The struggle is real after the Holidays. Need some support

Kittitiancutie

The struggle to lose weight is very real. Recently had a set back during the Holidays. I started 2019 at weight at 201. I got down to 170 in November and my goal is 150lbs. After the Holidays I ballooned up to 186. 😳
Looking for support to get back on track.
Are you struggling to stay on track as well? Any helpful tips?

Vulfiee

Hi there!

I always tend to have a setback around the holidays as well, but I try to keep it minimal. When I want to "cheat" and eat more than I know I should, I keep it limited to a cheat MEAL (within reason) and not a cheat day/weekend. I do it maybe once every two weeks? I still log everything I eat for that meal, but giving myself permission to do this and keeping it to only one meal doesn't interfere with my progress or mindset too much.

Hope this tip helps. I'll send you a friend request, add me if you like!

-Heidi

AustinRuadhain

So a 16 pound gain in 2 months... if it helps to know you have company, I am pretty sure I have in the past gained that much weight that quickly, or faster.

I am so with Vulfiee on the value of logging (accountability to yourself, and a reality check -- being with what you are eating and how much). I am also with Vulfiee on the value of keeping things to a cheat meal rather than a cheat day/weekend/week/month. For myself, I can just keep extending that "I'll start back later" runway, and dig the hole deeper. And if I get back to plan after one meal, I continue to be, for myself, the person on that plan.

Social support has been really key for me. One of the ways I am doing that for myself is through having joined a well-designed and managed group here on MFP. Fat2Fit is an MFP group, a weight loss challenge and support group. We have teams for accountability and challenges for motivation. The key thing for me is that you are on small teams within a group. On my team, most of us check in and talk about what's up, what's going well and where we are flailing. If it calls to you at all, come give it a try for the month of February. Here's the registration link.

ReenieHJ

Yep! The holidays derailed me for a bit too. I actually felt panicked for a couple of weeks. Lots of people on the forums talked me down off the edge and through it; I got back into using MFP for calories and got back to the exercising every day and it helped me get back to it. I had let everything slide and was really afraid I wasn't going to be able to return.
I'm still having more cravings than I felt I had before the holidays started but I'm getting through them day by day.
Definitely the most important thing is to start right back on track with your logging of calories. If nothing else, it'll show you where you need to make your improvements once again. If you exercised before, get back to that also! I find if I exercise I try to eat healthier too. Try to change things up a bit, different exercises or foods might rekindle your commitment.
This is silly and simple but I bought a package of tortillas today because I've been really wanting pizza(thanks to a certain topic of foods we'd eat if they didn't have calories lol)so am looking forward to making myself some cheesy pizza with spinach, mushrooms and onions. IOW, have foods you like so you don't feel deprived, take a step back into your routine and as Nike would say "Just Do It!"
Good luck!!!