Lost it and gained it all back........

NearlyThere2011

Not sure where to start with this.. I am utterly devastated and feeling so de-motivated but desperately unhappy with the result of my sabotaging actions.

I joined MFP 8 years ago-ish. My 40th was looming and I didn't want to be fat and 40! I set myself a goal to lose weight, and lost a whopping 4 stone through using the app and daily exercise (which got a little out of hand to be honest, but I had the time). I felt great! And loved when everyone complemented my achievement.

Fast forward 8 years later, change in job, studed for a degree in parallel over 4 years, major change in stress levels, change in time commitments, still got gym membership but used it maybe 10 times in 3 years. I start to go then can't keep it up. I come home, eat fabulously healthy pretty much all day, then self sabotage in the evening.

I've tried joining slimming clubs, and re-starting MFP , none of which sustain. I travel with work, so eating healthy can be difficult when you're reliant on hotel food.

Can anyone help with any motivation, even the smallest piece of advice to help me get back on the wagon.

I'm utterly desperate.

x

kommodevaran

I think you should forget about wagons and motivation and eating fabulously healthy and going to the gym. Instead you can eat what you like, but you have to eat a little less. You can move more while you do things you have to do anyway.

hlgib68

Do not beat yourself up over the weight gain! I know how you feel as I have re-gained the weight I lost. I am taking baby steps & although wright watchers helped me lose a few years ago, I am calorie counting now using MFP. You will lose weight again, you are older now though & our bodies change as we get older. Take it a day at a time. Good luck x

cherys

I think it helps to recognise your lifestyle has changed. You can't dedicate hours to the gym. But you can dedicate 10 mins once a day and maybe another 5 minutes later in the day to HIIT which really will help boost your metabolism. It slows down anyway at your (our) age. So it might be a good idea to allow for a slight natural increase in weight and up your target weight by 5-7lb from your age 40 target weight, which means you have less to lose.

I'm trying to drop calories invisibly - like drinking all coffee black, drinking herb tea not black tea with milk, as those cups add up during the day to a good 100-150 calories. Anywhere you can cut calories and not miss them, do. Always have at least 3-5 veg servings with lunch or dinner - steamed or grilled, or very lightly tossed in oil and roasted. They are filling and healthy, nutritious and low calories natural foods. I'm not a huge fan of low carb, as high fat diet makes me feel really unwell, but it is true that meals without processed carbs (white bread, rice, couscous etc) keep you full far longer. Cutting out added sugar and refined carbs completely really does reduce snacking urges.

tinkerbellang83

kommodevaran wrote: »

I think you should forget about wagons and motivation and eating fabulously healthy and going to the gym. Instead you can eat what you like, but you have to eat a little less. You can move more while you do things you have to do anyway.

This - eating healthily and exercise is great for nutrition and health, but weight loss is down to calories in vs calories out. You can do it without big dramatic diet changes and exercise, so make small changes that get you to your calorie allowance in the short term and you can work on improving your activity level and nutrition in the long term.

flagrantavidity

When I finally reached my weight goals I started a new job, started going to college, and recently moved. I found a new job and had to fly out for training for several weeks. To stay on track during traveling, I would bring bags of Soylent (meal replacement) with me for my breakfast. I was the guy stopped at TSA before the flight being questioned at additional security about the bags of powder. I would pick hotels with a gym and a mini fridge in room. On my first day, after work, I would go to a grocery store and shop for my food for the week there. Even though I had per diem, I opted not to use it at restaurants. I remember one hotel didn’t have a microwave in the room - so I was that one guy that would go to the lobby and use the hotels microwave in the eating area. If I was in an area that wasn’t easy to go for a run or it was bad weather, I would hit the hotel gym for an hour. I tracked my calories every day, and kept up with my school work. It’s very inconvenient, and takes a lot of effort and planning but it is possible to stay healthy living the hotel life.

I did eventually move again, still in college, bought a house - and eventually reached a point to where I started binging and one day I declared I was going to eat what I want when I want. I gained all my weight back - 50 pounds - I felt anger and guilt. Looking back, I don’t feel I planned weight maintainence very well, I was still exercising daily, averaging 40k steps a day, but was keeping my calories too low, I always felt hungry and that’s when I started binging, and started down some bad habits.

What got me started on the right path again is when I was looking at my retirement account... I started thinking to myself, I need to be healthy when I retire to do the things I want when I’m out of the work force. I want the best chance to be functioning when I retire. I’m in my 30’s but need to plan for my 60’s. So I finally started making healthful decisions again, I’m 10 pounds down, 30 to go.

The best of luck to you.

tinak33

Track your food. Don't do anything else till you're ready. It can be overwhelming if you make too many changes at the same time.
I can't do too many changes at once, or I won't stick to them. If I started counting calories, eating healthy, joining a gym, all at the same time, I would have lost it after 3 weeks.
Instead, I just focused on calories. I ate what I want, and some days I was over, some days I was under. After 1 year, I dropped about 60 lbs. I went to the gym literally 6 times. Maybe did a few walks here and there, but I have a toddler that doesn't sleep, so I am always exhausted.
I can manage food. I can track what I eat. Even if it's not healthy. Don't care. Track it anyway. Track it all. See your pattern, see what you are eating, see how much you are eating, and drop 50 calories from your daily goal. Then drop another 50, as you lose more weight. it's gradual, it's painless, and while it does take dedication, it's relatively easy.
I'm still going, as I have another 20 I want to lose. And NOW I am able to go to the gym 1-3 times a week. Or I try to fit in a walk once or twice a week. Exercise is still minimal, but I will continue tracking.

Good luck!

MostlyWater

Same. When I turned 40 and gained, though, it was due to an underactive thyroid. Now I'm 50 and it's menopause.

If I want to keep that weight off, it means giving up lunch basically. So I'm heavier. I accept that. But that doesn't meant that I don't eat right and exercise; I do !!!

elisa123gal

Why not start with what you can do,and easily. First move on and stop reliving the past. Seems like you're stuck because you're so mad at yourself for gaining it back. IT is done, learn from it..and lose it again.

And then just count your calories on here and stick with that. as you lose those first pounds, it will be exciting. You can lose your weight without long work outs. Add those when you feel like it later.