I overeat and hate exercise....
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The only reason I've made it this far is because I have the foods I really want sometimes. Every other time I've tried the "all or nothing" diet I've given up. Deprivation is just not a long-term solution. And how else am I going to learn moderation for after I reach my goal? If I just go back to my old way of eating, I'll gain all the weight back. I have to find a sustainable way of eating for life, and realistically that doesn't include making any type of food totally off-limits.
This is how I've managed to lose 50lbs and get into the best shape of my life! I've still got progress to make, but I can do that and still have Mexican food, pizza, hamburgers, French fries, cake, ice cream, candy, etc.
The trick is to remember that you don't need ALL the food right now. They make more every day. If you have a little money, a car, and some free time, you can get more Mexican food another day. So, have some right now. Then, have some the next time you want it. It's not going anywhere. It will always be there.
Portion control and moderation are skills to master. They take hard work, but it's worth it. I would much rather put in the time and effort to learn to be good at something than to continue to fail miserably at losing weight because I keep falling off the wagon. If there's no wagon, there's nothing to fall off of. I would much rather live without the fear of falling.0 -
FIrst... Congrats on your 34 lbs lost!! That is awesome! Don't lose sight of the big picture. You are making amazing progress. I do think that it would be helpful for you to allow for a cheat meal once per week or every two weeks (as others have said). I do allow for one meal (not day) where I can enjoy something I like to have. I do make sure I get a good workout in that day so I can afford those calories a bit easier. It's not helpful to your success if you forbid yourself to enjoy some things. Your changing the way you live... not just for a year, but for the rest of your life. It's important that we learn to control ourselves, however know that we can have those things but only for your cheat meal. Please try not to allow yourself to dwell on all the things you 'can't' have... this is the mind game taking place. Think of all the things your going to gain by losing! Also when and if you do make better choices... forgo the sour creams, flour shells and cheese. That's what I do, plus I make sure I drink a bunch of water prior to help with overeating. Feel free to add me. Good Luck!0
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I was you about 15 months ago. I hated exercise and I ate too much.
Then, I made the decision that I wanted to be healthy. That's it. There is no magic here. When you want to be healthy bad enough - you will do what it takes to get there. There is no bad food, there is no magic exercise, there is only the desire to be healthy.
When you find that within yourself, you will not have to worry about motivation. It will be there. You will do what it takes - every day. Good luck!0 -
But look, you lost 34 lbs in 2 months?!!! That is freakin out of control awesome! Your like the Biggest Loser, seriously, that is like what they lose on the show.
Just think I have been doing the same things eating well and exercise (except I like to exercise) and I have lost 0 lbs.
That makes you feel better for your sacrifice right???0 -
I agree with the comments in support of the idea that it is all mental. If you say things like, "I hate exercise," you'll stop. This will become a self fulfilling prophecy because your speaking this negative idea into existence. I'm sure you love the feeling of being fit and healthy. Focus your energies on your true wants to get out of that pit. I know what that's like and I can only speak to you from experience. The working out is just what's needed to get what you want for your body just like how school is the way to the degree to then get work in the field of your choice leading to a satisfying career and quality of life. Your fitness goal is no different. You got it. Don't stress over momentary junk (which if you crave that bad you can have the will power to eat a handful and not a bagful)...you got this
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Why not try some things that don't seem like traditional exercise. Learn to kayak, join an indoor rock climbing gym, try some different classes, sign up for a race or event, so you have a goal to challenge you. I agree treadmills and elliptical and weight lifting are mind-numbingly boring and I only do them occasionally. In trying to find something I enjoy, I've developed a love for kettlebell class, biking, kayaking and even running, which I swore I would never do willingly again. Find something you enjoy and it will help it all come together and not seem so much like drudgery.
This!
For me Zumba, step aerobics and biking work. I could NEVER run- too boring and repetitive...talk to your trainer about the other options.....what things DO you like to do?0 -
I was the same way, now I am dealing with congestive heart failure. Broccoli is looking really good!0
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Some brilliant advice in this thread so far, not sure I have much to add but my experience so far. I hated gym exercise when I started 17 weeks ago. My reasons for doing it was I wanted to get fit and I knew I could eat more if I exercised. I'd never done weights, hated running and on my gym induction managed literally 2mins on the elliptical trainer at L2 before I was gasping so much I had to stop. I went swimming alot until I hurt my knee and shoulder (only I could injury myself swimming BTW!). So to continue to be able to have treats I had to adapt and did more gym work (once healed). I found I really enjoy doing weights as at the moment its relatively easy to see quick improvements (I've now maxed out 3 of the 5 leg machine exercises at 65kg!). Then a weird thing happened and I found for the first time in my life (even when I was a relatively fit, sporty and thin teen) I enjoyed a running session. Yesterday i completed wk 6 session 1 of C25K, today I did 33mins on the elliptical at L4, tomorrow I'm going kayaking probably and Sunday is a big weights session followed by a smaller cardio work out. Tonight I'm having a few drinks and should stay within my calorie goal (or not be over by much and have been under all week) and tomorrow I may have a small takeaway (been craving a mixed kebab with loads of chill & garlic sauce with small fries from my local kebab shop).
I need to find a way to lose weight, get fit and be able to keep the weight off when I get to my goal. This has to be a lifestyle change and not a diet. I had to get my head around the fact that this can't be temporary or I'll spend the rest of my life losing and gaining weight. I also can't deny myself things I like or I'll never stick to it. 100% respect for those that eat as clean as they can but I know that's not for me - I like a drink at a weekend, I like chocolate and Haribo and I like food that contains butter & cream. If I allow myself I am also an emotional eater and also greedy (I can eat a hell of a volume of food before I feel full) I feel that I have found a way to be able to incorporate all this but it has been far more of a mental than a physical challenge so far. Everything in moderation sounds trite but for the first time in my adult life I think I get it! So gym plus lots and lots of veg, plus lean meat/ fish and burn enough cals to be able to have small amounts of chocolate pretty much every day and the occasional drink and/ or bigger treat once in a while (maybe every 10days for me).
BTW I have found my tastes have changed even in a relatively short space of time. The idea of eating a whole large piza makes me feel bleugh just thinking about it, same for a large McD's. Spicy stuff like Mexican I still love as I love spicy food - in fact that seems to have increased. Pretty much everything I cook has chilli in it now!
If you get your head in the right place you can do this without it being the torture its sounds like it currently is for you.
I wish you the very best of luck
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Let yourself have a cheat day and eat some mexican food! It sounds like you deserve it!
Also, find some exercise you love. I really hate exercise too. I've come to tolerate anymore and mostly just stick with walking, the stationary bike, and sometimes Zumba. When I'm walking or doing the stationary bike, I tend to listen to an audio book or music, or maybe watch a TV show episode, which keep me occupied so that I almost forget I'm working out... almost. 0 -
. Weird double post, sorry!0
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You don't have to stop eating all your favorite foods. Cutting yourself off from everything you love is the #1 fastest way to guarantee a binge. Want pizza? Have *A* slice. Want a burger? Have one! Just make sure it fits into your calorie goal and it's all gravy! (Yeah, you can have that gravy, too! Just not ALL of it. )
I agree. When the OP was talking about eating horrible food and said Mexican food I was like huh? I was expecting to see something like cheesecakes or dairy queen or something. Whats bad about refried, beans, chicken, steak, bell peppers, onions tomatos & cilantro?
I also agree with many of the other posters and the title of the topic. It sounds like you need to:
A) get a handle on portion control &
stop calling it exercise and find activities you enjoy doing that get you moving around and burning calories.
Great tips that everyone gave on starting small and also be patient.0 -
As far as exercise go, you don't necessarily have to have a trainer to "work out". You could do something fun, like: bike riding, walking, bowling, roller skating, etc...etc...etc...that's all still a form of working out.0
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You've lost 34lbs my love so you know it works, but I have to tell you I'd have gone crazy too if I didn't give myself a break every now and then. If it really is driving you mad, to the point where you're no longer getting any satisfaction even from weight loss, give yourself a week off logging, but promise yourself that you'll eat well (and I do believe that means the odd treat).
Find something you like doing to burn calories, no-one said it has to be gym based, do some landscaping in the garden, play football, walk a neighbour's dog if you don't have one yourself. xx
ETA. I can't see your diary, but it would be good to know how many calories you're allowing yourself.0 -
It shouldn't make you crazy. You shouldn't feel you are always battling. You don't need to be all or nothing. You need balance or it won't work. Eat out, it's not the end of the world to eat Mexican food. Just get back on track the next day.0
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Diets fail because people who manage to lose the weight through deprivation end up going back to their old ways of eating and, of course, gain it all back. It's yo-yo dieting. It can't be, "I hate this, but I'll do it until I'm at X pounds".
Quit dieting and find a calorie count that works for you and build in your favorite foods. If you're used to binging, are there emotions you are covering up by doing so? It may be helpful to explore that one.0 -
I feel your pain! I'm not the same as you on the exercise part, but I LOVE to eat. And I am a dietitian in a hospital and I get to eat for free! I thought that was a perk, now I know it's a curse. And our food is GOOD. Soul food. Fried chicken, dumplings, fried fish and fries. Biscuits and gravy and eggs and hashbrowns for breakfast. And yes, I work at a hospital! But it's a mental health hospital, and we have healthy choices, but we also have the other choices. Anyway, I agree with previous posters that you should splurge one meal a week. It won't set you back too far, and will give you something to look forward to. It might give you just the mental break that you need.
Since you hate sweating, do you think you could try swimming or water exercises?
Good luck in this crazy journey!0 -
Take the bad with the good. As with most things in life, you have to earn them. You want pizza? Fine - work (out) for it! Fancy a tasty Mexican - no prob, earn it by earning the calories for it.
I am probably one of the laziest people on the planet - well, or at least on MFP, but I know that if I want to eat a pizza, I need to move my bum if I don't want my pizza to end up on it. One thing is certain: I would not have made it this far and be able to keep it up if I didn't have the odd treat. I have tried cutting out foods, restricting to healthy things, and every single time, I failed. Because I started having cravings - close to halluzinations of pizza and ice cream. So moderation is the key for me to be able to keep going, because I KNOW I can eat a piece of chocolate, hell, I can eat the whole bar, if I take the dog for a run on the beach before.
The other thing is portion control. It takes a while but with practice, you will be able to just eat one chip (ok, maybe not one, but a reasonable portion) or just one slice of pizza. You can decide whether you want to have a slice and a little workout or the full works - and the full workout. All up to you!0 -
If you are going to do this for the rest of your life you are probably going to have to let yourself eat foods that you love sometimes. The way that I do it is that I plan for it. I might give myself an extra 500 calories for the day, then eat lightly for breakfast and lunch. Then at dinner I can eat more. I still track the calories, but I don't feel guilty about it, and I do not let it start becoming an every day thing. If you have the self-discipline to exercise when you hate it, then you have the self-discipline to eat Mexican food one day and then get back to the healthier eating the next.
I really know what you mean about hating exercise. I've hated it for years. But there's got to be something that you don't hate...for me it turned out to be Jillian Michaels DVD's. I think she's funny, and I like doing each exercise for only 30 seconds. Try different stuff until something works.0 -
You got to find some exercise that you like. For me it's walking I guess. I can enjoy the peace and quiet without kids and let my mind wander, lol. And lifting weights isn't that bad, at least it's pretty fast and I don't have to worry too much about looking ridiculous.
For overeating, well, try and fit the food into your calories, and make smarter choices about them. I have pizza and Mexican occasionally.0 -
' I overeat and hate exercise'.
I think that's the reason most of us STARTED coming here. Just think about it like that. The reasons you are overweight to begin with lie in the title you created for this thread. Continuing the cycle isn't helping you move forward.
Find an exercise you love. Find food you love. Find BALANCE.
It'll take time, but you'll eventually break your cycle.0 -
That is a terrible combination. I have done really well the last 2 months but I really, really want to eat something horrible for me, like Mexican food. I know if I do eat Mexican I won't have one chip, I'll have 20. I want cheese dip. I want all that stuff. But if I start, I'll end up eating 1,500 calories in one sitting.
It's making me crazy.
I hate working out. I hate the gym. I hate running. I hate sweating. -I have been doing all of these things the last 2 months but I'm afraid I will stop anytime because I hate it so much.
I love food. I love bad for you foods. I love pizza and burgers and Mexican. -I haven't had anything fried in 2 months, I haven't had real pizza or Mexican in 2 months. I've had healthy homemade pizza and healthy homemade Mexican. It's not the same.
But I want to continue to lose weight. It's such a battle in my brain. I feel crazy!!
What do you hate more? Being overweight or exercise?
What do you love more? Mexican food (among others) or your amazing progress?
Hang in there! 0 -
What do you hate more? Being overweight or exercise?
What do you love more? Mexican food (among others) or your amazing progress?
Hang in there!
This is definitely how i look at it. I don't necessarily like all the restrictive eating or the exercise, but I'd rather do that than have to deal with being overweight or obese.0 -
I have the same problem as you. No motivation, can't STAND working out/the gym for many reasons. Walking is okay but barely burns calories and if it's 100 degrees outside or freezing then forget it. No pool available, etc, etc...BUT! I also LOVE Mexican food and I've found it's actually pretty easy to make it healthy! I get these 90 calorie wraps or flatbreads called Flatout. They have multigrain, original, honey wheat, etc. There are other brands that also make low calorie wraps. Then I make shredded chicken breast with reduced sodium taco seasoning. Or you could use ground turkey or even 90% lean ground beef. Add some salsa which is really low in calories as is hot sauce! Then the reduced fat cheese of course. And I agree with using plain nonfat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream. Healthy Mexican is totally doable! My "Chicken Burrito Bowl" (as I call it) is only 406 calories! 0
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The trick is to remember that you don't need ALL the food right now
LOL :laugh: I'm going to keep this in mind! Thanks!0 -
I hear you. I'm not a natural fan of exercise. I don't like the gym, would rather punch myself in the face than get on a bike etc etc. But I keep pushing myself to try new things and eventually I've found a couple of different exercises that I enjoy so much that they don't feel like work. I'm a huge fan of rollerblading and I think I'd find an excuse to do it even if it wasn't good for me. I also enjoy mall walking. I think of it as inexpensive window shopping since my local mall is open to walk before hours and I therefore have no excuse to stop in to any of the stores and buy anything LOL.
There are tons of things out there that are fun and happen to burn calories. Jumping on a trampoline, taking a swim in the ocean, ice skating etc etc you just need to find one or two that are more fun than work and you'll be on your way. Good luck!!0 -
I am going to continue searching for exercise I enjoy!0
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The only reason I've made it this far is because I have the foods I really want sometimes. Every other time I've tried the "all or nothing" diet I've given up. Deprivation is just not a long-term solution. And how else am I going to learn moderation for after I reach my goal? If I just go back to my old way of eating, I'll gain all the weight back. I have to find a sustainable way of eating for life, and realistically that doesn't include making any type of food totally off-limits.
Very true!0 -
Since you hate exercising have you looked at other forms of movement like dancing, swimming, hula hooping or even pole or belly dancing. There are tons of other forms of movement that can be fun, fascinating and burn just as much or more calories than going to the gym. As for your desire to eat unhealthy foods, live by the 80/20 rule. As long as 80% of the time you are eating healthily, its ok to treat yourself the other 20%. Keeping in mind depriving yourself of something you love can be counterproductive to your goals because it could cause you to binge.
That seems manageable!
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try walking
eat what u want and exercise it off
u also may be eating to few calories0 -
Oh, I have been. I have a trainer and work out 6 days a week. I have been making food at home but it's not the same.
I'm just mentally exhausted from the battle.
Could you be overdoing it slightly? It's so much harder to stick to a lifestyle where no foods that you love, and too much exercise you don't like, are central. Couldn't you adjust your plan to allow for a little bit more room for fun, so that it's easier to stick to the regime the rest of the time? Sure, your weightloss might be more slow, but it's more likely that you'll continue in the long run.
Also am with the other people that say you can have something you love occasionally, and try to find a type of exercise that you do love or at least not hate with a passion!!
Good luck!! You already lost a lot of weight, that's amazing
I'm losing about 3 lbs a week. I think I need to remember that just 2.5 months ago I was not working out at all so to go to 6 days a week is a lot. I was eating out a lot so to go from that to 1200 calories and no cheat days is probably too much. I think I'm going to slow down a bit because this is forever, not short term. Thank you for the encouragement!0
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