Stress

alyssarenea1996

The past week has been extremely stressful. I've hit quite a rough patch. A lot of personal things have been happening that aren't going exactly the way I thought they would go. I'm in the process of moving into a house that is my little construction zone, so there has been lots of bad choices at the only restaurant in town - a pizza place. I've been super guilty of eating tons of carbs, eating back my exercise calories, and barely staying under my calorie goals. I had 1300 calories this morning for breakfast. I keep trying to remind myself that this food isn't actually comforting me and I'm going to gain weight back plus more if I continue. I was so pumped for zumba and working towards my goals to now zumba class is today and I keep trying to motivate myself for it yet I keep thinking of excuses for why I can't go. I'm starting to spiral a bit out of control, not to sound like a whiney teenager but a lot of aspects in my life are starting to spiral out of control. That 'pretty wedding dress' isn't such a motivator anymore; it's more of an extra stress now. I can't let myself continue this way. I'm still 19 and young; I have to remind myself that I need to get the weight off before it causes health problems down the road. Diabetes, high blood pressure, and joint problems run in my family and I don't want to experience any of it. I already listen to the ways my knees pop and crack I think a lot of that already comes from the extra weight my knees carry

Big5BigChange

When there's a lot going on, it is easy to be overwhelmed. If you truly don't feel ready or able to commit wholly to the MFP logging, calorie-counting etc, instead, change just ONE thing for a week. Then change one more thing the next week. For example: if you have a latte each morning, change it to a cappucino. Then say. "I don't drink lattes". Take the stairs, not the lift (elevator) and say, "I don't take the lift". Create opportunities to make small changes a habit; part of you. If you HAVE to go to the pizza place - try picking a salad or ask for a "red pizza" (i.e. no cheese, just tomato sauce). Get a thin crust and load it up with veggies. All else fails, try a powdered soup instead of your pizzas. Sure, not great nutritional value in the long run but if you have a kettle, you can make a packet soup even on a "construction site". Small things will seem less overwhelming and manageable, but they add up. You're 19. You have time to turn things around gradually. Changing one thing is better than changing nothing OR trying to change everything and failing after a week. Celebrate each week of making one choice better than last week. As your confidence and willpower grows, so will your ability to find the motivation to fully commit and achieve your long-term goals.

All the best to you.