I have to start all over again and I have no idea where to start

tar284811

Hi everyone.

I started my weight loss journey with MyFitnessPal in August 2014. I've gone up and down in weight since then. Last year around this time I was about 50 lbs lighter. I had first lost about 30 lbs and have put on 20 more lbs too. Late last year I decided to take a break, just to rest. I was feeling discouraged but I didn't want to give up. There is no way I can ever be happy at the weight I'm at - so, give up? No can do.

In January, I started again, eating healthier than I probably ever have - plates of veggies, fish and whole grain rice. I tried this way of healthy eating for about 2 months, but I guess I was somewhat inconsistent and have kept turning to both fast and sugary foods because every day I eat healthy now I feel like I'm on a really restrictive diet. (Those bad foods also lead to the 20 additional lbs)

I want to start losing weight successfully again and really knock it out of the ball park this time. It's been a frustrating 10 years since I've been overweight and have also lost and regained before. The problem is, nowadays I'm so confused with how to lose weight. I know it may sound crazy but it's like I've forgotten everything I learned in the past. I've figured out exercise, I guess, because I recently took a try at an online workout video and was hooked on the feeling of achievement I had after I finished it. But what about the lifestyle changes everywhere else including diet? I've heard a lot of the tips. I've read a lot and tried to educate myself but it's so overwhelming.

I'm just so confused. This confusion could be caused by major stress I've encountered recently. Not sure. (Stress is the reason I gained back the weight btw.) I've thought about getting a weight loss coach but I am having trouble finding one nearby to where I live. I think I may need to do it by myself, but at this point, I really don't think I can, which is why I decided to post this. Can anyone give me any advice? It would be greatly appreciated.

peterbuller8

Firstly you are in the right place secondly put all your stats in to MFP and see what it gives you as a calorie intake.
As long as you eat at a deficit you will lose weight you don't need to completely give up all the thing you like eating just make them fit into your daily intake.
I have an open diary so you can take a look i eat a lot of crap sometimes but make it fit if i want a cheeseburger i have one i found that not denying myself these kind of things made it a lot easier and now i i can take them or leave them.
Yes not eating junk is better for your body but take it 1 step at a time controle you intake first then you will find it easier to change to the more healthy options once you have got the hang of it.
If i know i'm going out for dinner or a drink then i up my exercise for a few days before to give myself the extra calories i need.
good luck and stick with it you can do this.

Lounmoun

A healthy diet is not a specific list of food but everything you consume working together to meet your body's needs. You need to look at nutrients of foods you eat and how they fit your whole day. There are a lot of ways to "eat healthy".
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/recreationandwellnesscenter/wellness/nutrition_corner/nutrition-101/

You should start with just logging what you normally eat and sticking to your calorie goal. You want to eat in a way you can sustain.
My experience is that it is easier to have a long term sustainable diet when you eat pretty closely to how you and those around you normally eat just in portion sizes that fit your calorie deficit goal. Also choosing slower loss might be more sustainable long term- 1 lb a week instead of 2 lbs a week.
Planning meals and prelogging my day helps me stick to my calorie goal and meet my nutritional goals.
Getting enough protein, eating more fruits and vegetables are things you could look at doing while eating food you like and just watching your calorie intake.
Exercise is good for you but I would concentrate on your calorie intake rather than counting on big calorie burns to make up for eating a lot.
If you are an emotional/stress eater work on developing new tools to cope. Exercise, meditation, therapy, gardening, cleaning, singing, etc instead of eating/drinking your emotions.

Realize that this is not something you do for awhile and stop. When you lose the weight you will have to eat fewer calories to maintain the smaller you. You may need to continue to log food while eating at maintenance and weigh yourself regularly to manage your weight.

Figure out what your maintenance calories should be for your goal weight. Try eating that amount every now and then.

eLaura2014

I'm in the exact place you are! I was 30 lbs lighter a year ago and just couldn't manage to get myself back on track for more than one or two days. I tried the alkaline diet, the Dr Oz diet, the Keto diet and also experienced confusion over which one was really healthiest. None of them ultimately worked for me. What finally inspired me again was a book I read called Dr Gundrys Diet Evolution. He is a Yale trained heart surgeon who realized that ALL of his patients on the Operating room table had really poor diets. He devoted his career to research and prevention. Everything he wrote made a lot of sense to me and I'm just getting started with it now. He wrote in such a way that it's like his voice is in my head- "If it's white, keep it out of sight" "Give fruit the boot" (initially anyway) "if it's meat, you can cheat." I also understand now why the other diets didn't work.
After a short time on this diet, I've lost a few pounds and feel so much better. I had some detox symptoms in the first week but after that I experienced a boost in energy, a clearer head and a general feeling of being lighter.
I hope this helps you as it helped me.

Geocitiesuser

I am going to offer very simplistic (possibly annoyingly obvious) advice:

Start with just one small step in the right direction. Follow with another. Just one small step at a time. The thing about all this weight loss stuff, for many of us (at least for me) is that we need momentum, we tend to be either on the wagon or off the wagon. Forcing yourself to take just one step in the right direction helps with that momentum, and breaks the huge task of your goals into one manageable step!

Chin up!

caroldavison332

Yes. Start by giving up say those 3 sodas you have daily. Master that and add an extra veg. Log faithfully, even if you are stuffing french fries because MFP teaches you healthy eating. I noticed that I consume T rex portions of salt. Eventually you will eat for strength (diet), movement, rest and destress down.

Live4Him221

I just started Dr Gundry diet today. Im excited about it. Wondering if anyone has had success with it?