I can’t seem to stick to a plan 😞

mermaidmom0503

I’m a 25 year old mother of 3 and I’m always “trying” to lose weight but can never seem to stick to plan. I’m 270 pounds and struggling to lose any. I’ll eat healthy one day & the next I’m right back to my old ways. I just want to be able to fit in my old clothes and feel good about myself again. I could use positive friends also as I tend to stay to myself.

zeejane03

Simplest thing to do is start where you're at-don't try and make drastic changes to how you're currently eating, just start eating what you like in the correct portion sizes and in the correct calorie amounts.

Starting out I'd just get comfortable with logging your food-measure out portion sizes on a food scale and then get familiar with logging. After you do this for a few days then you can start adjusting your calorie intake.

You'll start to learn where you can cut back on calories-you'll start finding lower calorie options for some of the foods you eat (like diet coke instead of regular coke, low calorie salad dressing instead of regular dressing etc etc). You'll learn what foods you eat now that just aren't worth the calories, and you'll learn what foods you eat now that are worth the calories, and you'll start to figure out how to fit them into your calorie target.


eta: back in my active weight loss phase I continued to eat fast food several times a week, still ate all sorts of 'processed' convenience foods, ate very little 'healthy' foods. That's where I was at when I began this whole process and I had to start there. I lost 50lbs and improved all my health markers, including correcting a medical condition. I did this by eating the same foods as I had been-but at the correct calorie deficit for my weight loss goals.

quiksylver296

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

ConfidentRaven

One of the things that is really helping me this time is realizing that I’m not on a diet, I’m creating a sustainable lifestyle. Like you I often did the whole must eat healthy, must eat only these foods and never those. This time I eat what I would call normally because it’s about portion control and calories. Slowly I’m shifting into making healthier options, but it’s an item here or there not all at once. I’m nearly 70 days in and 28 pounds lost and unless I’m very stressed I don’t feel deprived or dieting. Good luck and hang in there.

kgirlhart

zeejane03 wrote: »

Simplest thing to do is start where you're at-don't try and make drastic changes to how you're currently eating, just start eating what you like in the correct portion sizes and in the correct calorie amounts.

Starting out I'd just get comfortable with logging your food-measure out portion sizes on a food scale and then get familiar with logging. After you do this for a few days then you can start adjusting your calorie intake.

You'll start to learn where you can cut back on calories-you'll start finding lower calorie options for some of the foods you eat (like diet coke instead of regular coke, low calorie salad dressing instead of regular dressing etc etc). You'll learn what foods you eat now that just aren't worth the calories, and you'll learn what foods you eat now that are worth the calories, and you'll start to figure out how to fit them into your calorie target.


eta: back in my active weight loss phase I continued to eat fast food several times a week, still ate all sorts of 'processed' convenience foods, ate very little 'healthy' foods. That's where I was at when I began this whole process and I had to start there. I lost 50lbs and improved all my health markers, including correcting a medical condition. I did this by eating the same foods as I had been-but at the correct calorie deficit for my weight loss goals.

This is almost exactly what I was going to say. I have lost about 80lbs and I still mostly eat the same things I ate before. I just watch my portion sizes and make sure I get enough protein. I still eat fast food and processed food and lots of things that some may consider "unhealthy", but I balance it with plenty of protein and fruits and vegetables.

AustinRuadhain

Hi. I'm a mom, too. I have spent the last 14 months working to lose weight. I have now lost over 100 pounds, and so sympathize.

If more accountability would help, you could take a look at a team weight loss group we have here on MFP. We have daily check-ins (how are you doing on your plan for food, water, exercise), weekly weigh-ins (tallied up for the entire team), and lots of supportive chat as all of us confront life and working to lose weight. To be part of the actual challenge, there's a window at the start of each month, but you can join the group at any time and be part of the conversation on a team any time. It has been hugely helpful to me.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/114605-f2f-weight-loss-challenge-and-support-group

estherdragonbat

Pick one or two things that you can stick with and build from there. When that's covered, add something else.

For me personally, when I started at 254lbs (5'3, Obesity Level III), I set MFP to lose 1lb per week, even though at that weight I could have safely done 2. I wanted to make things easier. Then I decided that I was going to limit my homemade desserts to 200 calories or fewer per serving and I was going to walk at least 25 minutes daily. If the weather was lousy or time got away from me, then 25 minutes on the glider in the basement.

That was in October 2016.

Since then, I've shed 108lbs. I shoot for 2 hours of walking daily or 80 minutes on the glider. I pay attention to my protein, iron, and fiber, and I've been strength training for just around 2 years now. Last summer, I ran my first 5k and I've signed up for another one to be held this coming August. (Haven't done any running since the last one, but will train again come May or June.) But I'd never have stuck with any of that had I started it all at the beginning. At the beginning it was simply "stick to a reasonable calorie deficit and make two relatively-painless changes".

Slow and steady.

You've got this.

Panini911

don't feel you need to overhaul your eating completely to lose weight. you just need to eat less. calories in calories out. Trying to make too big a change all at once especially with a busy household/life makes things very hard to "stick to".

The first step i'd recommend is get a scale and simply start logging food. as is. then determine what your goal should be and pick one place to improve. then another.

kimny72

mermaidmom0503 wrote: »

I’m a 25 year old mother of 3 and I’m always “trying” to lose weight but can never seem to stick to plan. I’m 270 pounds and struggling to lose any. I’ll eat healthy one day & the next I’m right back to my old ways. I just want to be able to fit in my old clothes and feel good about myself again. I could use positive friends also as I tend to stay to myself.

So pick an easier plan

Start out by just eating what you usually eat, and logging everything. Your only goal is to log everything. That's it.

Then start analyzing your log. Where are you wasting calories? What foods make you feel full? What times of day do you struggle most with?

Then pick one or two easy tweaks to make. Now for the next couple of weeks, your only goals are to log everything, and those one or two tweaks. That's it. Then go from there.

Meanwhile, just generally try to become more active, in the tiniest ways. Take a 5 minute walk. Walk around the coffee table during commercial breaks. Distribute the laundry around the house in 3 or 4 trips, rather than one.

Check out the Most Helpful Posts threads pinned to the top of each forum - lots of great tips there too!

JCoop9

Also, don't give up if you have a good day and than a day you wish you'd done differently. Just hop back in on your next meal!

Kathryn41057

I’m really struggling as well.... But...ALL of these comments have really made my day. Thank you. Baby steps, and small changes. If I mess up on one meal, carry on..

Danp

Add me to the chorus of voices saying they lost significant weight (44kg / 97lb) while eating pretty much the same stuff I ate while overweight.

I live alone and can't/won't cook so pretty much everything I eat is "fast" or "packaged" and I feel like a million bucks compared to when I started. I'm making huge fitness gains (from getting winded just standing up to regularly cycling, running and swimming for decent distances) and my doctor says all my health factors are spot on.

I'll also echo the previous posts that have spoken about knowing how 'expensive' calorie wise particular food is and how some of it is worth it and some not. I'll add to this line of thought that logging foods also helps you consciously 'budget' the indulgences. By this I mean, when I was overweight and I wanted say, potato chips, I'd go to the store and buy a bag of potato chips and eat them. Now when I want those same potato chips I still go to the store and buy them but before I eat them I'll enter that bag of chips into my diary. 99% of the time I'll see how badly that bag of chips would blow out my calorie target. Just seeing the amount of calories is a real eye opener. So I'll start to reduce the serving size until it's at an acceptable level for that days calories. I'll then weigh out that amount to eat. I still get to have what I want AND lose weight. WIN/WIN