Support love and encouragement

JLRavenclaw

Hi mfp.



I really want to have a space where we can comment, talk, share, and inspire each other. Like those Facebook groups. Where we can all come to this thread daily to check in and interact with each other. I feel like I am struggling alone. I hate that feeling. I know there are amazing people here and I would love to bond and lose with you all!

I am struggling because I am the largest I have ever been. It is getting worse by the day. I am struggling to stay positive. I am so uncomfortable in my body. I just don’t want to get so lost in despair that I don’t find my way out of it and then live a sad unmotivated life.

I want a group of people around me to share stories. About anything. About this journey which includes weight loss and everyday things too. A strong and dedicated group that is forever hyping each other up. I will be your best hype man!

Crystalyoung207

Hello! I am also struggling. My weight is really all I can think about, but I feel like I have no motivation at all. I've been through this before and lost weight. But now I feel like idk where to start or what to eat to lose weight.

Hiawassee88

Your very next meal is your new beginning. You don't need to start over and you don't need to look back over your shoulder. Eating less food and exercising more doesn't make things better. It won't make you happier in the long run.

Many of us have fallen prey to diets in the past. They are a temporary bandaid. No shame, no blame. There's no need to give anyone a list of explanations why it happened in the first place. Shame as a motivation will buck you out of the saddle.

Stress is a driver. It literally makes the weight hold on tighter to the reins. So does negative self-talk. The mirror and the scale are only two data points. Start with a food scale and your measuring cups.

Two words. Portion Control.

I'm going to tell you what I did to get the momentum going a few years ago. I stopped hopping on the scale. I have a doctor's scale and I set it to my dream weight. I would get on from time to time and one day, I was finally at my dream weight. I like to shake things UP with myself.

You need to make this fun and that includes the maintenance phase. I did not take progress photos. I did not want any more Befores and Afters. I did that in the past and it never stuck. I pulled out all of the stops and did everything completely the opposite of my past attempts.

Doing what we've always done will get us what we've always gotten. In my life, that was mostly nothin' but rebound weight gain with friends.

I no longer wanted the focus to be on looking different. I wanted to be different. I want long term weight stability for the rest of my life. No more All or Nothing Thinking and perpetual dieting that leads to rebound weight gain.

No befores and no afters because there's no such thing as the Finish Line. No more constant starts and stops and no more beginnings. Momentum will take you much further down the road than willpower and motivation ever will. They are limited resources that run out and leave you high and dry. Stranded along some long, lonesome stretch of highway without another car in sight.

I did everything, differently. I'm still standing. If you've been chasing weight loss for months and years and decades without every reaching your dream weight, just eat the foods you love and moderate your portions.
You'll get there and you'll be different. Edge your way down slowly. Don't drop it like it's hot and don't make comparisons with anyone else's progress.

JLRavenclaw

I have days where it just seems impossible and days where I am so filled with motivation that I know without a doubt I’ll hit every goal I have. I need to remember this journey has ups and downs.

Today is a meh day. I’m happy. Made good choices yesterday for food and this morning for breakfast so that’s positive!

I hope everyone is doing well.

Hiawassee88

I want a group of people around me to share stories. About anything. About this journey which includes weight loss and everyday things too. A strong and dedicated group that is forever hyping each other up.

@JLRavenclaw Have you checked out the group section. There are some dynamic groups that you might like.

happppymom

Just landed on this thread and it really resonates with me. Thanks for sharing - Would like to keep in touch!

JLRavenclaw

Oh man this week. It’s been a tough one for me but I have started walking more and being good with logging. I am not eating nearly enough due to really bad family issues. I am trying to keep a positive outlook on staying healthy and making good choices.

I hope everyone is doing well!

Valentina_99v

Hello everybody,

How’s everyone going? I hope the week so far is alright for you. I am starting my weight loss journey again. I packed it on during coronavirus because I was working at home and had zero motivation or discipline.

It’s great to have a thread to share things, and if anyone wants to reach out for a chat feel free to send me a friend request.

Valentina xx

The_pet_cheetah_jason_stathom

Hi everyone, my name is Nicole. I've been struggling lately with weight gain, and although it's not severe I'm absolutely terrified of it. I don't really know how all this works here on mfp, but I saw this group and was wondering if I could share my story and maybe get advice from people on the outside, someone who isn't family? I'm not sure I'd I should do that here or through messaging lol

Hiawassee88

Use your best judgment and vaguely share the details. Give us the high notes and we'll see where you're at, Nicole.

The_pet_cheetah_jason_stathom

Ok, so I was in a toxic relationship for 2 years. Like he wouldn't take me out if I didn't work out, made comments on my weight all the time and I was pretty sick for a while, just too skinny. Now that's over (thank God) and I'm happy again, not depressed, and gaining weight. I know the weight gain isn't all bad, but mentally, I'm struggling. My clothes are fitting different and idk I suppose I was just curious if anyone here could relate or had any advice for me

Hiawassee88

Nicole, you don't know me. If I had a guy like that I would tell him, Hey, Babe, it's time to cancel the gym membership. We're not working out anymore.

The only thing that terrorizes me is an apex predator like a grizzly bear but then again, take the L out of Lover because it's over. There is absolutely nothing to be terrified about, now. Weight is definitely not in the top ten.

Hiawassee88

Clear the decks. All of that is behind you. You're tectonic plates and I'm so glad you drifted apart.

Your clothes are fitting different. Ain't no thing but a chicken wing. We all know where we're at by the way our clothes fit. You can still get into them so don't stress over this. Relax.

The_pet_cheetah_jason_stathom

Thank you💛

suzyjmcd2

Hi all. I hit my goal back in 2019 and kept it off for a lot of months. But Easter weekend of 2020, when the pandemic "took off" here in the NYC area, I had surgery for a tumor in my small intestines. Part of the intestines were removed with the tumor, which tested benign . So it was a great outcome. But I wasn't allowed to eat fiber for many weeks, and I wasn't allowed to exercise other than walking for 8 weeks. That took quite a toll on me, both mentally and physically, after all the changes I'd made to reach my goal.

I finally started getting back on track about 6 months later, but I'd definitely gained some weight back, and I had some pain in a finger that affected my using weights in my workouts. Just kind of held steady at that new higher weight for a while.

Turned out that pain in my finger was another tumor - completely unrelated to the one in my small intestines - but also tested benign after the surgery to remove it in August of last year. Again, I wasn't allowed to lift any weights for about 8 weeks with that surgery. Well, then I really started to gain bc I'd just lost all motivation to eat well or move enough. Also had a torn tendon in my ankle this Spring... and you guessed it.... no exercise other than during PT and stretching exercises they gave me to do at home.

So here I am, I just started focusing on losing again two weeks ago, at only 2 pounds from my highest weight when I started here in 2018. Starting over again.

A little concerned bc I'm having carpal tunnel surgery at the end of August, but I haven't been doing any strength training as of yet, anyway. Just starting out again with walking and focusing on food right now. So it won't really set back any "workouts" just yet. It will definitely hinder my ingredient prep for healthy meals... not being able to use my dominant hand to cut or anything like that for a while, but I'm going to do my best.

Weighed in on Monday 1.5 lbs lighter, so here I go. Just going to do my best. Not setting any specific goals... just need to stay focused and motivated. I did it before. I know how to do it. I just had to be READY to do it again.