Fell Off the Wagon and Fell Hard

ElizabethAnnSz

Hi everyone. I'm looking for encouragement to begin again. I blew it. In December of 2011 I began the Couch to 5k program. I lost about 25lbs and ran my first 5k last May 2012. This year I ran 4 5ks. My last one in April. Then the you know what hit the fan. I had some major issues at work that destroyed my self esteem. I am still at my job but am looking for a new one but there's nothing out there. I've gained 20+ lbs back and I've stopped running. I couldn't run a mile if I had to. I'm totally depressed and I can't get back into the positive frame of mind I was in pre job issue.

Has anyone gone through something like this? What did you do to lift yourself up? How did you get back into the swing of things again?

Please give me some ideas. I'm dying here. I need help.

Thanks for listening.

AmyRhubarb

I bet if you got back into running, you'd be back at your old distance and pace in no time. It hasn't been that long. Restart c25k if you want. Remember what you loved about learning to run the first time, how awesome it felt to complete another week and run farther than you had before. Do it again.

Are you logging food? If not, start. Doesn't matter what it is, doesn't matter if you're not back to eating healthy at this point and going over goal every day - just log it. Seeing the log of what you're eating can help motivate you to start making the changes. Pop into MFP (beyond the food diary) and check out the Success Stories forum for motivation.

Figure out what the best time is for you to do some exercise, schedule it on your calendar, in your phone, on a post-it note on your bathroom mirror - or at least in your brain - and lay your clothes out the night before. Put them some place prominent so you'll see them. Then put 'em on! Lace up and get to it, even if it's only for a 15 minute brisk walk, a quick you tube weight session or body weight exercises, just move for 15 minutes, and build up to longer times.

If you want it bad enough, you'll do it. You know you can, you did it before, and you can do it again. Make the decision that you WILL do it, one step at a time. Resolve to do it, commit to it, and follow through. You know you'll be glad you did.

aliciaaw

Listen to what Amy has to say, she a great motivate. Amy is one of my friends and she all with gives great advice! ????

texasokie

I know exactly where you're at! I too was in a bad situation at work and fell off the wagon. I'm an emotional eater and the problems at work really took a toll on me! I quit coming to MFP, stopped watching what I ate, etc.. Then my clothes started getting tighter on me. A couple days ago I found myself looking at bigger sizes in the store and it hit me...I refuse to let life cause me to go backwards! Its not easy to start over but have decided that's what I need to do. So, I reset my starting date on MFP, deleted all my old weigh ins and am going to take it 1 day at a time. Do not beat yourself up over this just decide to start over with a clean slate. Make today the first day of the rest of your life! You can do this!!