Fixing things before they get worse - Hi!

doolha

Hello!

I just signed up today and am, of course, immensely motivated like any new member probably is. Let's hope this motivation sticks around for a while.

I recently came to the conclusion that I need to make a lot of changes to my life and body because I realized how much both my physical and mental health were deteriorating. I stopped taking care of myself in 2018 due to a traumatic loss, and gained more than 20 kg (44 lbs) within about a year, which I have kept since then. I also completely stopped all physical activity - working from home for the past 1.5 years definitely didn't help my case.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I just broke down a bit. Went to see a therapist and some doctors and had to take a cold, hard look at my body and mind.

Sooo, the app has been installed and I'm ready to start logging!

Goals to reach:
- Lose those 20 kg
- Lose a few more once I start feeling better about my body again
- Cut down on the sugar (I was stress eating, comfort eating, AND boredom eating)
- Eat fresh food and watch macros (I'm anemic and being a vegetarian isn't making it easier)
- Track 1000+ steps per day (I know this is ridiculously low, but I did. not. move. for the last three years, my stamina is frankly depressing. )

I've already read so many incredibly informative and motivating posts and threads here, so I'll try to visit these forums as often as possible. Nice to meet everyone!!

AnnPT77

Hello, and welcome!

It sounds like you've done a really nice job thinking through what you want to accomplish, and why: That's a huge plus, right there. With that nice analytic bent you're showing there, I think you're in good shape to take strong steps in a positive direction . . . and maybe by making them incremental steps (habit changes), you can limit the need for capital-M Motivation long term. (Personally, I've found it helpful to use my motivation budget on finding/establishing relatively easy-to-sustain positive habits, so that once the habits are in place, they're kind of self-maintaining.)

I can easily believe that a combination of anemia, vegetarianism, and a calorie reduction would create some extra challenges for a while, in finding the right eating routine. I'm a long term vegetarian (ovo-lacto, in my case), so I know that even that requires some extra thought at first, in a reduced-calories context. It should be do-able though, with some persistence and tweaking of food choices.

It sounds like you're off to a great start: Wishing you success!

springlering62

Welcome to MFP. Your story reminds me of a friend who lost her husband, went in to a funk and one day said,”Time to do something about this”. It’s a joy to see her re-blooming, and I wish the same for you.

There’s a lovely woman here who shared that she couldn’t walk many steps per day. She made a decision to walk to the mailbox. End of the fence the next day. Added a telephone pole the next. And then another, and another, until she eventually walked a mile.

Even small steps can be the beginning of a much larger journey.

Hugs to you!

Mama530

Your post is like reading a page from my own story. Thank you for sharing! I which you success and happiness

JBanx256

I gotta say I like the fact that you're already setting out tiers of goals (meaning shorter-term ones that you can tackle immediately (eg, starting to hit 1k steps per day), as well as some longer-term goals set out a bit further on the horizon). Best of luck to you!

Courtscan2

Welcome and sounds like you are setting yourself up for very reasonable, sustainable changes! I have to echo what AnnPT77 said re motivation - the motivation definitely won't last forever, eventually you will need to rely on habits to take over. You don't feel motivated to brush your teeth every day, right? You just do it at the same time in the same place every day as you are conditioned to do it. Once the habits are established it just becomes "what you do" rather than feeling any sort of way about it. You still brush your teeth even when you don't feel like it (i hope!). So get some consistency going, pick a few small things (as you have) and stick to them consistently until they become habit.

callsitlikeiseeit

I got a new computer last week, and havent moved all my files over, so dont have all my handy dandy copy and paste answers, well, handy.

motivation will wane. then it becomes a matter of how much do you really WANT it? I've been at this since 2014. Am I MOTIVATED? no. Is everything I do HABIT and part of my ROUTINE? yes. like putting on a seatbelt when I get in a car, brushing teeth, or putting on deodorant.

In my experience, most of the people I see give up, are the ones who try to change everything in their lives all at once. The ones most likely to succeed, make small changes, gradually.

Don't set your calories too low. Although tempting, it does not actually mean you will lose any faster, it does mean you are more likely to binge and 'fall off the wagon' because hunger is a real thing.

Going over your calories on a day, or a Holiday, will not undo your progress. Log it, accept it, and move on.

Learn how to ACCURATELY weigh and log your food. On a food scale. In grams.