Need some encouragement that I can do this.

clairturk
clairturk Posts: 2 Member
in Motivation and Support
I am going to try (again) to lose weight. I have PCOS (had a hysterectomy Nov 2018). I am bi polar and a binge eater. I am currently trying to find the right counselor to help me with my binge eating and my bi polar issues. I had a bio-metric screening today for work and while my numbers haven't gotten any worse in the last 6 months, they certainly haven't gotten any better!

I have a huge Mt. Dew addiction and I want to cut it out. The thought of going cold turkey on it scares me but I really think that is going to have to be the way I do it! The thought of meal planning and watching what I eat seems too overwhelming.

I want to be healthier, I don't want the medical issues my parents have. You would think that should be motivation enough for me to want to do this, but it isn't.

What are some of your ideas to get started on this journey and keep with it?

Replies

  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    edited October 2019
    Keep it super simple. Don't choose an aggressive pace, don't set a lot of rules. Just start logging, trying to hit your calorie goal, and learn what foods make it easier or make it harder as you go. Make room for treats, move more however you can.

    I happen to think Diet Mt Dew is one of the better diet sodas (Coke Zero is my fave), so maybe try switching to diet and focus on drinking water in between sodas.

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

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10636388/free-customized-personal-weight-loss-eating-plan-not-spam-or-mlm/p1

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/818701/the-myth-of-motivation-and-what-you-need-instead/p1

    Good luck!
  • moonangel12
    moonangel12 Posts: 971 Member
    And maybe even before setting any set goals, just spend a week or so logging everything you eat so you can see the heaviest hitters (nixing the soda would help a lot - those calories add up FAST!). My MIL lost weight just by cutting the sugar in her sweet tea in half (she goes through a gallon a day). A switch to diet Dew would help cut the calories if that is your main goal... but if it is the habit in general you want gone then cold turkey might be better (although prepare for caffeine withdrawal).
  • 88olds
    88olds Posts: 4,538 Member
    Doesn’t Mt Dew have caffeine? I lost weight by fighting my sweet tooth to a draw. But my attempts to stop caffeine (black coffee here) have gone nowhere because of the killer headaches.
  • feisty_bucket
    feisty_bucket Posts: 1,047 Member
    88olds wrote: »
    Doesn’t Mt Dew have caffeine? I lost weight by fighting my sweet tooth to a draw. But my attempts to stop caffeine (black coffee here) have gone nowhere because of the killer headaches.

    400mg/day of caffeine is considered the healthy limit. As an EZ rule-of-thumb, you could average each drink to be 100mg, so that's four drinks a day (or if you're up for it, track it in detail. Up to you). If you track what you're at now and then taper down over time, I bet you could avoid the headaches.

    I've done both the sudden-stop and tapering down techniques when my caffeine's been excessive, and tapering down is waaaay more pleasant.

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