I'm my own worst enemy...

Mistraal1981

Apologies in advance if this post is rambling.

About 6 years ago I successfully dieted down from about 200lbs to about 130lbs. I'mfemale, pear shaped and 5'3". Since then I started weightlifting off and on and then last year a change of job meant I could get to the gym consistently and so I have been going every day, 5 days a week except for when I have a cold or am otherwise sick, or on holiday.

My weight has gradually crept up and I'm now about 160lbs. I kept ignoring the increases, putting it down to fluctuations and water weight and convincing myself I'd be back to normal in a few days. Well, my jeans are now ridiculously uncomfortable and tight and I refuse to buy a bigger size.

So I decided to go back on my diet. Benefits being I'd fit in my jeans comfortably again and I'd be able to show off the muscle I know I have built up under all this fat. Problem is I just can't stick to it and I don't know why. I mean, I did it before...im still the same person who had the discipline then, why can't I do it now? Maybe I don't want it badly enough?

I guess I am feeling a bit defeated all round today.

Kathryn247

I'm sorry you're having a bad day! Any chance you're being too strict too suddenly? What do you have your weight loss goal set at? If it's 2 pounds a week, that might be too much, maybe try 1 pound a week or even half a pound. Then at least you'll stop gaining and start losing a little, while you get back into the groove.

pinuplove

All is not lost! You're stopping the upward trend before you gain it all back, which is great. Maybe you've set too ambitious a weekly goal. With 30 pounds to lose I'd aim for 1lb a week, maybe even 1/2 just to ease back in. Or set your calories to maintain and just focus on logging accurately right now. That should give you an idea where you can trim some calories relatively painlessly.

JeromeBarry1

Try wanting the next 10 minutes badly enough. Or perhaps just the next 1. You can win the next 1 minute can't you? Sure. You just did. Now, do that again until it's your selected appropriate meal time.

Mistraal1981

Hey, thanks for taking the time to read/reply. It is appreciated.

As to your advice I'm definitely not being to strict on calories. Bearing in mind I'm short, sedentary job but 5 days of lifting I'm at 1600ish. Except when I give in to the doughnut, chocolate, cookies etc. I just can't seem to focus up and be disciplined enough to stick to it.

melissa6771

I went through three months of this. I had gained 14 pounds from April until August, in august I tried to get back on track. I was working out all the time but couldn't get my diet back on 100%, I kept getting cravings for snacks at night. On November 20, something finally just clicked. I now have the 14 pounds off and am on my way to goal, another 11-16 pounds. You just need to get your mind right and have that "click" moment. I'm sure you know what I mean. Just try to fight it one day at a time. We all know how hard it is. I have Sundays as free days and whatever I want during the week can wait until Sidney so I never feel deprived. I'm still losing 1-1.5 pounds a week. Tons of support here. Use it. Good luck

TavistockToad

Mistraal1981 wrote: »

Hey, thanks for taking the time to read/reply. It is appreciated.

As to your advice I'm definitely not being to strict on calories. Bearing in mind I'm short, sedentary job but 5 days of lifting I'm at 1600ish. Except when I give in to the doughnut, chocolate, cookies etc. I just can't seem to focus up and be disciplined enough to stick to it.

Fit the doughnut into the 1600 cals?

wizzybeth

If I could have 1600 calories a day You're darn tootin I'd fit a Gloppy gooey delicious Krispy Kreme in my day!

spinnerdell

It's probably small comfort to you, but your situation serves as a cautionary tale to me. Like you, I'm a short, pear-shaped female who went from 200 pounds to 130 starting about six years ago. Over the past few months my weight has been on an upward trend- time to get serious again.

My better health is my inspiration to make better choices. Hopefully whatever inspires you will help you on your way. All the best to you.

Mistraal1981

melissa6771 wrote: »

I went through three months of this. I had gained 14 pounds from April until August, in august I tried to get back on track. I was working out all the time but couldn't get my diet back on 100%, I kept getting cravings for snacks at night. On November 20, something finally just clicked. I now have the 14 pounds off and am on my way to goal, another 11-16 pounds. You just need to get your mind right and have that "click" moment. I'm sure you know what I mean. Just try to fight it one day at a time. We all know how hard it is. I have Sundays as free days and whatever I want during the week can wait until Sidney so I never feel deprived. I'm still losing 1-1.5 pounds a week. Tons of support here. Use it. Good luck

Ahhh yes, the 'click moment' that's exactly what I need. Don't think it can be forced though.

PAV8888

Are you logging everything? Religiously? In excruciating detail? Accurately? Comparing all values to published sources and the USDA and cross referencing? It is amazing how many times I've succeeded in walking away from something I *should* have walked away only because it was just too much trouble to accurately log that unknown bite or two! Laziness to the rescue!

And since I mentioned walking.... how about some walking or pacing in conjunction with your weights?

melissa6771

Mistraal1981 wrote: »

melissa6771 wrote: »

I went through three months of this. I had gained 14 pounds from April until August, in august I tried to get back on track. I was working out all the time but couldn't get my diet back on 100%, I kept getting cravings for snacks at night. On November 20, something finally just clicked. I now have the 14 pounds off and am on my way to goal, another 11-16 pounds. You just need to get your mind right and have that "click" moment. I'm sure you know what I mean. Just try to fight it one day at a time. We all know how hard it is. I have Sundays as free days and whatever I want during the week can wait until Sidney so I never feel deprived. I'm still losing 1-1.5 pounds a week. Tons of support here. Use it. Good luck

Ahhh yes, the 'click moment' that's exactly what I need. Don't think it can be forced though.

That is the problem, it can't be forced. Believe me, I tried for those three months! Do the best you can until it comes. Maybe you'll surprise yourself.

powerof9

Mistraal1981 wrote: »

Apologies in advance if this post is rambling.

That's okay I trimmed it down a bit - LOL

About 6 years ago...
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I guess I am feeling a bit defeated all round today.

I'm sorry you're feeling that way right now. I feel that way sometimes too.

Just try taking it one day at a time.

Maybe try meditation for 5 or 10 minutes a day?

And then don't forget tomorrow is a new day

somrok

Have you ever looked into the Whole 30 program? It has you eating only "real" food for 30 days, no wheat, dairy, added sugar, no processed foods for 30 days. It really helped get my sugar demons under control. You eat real good food including fruit. The elimination of the above items are also to see if you have any allergies or sensitivities to these foods. For me I also have to weigh myself every day. I use this as a tool - not to determine how my day is going. It does not determine my mood at all. But I find if I do have something that isn't as healthy - it is easy to make one day go to another and then to another. By weighing I find that helps keep that in check for me. Try not to think of dieting - as that is only temporary (and usually something to break). Try to think of fueling your body with healthy good tasting food. If one meal or snack is not too healthy - then get back to a healthy choice with the next meal. I am sorry that you are feeling down right now. I wish you every success.

wizzybeth

I eat all kinds of foods from Lean Cuisine to ice cream to Candy to wine ... to protein-rich fiber rich foods that are nutrient dense. I eat pizza and tacos and chicken breast and broccoli. These are real foods to me because they are really the foods that I am going to be eating the rest of my life.

You may have to aggressive a goal. You may need to eat a few more calories per day. And if you have your goal for losing weight set at 2 lbs per week maybe you should dial it back to one and a half pounds. This isn't a race.

Maybe you need to choose foods with higher protein or fat or fiber content so you are satisfied longer.

natasor1

Don 't be surprise, after 6 years it becomes little harder to loose weight. Also, the fact that you dieted before makes it harder 2X. Just be patient, and your weight loss voyage must become life long. If u adop the diet as a way of life, it becomes easier, and transfers u to a different person. Sorry, but if u return to heavy eater again, your weight returns really quick and will be almost impossible to loose it once more. Work on finding the type of diet, that u can keep for life.

MegaMooseEsq

I understand how frustrating it can be feeling like you’re treading water or even moving backwards. But you’ve done something a lot of people don’t do: identified that you need to change something. And you did it before gaining back any more, which is awesome! Every month that you lose even a little bit or don’t gain you’ve made progress. The only way to fail is to give up. You can do this!

stigay

This happened to me, and after regaining a good portion of my lost weight back, I couldn’t get back on track even though I wanted to re-lose the weight. I knew I needed to return to sticking to calorie limits, but I would feel like I NEEDED to eat and couldn’t stop eating. Like another poster, I finally had something ‘click’. Two things caused the click for me—a number on the scale that was too close to my starting weight for comfort, and a picture (featuring arm fat) that pretty much disgusted me. I’m now back to my low weight.
So I guess for a suggestion, take some unflattering photos of yourself and embarrass yourself back on track.