falling back into bad habits...

laurencurry26

I'm finding it really challenging to stay motivated to exercise and update my food diary. every time I try to get back into shape, I find myself giving up and going back to bad habits even when I'm seeing progress. it's really frustrating! however, I did not have MFP in the past so I'm hoping you guys can help by sharing how you stay motivated and on track? also I leave for vacation to go to Alabama on Saturday, and for those of you who have been in the south, you know they like to eat there lol so how do you stay on track on vacation?

discretekim

Vacation is tough. Personally I just try to not overeat and move a lot. If you don't gain on vacation, that's progress.

kimberlyjoy159

I agree. Maintenance is a more realistic goal on vacation. Choosing the healthiest option available, moving more, etc. Also, my mantra has become "Do the next right thing!" So there is no diving into overeating with the statement, "I've messed up so I'll just start again on Monday or tomorrow morning or when I get home from vacation, but instead, Do the next right thing at the moment you realize your mistake.

vinerie

I've done the same thing! Why do I experience success and then proceed to slack off?

vinerie

Also, I just went on vacation myself. I tried to exercise more. Not at the gym, but going for walks, etc. I also just "tried my best" not to over indulge, although that is a subjective measure. I tried to also keep up my water drinking. I think doing that helped me stay mindful about the bigger goals of smart eating.

ManiacalLaugh

laurencurry26 wrote: »

I'm finding it really challenging to stay motivated to exercise and update my food diary. every time I try to get back into shape, I find myself giving up and going back to bad habits even when I'm seeing progress. it's really frustrating! however, I did not have MFP in the past so I'm hoping you guys can help by sharing how you stay motivated and on track? also I leave for vacation to go to Alabama on Saturday, and for those of you who have been in the south, you know they like to eat there lol so how do you stay on track on vacation?

I'm going on a family vacation to Alabama in July. I never realized it was such a hot spot, haha.

I like what KimberlyJoy suggested - maintenance. This is going to be my goal. Since I don't normally eat to maintenance, I'll weigh myself right before I go and calculate it from that so it's super accurate. I will continue to log.

Other than that, enjoy yourself! Vacations are supposed to be vacations. You don't need to give yourself permission to go nuts in the food department, but you should do something that is realistic and sustainable enough to make you want to keep going when you get back.

bbinoa

I've done that so many times... making progress, start to see success then slowly slack off till I'm back at square one. This time around I took some pretty honest before pics... swimsuit, not trying to hold my stomach in, front back, side. The kind you hope no one else ever sees. Seeing them really helped me stay motivated. I've been taking more along g the way and now that I gave tangible proof things are changing it's keep motivated! I figure in however many months I can be the same, better or worse. Time will still pass. May as well get better!

As for vacation, I'm going away next week too. There are a few things I plan to indulge in and fully enjoy. The rest I can probably do without. Think of a few things you are going to look forward to and go with those splurges. It doesn't have to be all or nothing and chances are it will balance out. Good luck!

liekewheeless

I'm no stranger to messing up (BIG TIME) Just starting back fresh here myself. The big difference this time (and last time) is that MFP gets me back on track much more quickly and I have a much better understanding of why I was overweight in the first place.

I used to lose 10lb, gain 20lb, lose 10lb, gain 20lb..see where that was going?

Since starting here I've lost a total of 52lb (OK,..should be 44lb, I recently had a slip).
First I lost about 35, gained back 10lb then lost 26lb,..gained back 10lb and now down 2lb from there.

So I still mess up from time to time. BUT, I've managed to reverse the cycle of gaining more than I lost.

As far as vacation goes. Just keep logging and plan for a little splurge here and there..or.. just do maintenance during vacation. It's VACATION. It's not everyday, and you get to enjoy yourself a little more. If you do over indulge, get back on track with MFP as soon as you get home.

laurencurry26

kimberlyjoy159 wrote: »

I agree. Maintenance is a more realistic goal on vacation. Choosing the healthiest option available, moving more, etc. Also, my mantra has become "Do the next right thing!" So there is no diving into overeating with the statement, "I've messed up so I'll just start again on Monday or tomorrow morning or when I get home from vacation, but instead, Do the next right thing at the moment you realize your mistake.

that's great advice thank you! I am guilty of saying things like "oh I'll just do better when I get home"

laurencurry26

thanks to everyone who posted! it has already helped me with my mental game in how I am going to continue my weight loss journey and vacation. you guys are awesome

Timshel_

laurencurry26 wrote: »

I'm finding it really challenging to stay motivated to exercise and update my food diary. every time I try to get back into shape, I find myself giving up and going back to bad habits even when I'm seeing progress.

Progress is not that something complete changes, meaning that once you say you will exercise and eat right you will never go back. Progress is that you become more and more conscious of what the right decisions are and you continually make them more often. So you might fall of track here and there, but each time you are off track less time and in less sever ways. And even in bigger lapses, you understand more and more what the consequences of being off track are.

It certainly is not a linear journey. It most CERTAINLY cannot be an all or nothing attitude, and we need to celebrate and acknowledge our progress over time.

Cheers.