Getting back into shape after gaining back half of weight lost: How to stay motivated for Round 2?

clariemoo

Hi folks, how do you guys get back in the groove and get back that motivation?

I need to vent a bit:

I've been overweight my whole life (combination of overeating, had no idea about 'adequate' portion sizes and would never exercise)- 2 years ago had enough of my weight so for the first time ever started counting calories and jogging and lost 20 kg in a year. Went from 75kg to 55kg (160cm) and for the first time ever fit in size EU 34-36 pants and could run more than 5 mins without losing my breath. I was in the best shape I ever was in my life.

Last year some stressful events happened so I gradually turned to food to cope with anxiety. gobbling up naughty carbs and junk, and basically went through various cycles of indulging and restricting taking shortcuts for fast weight lost. Fast forward to now: i regained half the weight i had lost and had to buy larger clothes. Im utterly mad at myself!

I got my *kitten* back in gear about 2 weeks ago aiming for 1,350 calories daily - taking the medium/low carb approach and jogging 3 to 4 times a week. Consistency is key but i cant help getting impatient and discouraged about not seeing any results yet. The first time around felt easier and the weight was melting right off. I realise it's now my TOM and feel awfully bloated (also mini cravings are turning up) so maybe that's why i'm not seeing any results yet (actually a weight gain for now) and also currently waiting for medical results (check up on thyroid, if there's any deficiencies etc) ...

I tell myself that if i did it once, i can do it again and that i need patience but in general I'm ashamed and annoyed at myself that I had let myself go.

soldiergrl_101

I know how you feel, I lost 60lbs in 2014 working my *kitten* off and then in November I filed for divorce...by March I gained back the original 60lbs plus ten more. I like you am trying to get into the groove again, 3 weeks ago I started running slowly but surely I saw improvement and then Saturday developed a stress fracture. But rather than give up I am going to continue eating right and try and swim instead of run. There is never enough hours in the day, the timing is never right something always happens, i guess you just need to want it bad enough or else you'll never have the will to try. Good luck, feel free to add me we can cheer each other on

Altagracia220

Think of it this way. Yeah, you can get annoyed when you don't see results and just give up and go back to old habits, but if you do that you can guarantee that you won't lose any weight and you'll gain back the weight you did lose and then some.

Remember how you feel when you think about the fact that you've gained the weight back. It's a negative, bad, upsetting feeling. You don't ever want to feel like that again. There is only one way to change the feeling and that is to keep up with the exercises every week and to eat much better than previously.

You are not going to be motivated every day during this journey. There are going to be lots of days where you just want to eat all the things you shouldn't be in very large portions or weeks where you are just not in the mood to work out. When you have these days it is important to stay super focused on what you want. You don't need motivation to do the right thing, you need to understand that there is only one way to get to where you want to be and making unhealthy choices isn't it.

It may help to know that you'd lose weight if you raised your calorie limit to 1500 a day and exercise consistently (3-5x a week). Maybe you just need to eat a little more. Of course, if you are consuming 1350 calories a day and feeling satisfied, keep doing what you're doing.

heather3565

i did the same thing lost 75 lbs last year and have gained back 40.I stopped counting calories and completely stopped working out after a year on 1350 calories and working out 6 days a week. So annoying and hard to get back to that mindset. Even when I feel like I have been being "good" the weight wont stop coming.

D_squareG

I'd like to hear from people who gained back and then took it off again. I've been creeping back on the pounds I worked so hard to take off. I'm hoping I can turn this around.

Peachring101

My weight has been a yoyo too. I'm working on another attempt of weight loss. If anyone wants to add me as a friend, feel free to. I am 29, female from Florida. Looking to lose at least 100 pounds. I post motivational pics, and offer encouragement. I recently started blogging about my story on here too.