motivation and support

pattilindley

I have been using mfp for about 10 months and I have lost 47 pounds. I started at 210 pounds and I am 5ft2in. I want to lose another 23 pounds. My problem is I have been struggling to keep my motivation up. I have started snacking and not following my calorie limit. I have always had problems if I started going off my plan and then giving up. I don't want that to happen. I have done that too many times. I was successful at focusing on this as a permanent life change, not a diet, but I'm slipping back into bad habits. Help!

jeanineolson

Hang in there!!! You can do it!

linzlu579

Good job patti! I'm in the same boat. I had lost over 40# and wanted to lose another 20. Now it is slowly coming back on and want to stop it! I'm trying to find a group of people to help keep me accountable. Maybe post daily about our goals and if we accomplished them.

pattilindley

linzlu579 wrote: »

Good job patti! I'm in the same boat. I had lost over 40# and wanted to lose another 20. Now it is slowly coming back on and want to stop it! I'm trying to find a group of people to help keep me accountable. Maybe post daily about our goals and if we accomplished them.

I like that idea. I will help you if you help me. Maybe small daily goals, like drink at least one bottle of water. Then increase it. I'm awful about water. One day at a time.

88olds

Maybe ramp back your expectations. @5'2" averaging a 1+lb per week is very good. But as you get closer to goal thing get more difficult.

That said, maybe you're eating a more because you are aiming too high for too long.

How about this- calculate a new calorie target that's just a little bit more generous. Just an experiment to see if it makes your life easier.
The best plan is one that you will actually follow. Control of the process is more important than how long it takes to get to goal.

pattilindley

88olds wrote: »

Maybe ramp back your expectations. @5'2" averaging a 1+lb per week is very good. But as you get closer to goal thing get more difficult.

That said, maybe you're eating a more because you are aiming too high for too long.

How about this- calculate a new calorie target that's just a little bit more generous. Just an experiment to see if it makes your life easier.
The best plan is one that you will actually follow. Control of the process is more important than how long it takes to get to goal.

Excellent advice. I tend to be very rigid and expect perfection from myself. That of course sets me up to fail. Then when I fail I completely lose motivation. It's very hard not to get caught up in the "diet" mindset. Working this program is forever, but perfection is not the goal, a healthy, sustainable weight is. Especially during this time of year I have to allow flexibility, otherwise I will constantly beat myself up for eating off of my program. Thanks for the helpful suggestions.

ladyhusker39

Maybe it's time for a diet break. Practice maintenance for a while.

pattilindley

ladyhusker39 wrote: »

Maybe it's time for a diet break. Practice maintenance for a while.

Yeah, I think if I change my goal to maintenance at least through the holidays that would be a good thing. Then hit it hard again later.

DebLaBounty

I changed my MFP daily calorie limit from losing 1 pound a week to Half a pound. The slower rate still results in weight loss, and I calculate a snack or dessert into almost every day. That's success, too. Don't give up!

pattilindley

DebLaBounty wrote: »

I changed my MFP daily calorie limit from losing 1 pound a week to Half a pound. The slower rate still results in weight loss, and I calculate a snack or dessert into almost every day. That's success, too. Don't give up!

I'm going to try that tomorrow. I let myself get too hungry throughout the day then I overeat at night. I can do this.