Staying consistent🙌

Kinya4571

I was just just wondering what all helps you all stay consistent on you're calorie counting? I was just wondering because I’m been logging for a week straight and am trying not to backslide or use food for comfort.

LiveOnceBeHappy

How will you feel if you break your streak? If you break your streak, the entire last week will have been for nothing.

Find a treat that you would like that will satisfy you. I was just looking at some ice cream I want online. First, I looked at Dairy Queen. Too many calories. Then I remembered Magnum Caramel bars! I will be going to Walmart to buy some. I can fit one into my calorie goal for today if I stick to my plan the rest of the day.

You can absolutely do this. If I can, you can!

AnnPT77

For starters, I believe in making a plan that's on the relatively easy-to-follow side, not something that involves aggressively low calories, restricting all so-called "bad" foods I like and would be capable of moderating, punitively intense unpleasant exercise. None of that is essential, and any of it just makes sticking with it harder.

Second, I don't agree that this is an all-or-nothing "succeed or fail forever" kind of endeavor. I don't think one misstep means previous effort was for naught. Incremental progress is still progress.

Yes, consistency and sticking with it is good. But if something off-plan happens, I think the right action is to think briefly about what triggered the oopsie, and think about how to handle that situation better next time it comes around . . . to revise the plan to make it more realistic, basically. Then rehearse the whole new scenario in your head vividly, like an internal movie, so it sticks. I'd spend no more than about 10 minutes on that whole process, then let it go until the similar situation arises when I test drive that new plan.

Guilt and self-recrimination burn zero calories, and feel icky. IMO, there's no reason to go there.

Also, it's tempting to fall into "I've blown it, going to go with this failure and start over tomorrow". No. That's like going out in the morning to drive to work, finding a flat tire, then puncturing the other 3 tires and going back to bed instead of fixing the flat and getting to work a little late. Or starting off to drive to a vacation spot, taking a wrong turn at 50 miles in out of 500, then giving up and driving back home instead of correcting and getting on with that vacation. Why?

Just get back on course as soon as it's manageable. (How long that may be can vary, but the principle applies, no matter.)

Taking some positive steps forward is great. Obviously, keeping going steadily on that path is ideal. But if there's one step back here or there, it's not doom. Just keep making positive changes, moving gradually toward habits that take you to your weight/fitness goals, doing a little bit better across the spectrum as you go along. That'll be fine. You can make good progress.

One further thing: You mention temptation to use food for comfort. I'd suggest literally making a list right now of other comforting things you could do when needed, other than eat. I don't know what your list would be. Some common ones are taking a nice walk outdoors, some yoga or stretching, prayer or meditation, journaling, calming music, a creative pursuit of some type if that's enjoyable, warm shower or aromatherapy bubblebath, etc. Put that personalized list somewhere you can find it. Next time you're tempted to use food to comfort yourself, do one of the things on the list . . . first, and ideally instead, of using food for comfort. Break the cycle, replace an old less-productive habit with a new, improved habit.

That's another thing to work on gradually: If the problem isn't hunger or nutrition, the best solution isn't food. The best solution is something that identifies, attacks and counters the root cause. The second best is a distraction that doesn't run counter to our goals, but breaks the urge to do something unproductive.

Summarizing: Have a solid plan. Do as well as you can, as consistently as you can. If something goes sideways, don't beat yourself up, just adjust the plan and get back on that better plan. That's a path to success. Only giving up the effort altogether results in failure to progress. Hang in there, keep going, you'll succeed.

I'm cheering for you - IME, the quality of life improvement is worth the effort it takes to get there.

mkculs

I accept that I won't always hit my deficit goal, and that is ok, because I am still losing. My deficit is somewhere over 700 (I'm honestly not sure exactly b/c my age and activity level make it harder to figure out and I don't care that much to be exact). If I miss by 100, I am still at a deficit of 600. Cool.

I have to eat a lot more than I have around the house to "tempt" me if I want to blow through all my deficit. And that just doesn't happen except very, very, very rarely. If it does? Oh, well; tomorrow is another day.

darke_star

Great advice AnnPT77! I have tried losing weight many times in my life, but for the first time I have made a real commitment and am having more success than ever before.

I think the biggest thing is that for the the first time I decided to lose the weight for ME and not an external reason (to keep up with kids; for an event; etc).

I have also made the decision to keep a food diary for life. It really makes me accountable. I put everything in, even if I slip up. At least if you do gain weight you can look back and see why.

Another big thing is that if you have a slip up, to not beat yourself up about it and just get back on track asap. In the past I have given up after a blow out and put all the weight on again plus extra. Even if you gain, if you get back on track you WILL start losing again.

I have also started replacing comfort eating/drinking with going for a walk. It was hard to start with, but has definitely become more of a habit now. It is much easier after it becomes a habit.

Keep going...we can do it!