Starting over again and trying to change this time

jazzyrose017

How do people ensure they follow through on changes and tracking everything? I am trying to start new and focus on losing weight and following through on healthier eating but I have done this before and then when work and life get in the way I struggle. Looking for suggestions and maybe others to talk with on the journey. I know its important as the weight is impacting my health and I traveled overseas recently and it was not a good experience and really drives home the need to be healthier.

AnnPT77

As I've said here before, I think the biggest factor in sticking with a plan is not to make it any harder than it needs to be to accomplish one's goals.

A lot of people arrive here with a "go hard" mindset, adopt some kind of restrictive eating plan (maybe a much-hyped named diet), then maybe stack some punitively intense daily exercise plan on top of that. Usually, that doesn't go well, or last long. It's too hard.

My sense is that more of the long-term weight-maintainers here have done something much more boring and gradual, maybe logging what they eat now, making manageable cuts and changes as they learn more, aiming to gradually lose weight while staying mostly full and happy, maybe finding some fun ways - or at least tolerable and practical ways - of adding more movement to their days. That isn't as glamorous, but it can deliver long-term results.

When it comes to tracking everything:

First, it's optional. I'm pretty old, was an adult before detailed calorie counting was a practical strategy. Some of them adopted formal meal plans, but IMO/IME that usually had some sustainability problems, too. Some of them just got a general idea of which foods were more calorie dense, and cut down on the frequency or portion sizes of those things, probably eating more veggies, fewer fried things, leaner meats, etc. My own father did that when he'd gained weight in retirement, and stayed at a reasonable weight the rest of his life, no calorie counting. Maybe some of them added exercise alongside somewhat reduced eating, but it could be simple things like walking, or hobbies like (back then) bowling or square dancing or something.

Second, if you decide to calorie count with something like MFP, it's necessary to accept 2 things:
1. There's a learning curve. It will seem like a lot of effort and disruption for a while, probably a small number of weeks, but if a person works at it, they'll gradually learn how to use the tools efficiently. For me, most days take a tiny number of minutes to log. Ten minutes would be a lot. Even that's a small time investment for me in order to stay at a healthy weight, which has been a huge quality of life improvement.
2. Sometimes you'll need to rough estimate. That would be some restaurant meals, eating at friends' homes, travel, eating unusual things you didn't make yourself, etc. That'll be fine. If a person does their best, and is more structured when cooking at home on their own, eventually they'll get better at estimating, too. Close is good enough.

I think those are the main thoughts or tips I can suggest.

Best wishes: It's worth the effort, IME!

ebixby220

@AnnPT77 I appreciate you sharing your perspective on this...I'm a MFP dropout, several times over, but I'm trying it again. I'm trying to approach this with more patience and understanding that bodies change as we age...its a bit harder now, so my results are going to be much different. And they sure are...frustratingly so. Your insight and advice helped me see it a little differently. Thank you!

totameafox

This is my fourth time starting. Each time I take what I have learned in the past and try to add something new. I'm intending on this being my last start because the rest of my life needs to be mindful. not perfect. I just need to be aware.

My biggest change this time is trying to be more engaging with people who are also looking to make their life a little healthier. I created a group where I am committed to logging something daily and where I can encourage others for what they post. feel free to join me https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/147555-speak-friend-and-enter

AnnPT77

ebixby220 wrote: »

@AnnPT77 I appreciate you sharing your perspective on this...I'm a MFP dropout, several times over, but I'm trying it again. I'm trying to approach this with more patience and understanding that bodies change as we age...its a bit harder now, so my results are going to be much different. And they sure are...frustratingly so. Your insight and advice helped me see it a little differently. Thank you!

I agree that they do. After all, I'm nearly half again your age (69). It has implications, sure, but I feel like it's easy to blow that up in one's own mind into some kind of massive obstacle that changes everything, especially in the context of a culture that seems to treat age as a synonym for disability. IME, it's not that.

I think we have some advantages as we age, too: We know ourselves better and better, understand our own strengths and weaknesses, have experience in other parts of life with gaming our unique personality and character to accomplish complicated goals in bits spread over a long period of time. We've maybe gotten an education, built a career, raised a family, created a home or managed finances, probably learned complicated new skills along the way.

That's exactly the kind of challenges weight management and fitness are: Complicated goals to be worked at persistently and over a long time. I started being regularly active at around the age you are now, in my late 40s/early 50s. Stupidly, I didn't lose weight until 59-60. These days, I'm still active, still at a healthy weight. If a hedonistic aging hippie flake like me can do it - someone with almost no budget of discipline, willpower or motivation - I figure most average adults can do it, too.

Even easy plans can go places. Best wishes!