Any Tips for Getting Back on Track?

GW4321

I previously lost over 125lbs. I was very motivated and it was relatively easy for me to lose that weight. After my weight loss, my goal was to eat around maintenance and continue lifting. I’ve slowly started eating more and more, and it has basically turned into a nearly 2 year bulk. I’ve gained almost 30lbs in the past two years. The good news is that I continued to workout about 5-6 times per week so some of that is muscle. I definitely have more muscle and definition in my arms and legs, but I also know that I’ve gained some fat as well.

My current goal is to lose about 15 -20lbs. However, my motivation for losing weight isn’t the same as before. Being over 300lbs was a really good motivator last time, but now it doesn't feel like such a desperate situation and the motivation comes and goes.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this before? Any tips for getting motivated again after losing a large amount of weight? Thanks.

Panini911

I lost 100lbs. 2-3 years later I was back up that 100lbs. lost it again.

last march I was up around 35lbs so luckily caught it early. I will still exercising but not walking as much (my dog was a senior so couldn't - though I still ran at lunch) and went back to some pretty bad eating habits.

what got me going was when my dog passed I threw myself into exercise (not just my lazy runs, but improving and getting better). somehow this just easily translated in eating better to be able to do a better workout. So I went back into logging everything (using food scale). after a few weeks it was routine again.

maybe...set a fitness goal? to improve something?

janejellyroll

Why do you *want* to lose 20-30 pounds? Connecting truly to that answer may help you get the motivation you need.

Many of us find hard to be motivated by numbers alone. So is there a visual reason you want to lose the weight (maybe styles of clothing you don't feel comfortable wearing or how you look without any clothes). Is it a fitness thing, are there goals that will be easier to reach at a lower weight? Is it a health thing - is there a condition you want to make better or to reduce your risk of a condition?

My advice is to spend some time thinking about what is underneath the desire to lose 20-30 pounds and make that your motivation.

steveko89

I don't have any context to directly answer your question as far as losing that amount of weight and trying to get back on the horse, but I can relate to not feeling the urgency. I initially came to MFP in 2012 to lose weight I'd gained when i first joined the workforce (position was mostly travel, paid very little attention to what/how much I ate for first few months and gained 25-30 lbs) but have stayed since to stay in maintenance and to track intake as I continue to make improvements to my physique. It may not feel like as much of a driver but adopting the mindset of continuously improving is what's kept me here going; it's become more of a hobby than a chore, going beyond the beginning goal of "don't be fat".

Additionally, don't try to farm motivation, cultivate good habits that support your goals. There are certainly days, especially this time of year, when I'm not "motivated" by crawling out from under my covers at 5am to lift before work, or micromanage my intake when the weather calls for copious hearty meals but I do my best to make it happen because of the routines I've put in place and the overall goal I'm trying to progress towards.

GW4321

Panini911 wrote: »

I lost 100lbs. 2-3 years later I was back up that 100lbs. lost it again.

last march I was up around 35lbs so luckily caught it early. I will still exercising but not walking as much (my dog was a senior so couldn't - though I still ran at lunch) and went back to some pretty bad eating habits.

what got me going was when my dog passed I threw myself into exercise (not just my lazy runs, but improving and getting better). somehow this just easily translated in eating better to be able to do a better workout. So I went back into logging everything (using food scale). after a few weeks it was routine again.

maybe...set a fitness goal? to improve something?

Thanks for replying. I think logging is a big thing for me. I keep a calorie count in my head for each day, but that isn't good enough. It is too easy to get a snack (hand full of chips) and not count it. While losing weight the first time, I had a rule that if I couldn't log it, then I wouldn't eat it . I had to know exactly how many calories I was consuming or I wouldn't eat it. It is too easy for me to cheat when only keeping a mental count on calories.

GW4321

janejellyroll wrote: »

Why do you *want* to lose 20-30 pounds? Connecting truly to that answer may help you get the motivation you need.

Many of us find hard to be motivated by numbers alone. So is there a visual reason you want to lose the weight (maybe styles of clothing you don't feel comfortable wearing or how you look without any clothes). Is it a fitness thing, are there goals that will be easier to reach at a lower weight? Is it a health thing - is there a condition you want to make better or to reduce your risk of a condition?

My advice is to spend some time thinking about what is underneath the desire to lose 20-30 pounds and make that your motivation.

Good point. My only motivation right now is that my clothes feel tighter, and it bothers me to see my hard work fading away one pound at a time on the scale. I agree, it needs to be something I really connect to. That is something I need to think about. Thanks.

GW4321

steveko89 wrote: »

It may not feel like as much of a driver but adopting the mindset of continuously improving is what's kept me here going; it's become more of a hobby than a chore, going beyond the beginning goal of "don't be fat".

Additionally, don't try to farm motivation, cultivate good habits that support your goals. .

I like that mindset. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

lorrpb

My maintenance motivation is to look at my progress pics during 150 lb loss and remember how I used to feel. I don’t want to go back there. For me, 20-30 lbs is way past my comfort zone to take action.

HoneyBadger302

I don't have a ton to lose (less than 20 pounds at this point), and like you, the "motivation" comes and goes. I have good reasons to lose, but they aren't desperate reasons.

So, I just go with it. I'll focus on losing for awhile, then just maintain for a bit until I feel motivated to lose some more again. The overarching goal, is an average loss over time (which is very slow with this "method") and to not gain.

On average I've been losing about a pound a month. Some months more, some none, but over time, it's a loss. Plus, I know what maintenance requires, so no surprises along the way.

GW4321

lorrpb wrote: »

My maintenance motivation is to look at my progress pics during 150 lb loss and remember how I used to feel. I don’t want to go back there. For me, 20-30 lbs is way past my comfort zone to take action.

HoneyBadger155 wrote: »

I don't have a ton to lose (less than 20 pounds at this point), and like you, the "motivation" comes and goes. I have good reasons to lose, but they aren't desperate reasons.

So, I just go with it. I'll focus on losing for awhile, then just maintain for a bit until I feel motivated to lose some more again. The overarching goal, is an average loss over time (which is very slow with this "method") and to not gain.

On average I've been losing about a pound a month. Some months more, some none, but over time, it's a loss. Plus, I know what maintenance requires, so no surprises along the way.

Thanks to both of you.