I'm slipping and I need some motivation.

phillipsaw

I went from 272 down to 189, now I'm back up to 201. I've been around 190 and 195 for about 3 months now and that's all good, but I find now that I don't get to watch that number drop, I start to lose motivation to eat healthy. Anyone out there feel this way?

Bobble11

All. The. Time. And It's so difficult when you try so hard and the number doesn't move.

I find that if I concentrate on the next pound lost then I'm living lots of tiny victories over a long period of time rather than looking at my ultimate goal - or even 7lbs ahead - which seems daunting, impossible and months and months into the future.

So your next victory will be going down to 200 and when you get there you're going to give yourself a high five and tell yourself that that's awesome. You've worked hard and achieved what you set out to do and you should be very proud. On to the next one!

If the scales don't move then take a good look at what you're doing and see if you can make a change (more exercise,more veg, less pasta). Even small changes can make a difference.

71lb down from your original weight to now is a massive deal! So you put on a few. You lost them before, you'll lose them again!

kommodevaran

Motivation is your desire and drive to accomplish something, not a magic dust to sit around waiting for. Maybe you're approaching it wrong. If you focus on outcome (weightloss), which you can't directly control, instead of controlling the behavior (eating less) that over time leads to that outcome, you'll feel powerless, and your mood will depend on the number on the scale. You can also look into what you mean by eating healthy. Too many people have a narrow as well as vague idea of what this is, and that it's somehow necessary in order to lose weight. It's not; you lose weight when you over time, consistently and for real, eat less than you burn.

serindipte

I find that I can't rely on motivation. Instead, I rely on decisions.
I have decided that I will weigh/log all of my food, even the 'bad' stuff. (It's all just food, none is bad)
I have decided to keep my weekly average at or under my calorie goal.
I have decided that I will walk 3-4 times a week and slowly increase my distance.
I have decided that I am going to start adding strength training.

I know these decisions will lead to weight loss, but that it isn't always going to be obvious. Last week, I was up two pounds. Now, I'm down those two plus another. Regardless of what my scale says on any given day, I know that, with the decisions I've made, I will get down to my goal weight eventually.

Francl27

The key for me is reminding myself that higher calorie food isn't necessarily tastier. So unless I really crave those high calorie meals, I pick something healthier and lower calorie instead. For me though, it means going out much less because finding low calorie meals that appeal to me is just very frustrating (I can have grilled chicken and steamed veggies at home for much cheaper).

I think that's why I managed to only gain 20 lbs back instead of 50 - and staying active no matter what, but the food part is definitely the hard part for me. I've also been avoiding the scale, but that's really out of denial. I'm trying to lose those 20 lbs back now but it's so easy to get derailed (I've been seriously back at it for a week).

LivingtheLeanDream

Your motivation should be to stay within a certain range, if you see yourself creeping over that range then you know you need to take action. The reality is, if you don't take action you could continue to gain...you wont want that right?
It's not about eating healthily per se, its about staying within the calories that your body needs to maintain your weight - perhaps you are restricting the type of foods you eat too much?

SummerSkier

I think maintaining is all about limiting the yo yo effect. Our weight is never constant anyway. You appear to be about 5 pounds over your comfort zone Phillip? You have lost a LOT of weight. 5 pounds should be just a couple weeks for you to lose. I think your motivation is that you don't want to let it turn into 10 pounds or more. You lost 83 pounds right? Go to the grocery store into the pet aisle. Put 83 pounds of cat litter into your basket and try to pick them up all together. You are still in control! At 5 pounds to give it up would be throwing the baby out with the bath water. Just some thoughts.

catweiler57

Yes, I find this too. This picture is old but I went from 282 to 141 and am now at 151....need to get control of my night time eating...foraging in the middle of the night with not get choices. Have been exercising and could do more of that by getting extra steps.
Are you still tracking every bite? I need to start measuring again because I am sure my '1 cup' is really '1.25 cups' etc.
Just know you are not alone....

CarvedTones

I made a firm decision to make it a priority. I tracked (and still track) every single thing I eat. Sometimes I have to guess at calories because it's home made or at a restaurant or whatever. Then I guess and try to likely be high more often than low. But I never allow myself to get into the habit of not logging things. I don't cheat. Ever. That doesn't mean I never go over. Going over sometimes and logging/acknowledging it is not cheating. Not tracking would be cheating IMO. I have to be firm with myself sometimes. I don't have to be excited about it all the time; I just have to be disciplined. I feel really good about the results and I am happy/excited about it most of the time. But I don't need constant motivation.

Momepro

Start logging everything. Not just the meal,, but why you are eating it, and how you feel right before, right after and an hour after. This will help you pinpoint EXACTLY where you are falling back into bad habits, and help you catch and fix them. It will also help you see where you are still on track and have succeeded in crrating some good habits, whivh is generally a grrat motivator.

LiftHeavyThings27105

Couple of things....if I might:

1. Someone else stated this already (and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this), but consider a range instead of one hard and fast number. Much much much relief will come your way once you can make that mental switch.
2. How do you feel? How do your clothes fit?
3. What are your goals?

So, for #3 lots of people make the big goal "to get to xxx lbs". When they do, they find themselves lost and, maybe, floundering. It is the "Shoot, I am there. I did it! Now what?" issue.

What kind of relationship do you have with the scale? What kind of relationship do you have with food?

Meaning, is the number that you see each morning going to freak you out? If so, find another way to "monitor" your weight. How do your clothes fit? For that matter, how often do you weigh yourself. How is your anxiety when you go to step on the scale?

Is food simply fuel to the body? Cool! Or, is food a reward or a punishment? Opps! Houston, we have a problem.

Just some things to think about. And, you are in good company, man! Know that!

elisa123gal

Think discipline not motivation. Disciplined people do what they have to do, not what they want to do.

Discipline leads to success..motivation is great..but it does come and go. I totally understand you're tired and don't feel like thinking about it all. Maybe revisit the old fat photos...realize how far you've come and how awful it would be to go back to square one.

You wrote here because you truly don't want to regain. also..set new goals..something fresh..maybe build muscles or work on your abs. Or take on cycling...hiking..some kind of interesting sport. something new to keep from getting bored doing the same thing you did to lose all the weight.

CarvedTones

Motivation has a short shelf life. Commitment is the key. Disclaimer - I have failed in the past; committed not to this time.

ahoy_m8

Another voice for motivation being overrated. It’s great when you have it but you can’t always count on it. Discipline is much more reliable. Your actions are in your control, and anyone can develop discipline if you give it time and prioritize it.

OP, you have achieved great success! Think back on the times you were losing and circumstances made it hard to stay on track. How did you keep your head in the game back then? What did you say to yourself to talk yourself through it? Not rhetorical- I’m curious what worked for you.

jrwms714

Again, I concur about motivation being overrated. It's about commitment and discipline and oh, yes! That range idea is soooooo important.

psychod787

Habit.....

KrystinaMTL

nxd10

Don't let the numbers slip up. You will regret it. What I do that has really helped is to step on the scale every day. EVERY SINGLE DAY I'm in my weight zone, I have won and get to do the happy dance. In other words, continuing to maintain in my zone becomes my reward.

I say that because every single study I have ever seen says that anybody can lose weight. It's just really hard to keep it off. We are the superachievers. And you have done a fantastic job taking that weight off.

lorrpb

Motivation is not the key to success. The key to success is following your plan whether you feel like it or not. If I followed my plan only on the days I felt like it, I would still be over 300 lb and unable to walk up my own drive. As a result of doing rather than feeling, I’m now maintaining for 1.5 years at a healthy weight, walking and working out daily, and able to go on a challenging 10 mile hike whenever I want to. I don’t want to go back to where I was 4 years ago. That’s my motivation.

JeromeBarry1

I tell you, sir, what worked for me was having only one pair of denim jeans I could wear to work, and they were getting tight. I had spent a lot of money buying clothes as I lost weight. I do not want to spend a cent on bigger clothes now.

As I lost I kept the big sizes until I was 2-sizes below. When I got to my lowest, I was in 32 inch jeans. I discared the 36's. As I got lazy and gained I wore the 34's, and when they got tight I awoke to my predicament.

vanmep

Go check out the NSV thread in “success stories”. It will remind you of all the wonderful things you have accomplished besides decreasing the number on the scale.

rossdarragh

I'm in the same situation. I joined slimming world with my daughter to give her support and I really needed that support for mysel too.
I found the support of the slimming group and my daughter to be a vital importance . However I used this app in conjunction with the group.
Since reaching my goal I have found it a little too easy to relax my regime. I gained 11.5 lbs in one week on two occasions but quickly lost it again with the support of the group and my daughter.
Part of my motivation is financial, if I stay within 3lbs of my target weight I remain a free member.
So if your struggling on your own you could try find support and motivation in group, with friends and here online. It's finding that hook that'll help.

gcpower

Weightloss is a means to an end, not an end in itself. What is your purpose to being at your 'goal weight'? If you lack purpose that requires daily / weekly attention, the need and waning dedication to maintain that weight gets drowned by competing priorities.

After my first six months of weightloss, I experienced dieting fatigue. I had hit my goal, wasn't as excited as I had imagined and felt generally underwhelmed. I languished directionless for about two months and put some weight on. What saved me was starting a new sport which gave me renewed purpose. Now I strive for new goals which indirectly require me to take care of my fitness and regulate my weight. Good luck with the journey.

KarenLue

Yes! I slip back and forth all the time! I am just returning after some slipping. I always preach about finding that "reset" button! I love what gcpower said about "competing priorities". It's so true! I start feeling overwhelmed with work, laundry, food journaling, keeping up with the house and lawn, bills, getting in the gym, ect. It all starts to bog me down.
Sometimes I have to step back and reintroduce myself to my goals. Unplug and let everything reset. Find whatever it takes, a new exercise plan or even a new journal, to get myself motivated again.
Some people are lucky enough that a healthy lifestyle comes naturally. For Some, it's more of a struggle. Just be kind to yourself and keep on keeping on!
By the way, you have done GREAT with your weight loss! I know gaining some back is scary, but take a breath and go back to what ever you were doing. If it worked once it will work again! You are Normal!!!! Good luck!

Francl27

JeromeBarry1 wrote: »

I tell you, sir, what worked for me was having only one pair of denim jeans I could wear to work, and they were getting tight. I had spent a lot of money buying clothes as I lost weight. I do not want to spend a cent on bigger clothes now.

As I lost I kept the big sizes until I was 2-sizes below. When I got to my lowest, I was in 32 inch jeans. I discared the 36's. As I got lazy and gained I wore the 34's, and when they got tight I awoke to my predicament.

Yes this works. But clothes get worn out and it's pretty easy when you're buying new ones to just buy a size up.

OP, I've been cutting again for 3 weeks. I feel like I'm always hungry. It's definitely not easy!

ncfitbit

In one sense I agree with what a lot of others have said about motivation. You cannot wait for it. But on the other hand, there are ways to increase it for yourself. I'm part of a group that is going through Judith Beck's The Diet Solution workbook together and she says it's important to give yourself lots of credit for all those decisions you make on a daily basis that keep you on track.

I have found this to be very helpful and it really has increased my motivation and kept me on track when the scale wasn't particularly thrilling me. This doesn't mean just rewarding yourself when you have lost or maintained X lbs, but figuring out all the things that keep you on track and making sure to bring those into awareness somehow. I keep a chart in my journal of about 12 things that help me stay within goal and I've learned to give myself credit on the fly so that I'm sort of always rewarding myself. So I guess it's about of focusing on all those NSVs all day long because otherwise it's easy just to focus on all the things we do wrong or how far we are from where we want to be.