "damn, why didn't I just do something then?" While the approach to make the decision to change for many is hasty, many times they aren't mentally prepared to do it. You can desire it, but if you REALLY REALLY want to do it, you do what it takes.
It's like when someone watches me play piano and then says "I wish I could play piano". No they don't or else they'd go out and learn how to do it.
Realize that the most successful people FAILED more times then they succeeded. They just don't let failure bother them.
I will say that you just have to set CONSISTENT habits. Once you do and follow them, then it's not as hard. It's laboring, but adaptivity is one thing the body is good at.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

999tigger

An important part is your mindset. You need to find one that helps you understand what it is you want to do and an easy to follow plan. I only tend to look at the past to learn from it and avoid those mistakes in the future by adapting. Too many posters seems to have a cant do attitude that seeks false solace in food, making excuses or just not deal with the issue at hand. If you wnat to lose weight then you have to do X consistently anything else that isnt towards X is something that isnt helping you. Just be honest, deal with it and take responsibility.

runfoorun

In the end you're going to do what you want with your health and body. If you don't really want health and would rather eat what you like, that's what you're going to do. It's easy to make excuses for yourself. I mess up almost daily sometimes, but I get back on track immediately or make up for my slip up. Why? cause I value my health and my family. But I spent years not caring. So, do you want to make that positive change or not?

Therealobi1

hiyah but if u continue like that you will only get bigger. the way i see it now is that i dont want to go back to my old size so after a week of messing up or no exercising i slap myself awake. the old clothes were given to charity, i no longer have indigestion or breathe like a crazy person just walking up the road. whats there to go back for. You really can do this, dont do anything drastic and dont cut out all the foods you love. good luck.

TavistockToad

runnergirl246 wrote: »

its only been 10 days since starting to get back in the healthy wagon and already a botched 3 days. When you fall off the wagon how do you not give up? For me when I fall I let myself continue to fall because I think "What's the point? I already failed. I obviously can't do this." How do I stop this negative thinking, brush myself off, pick myself back up and just think while I'll work harder this time?

You're a runner? So you know it's all in your head...

You either do it or you don't.

karaboo20

runnergirl246 wrote: »

its only been 10 days since starting to get back in the healthy wagon and already a botched 3 days. When you fall off the wagon how do you not give up? For me when I fall I let myself continue to fall because I think "What's the point? I already failed. I obviously can't do this." How do I stop this negative thinking, brush myself off, pick myself back up and just think while I'll work harder this time?

I have this same problem, and I am the type of person that is really motivated by others and I don't have anyone to help motivate me other than people on MFP.. All I've been doing to try and keep up is just continue to log even if it's bad, and stay as active as I can.