Starting Over for the Millionth Time

jkowula

I'm going to be honest this is a little discouraging that several people are being what I perceive as critical. I clarified all of the goals in my subsequent post (working out at lunch with a coworker, etc.). The wheat thing is an allergy, not a random thing I decided to not eat. I also clarified that the goal in April is not a hard goal and that I won't be upset if I'm not 145, just that I want to feel good by then. I understand everyone loses weight differently, but I didn't think anything I listed was especially aggressive. In the past, I've stuck to a strict diet of 1200 calories with no exercise cals, worked out 6 days week stringently, etc. (very unhealthy) so to me this seems like a realistic, more sustainable approach.

I don't mean to offend with this post and maybe messages are just getting misconstrued via the internet, but I was hoping for more support.

Forgive me, but I haven't read past this if someone has already replied similar to me. But here goes... I am a very all or nothing kind of guy. I have had people tell me the same thing, that it's not realistic. Here is the thing. It is doable, it can be done. Hell if a UFC fighter can cut 22 pounds in 24 hours, it can be done. The problem is you leave yourself zero room for error. So don't mess up, no excuses, no one time piece of cake, no sneaking things, no missing workouts... Just DO IT. Period. Chances are you will mess up get discouraged and get pissed off. Trust me I have been there so many times. I am now doing close to the best I have ever done, but I am taking it in moderation, because I have failed so many times with the all or nothing way. The choice is yours...

jjennyb4

JUST DO YOU....

donnymom

You sound just like me! I love pizza and food! Food is my happiness. I had to learn portion control and I didn't give up anything, but try to stay within my healthy food groups and limits. If I have popcorn with butter or a cookie, I don't beat myself up like I used to and give up. I just realize I needed it (wanted it) and had it and get back on track. Think of it as a lifestyle change for the better to be healthy and love yourself no matter what. At least you are NOT GAINING! Have the pizza, but get it thin crusted. The next meal, cut back and if you aren't hungry, have a yogurt or cottage cheese and fruit.

sweetpea03b

2) Forget the cardio. If you're eating at a deficit YOU DO NOT NEED CARDIO. Do one OR the other. The only purpose for cardio is giving you a deficit where there is not one already (ie: christmas day you want to eat all the goodies... do cardio to burn the extra calories)

WHOA there. "The only purpose for cardio is giving you a deficit".

I think perhaps your cardiovascular system may think there is another purpose of cardiovascular exercise. Your heart is a muscle, too, you know?

Even viewed only through the lens of weightloss, moderate amounts of cardio (of any form, you don't have to be grinding on the treadmill) can increase your chances of success by increasing the amount you can actually eat while cutting. Making it significantly less miserable.

Hm... sounds pretty much exactly like what I said... only worded differently. Yes, you can eat more if you work out... that's exactly what I said. But.... I want it to be clear that OP doesn't HAVE to do a crap load of cardio in order to lose weight. If she eats at a deficit alone she will lose. Yes, it is good for your heart health to do cardio. I run once or twice a week if I feel like it. This coming off of several times losing weight by doing a crap load of cardio and then getting sick and tired of it and giving it up.. and gaining it all back thinking I had to work out like a maniac to lose. That is my point.

BL_Coleman

I feel ya, feel free to add me.

I havent done to great lately ( i had pizza 2 slices for dinner the last 3 nights)..But i have been in vacation mindset for a month..which means I am not losing. Not gaining, because I did manage to make some signifigant life style changes from last year...but I need to jump back on teh bandwagon as well. I want to be 125 or under..and am currently at 136-138. So if you want someone , If you message me I reply, but I do not log on the weekends ( never did, even when I was losing consistently) but I have never lost more than 1lb a week either and my normal weight loss when on track is closer to .7...but I have not given up chocolate, wine or chees fries...

hopedangling

You can add me too!! I'm also back in the saddle!! Would love the support too!!:smokin: :happy:

mjenson17

You can add me if you want! I eliminated all of the people I had on mine because they weren't encouraging or helpful at all. One just complained about her relatives. Weird. Anyway. I'm a struggler as well. I'm 5'3 and would like to lose around 10 lbs. Not much, but I have poly cystic ovary syndrom which is a weird hormone issue that makes it 3x easier to gain and 3x harder to lose so even at around 1200-1300 cals a day, nothing happens. Hopefully we can encourage each other along! The biggest help I need is to not skirt the gym. I'm great at making excuses and need someone to help me

Add me if you want. Good luck!

stumblinthrulife

2) Forget the cardio. If you're eating at a deficit YOU DO NOT NEED CARDIO. Do one OR the other. The only purpose for cardio is giving you a deficit where there is not one already (ie: christmas day you want to eat all the goodies... do cardio to burn the extra calories)

WHOA there. "The only purpose for cardio is giving you a deficit".

I think perhaps your cardiovascular system may think there is another purpose of cardiovascular exercise. Your heart is a muscle, too, you know?

Even viewed only through the lens of weightloss, moderate amounts of cardio (of any form, you don't have to be grinding on the treadmill) can increase your chances of success by increasing the amount you can actually eat while cutting. Making it significantly less miserable.

Hm... sounds pretty much exactly like what I said... only worded differently. Yes, you can eat more if you work out... that's exactly what I said. But.... I want it to be clear that OP doesn't HAVE to do a crap load of cardio in order to lose weight. If she eats at a deficit alone she will lose. Yes, it is good for your heart health to do cardio. I run once or twice a week if I feel like it. This coming off of several times losing weight by doing a crap load of cardio and then getting sick and tired of it and giving it up.. and gaining it all back thinking I had to work out like a maniac to lose. That is my point.

It's not really exactly what you said, though is it? Your post completely ignored the primary benefit of cardio - cardiovascular health. It's not a secondary benefit to creating a calorie deficit. It's the primary benefit. Calorie deficit is a happy by-product.

devil_in_a_blue_dress

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

What if you set a different goal this time? One that's more focused on the process? Say, 4 days of exercise and 1600 calories/day every day? Maybe that would help you to stop bingeing.

Just a thought -- it's not like I have all the answers, but it sounds like you could use a change in what you are doing.

Just quoting for truth.

futurestarz

Feel free to add me! I have very similar eating patterns, and I'm looking to make a permanent lifestyle change! I also am the MOH in a wedding in May, and I want to drop at least 30-40 lb by then!

paultireland

Don't beat yourself up. I'm with you on the millionth start. I'd like to offer a few words of encouragement if you don't mind.

Years ago, I worked for Boeing Satellite systems here in California. I worked with actual rocket scientists who designed propulsion systems for satellites.

One day I was discussing the moon landing with them, and I learned an interesting and valuable lesson. When you send a rocket to the moon, it's never perfect. They don't fly in a straight line and land exactly where they planned without any changes. What really happens is they point toward where they want to go, and launch the rocket. Then, along the way, they go off course slightly and make hundreds or even thousands of tiny course corrections until they end up where they want to be.

I think success in losing weight or pretty much anything else is like this. You will never get anywhere until you start. You can't let perfection be the enemy of doing well. You move forward, and if you go off course a bit, you make a correction and keep moving forward and if you keep trying and stick to it, you will eventually get to the place you are trying to reach.

That being said, we should be able to eat like normal human beings now and then. We should be able to indulge in Huevos Rancheros, a slice of pizza with salad, cereal and toast, chips and salsa, cookies, buttered popcorn, or chocolate bar or even all of these in one day if it is only once in awhile. As long as the next day, we don't dwell on yesterday, we make a course correction, and move on.

I know you can make it. I know you can stick to it. You just have to find the combination of things that works for you.

I'm going to leave you with a few quotes from Thomas Edison that I think apply to success in weight-loss and life in general. It took him 10,000 tries to find the right filament necessary to succeed in making the light bulb work. When he was asked about it he said...

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
― Thomas A. Edison


“Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
― Thomas A. Edison


“We often miss opportunity because it's dressed in overalls and looks like work”
― Thomas A. Edison

MissSarahAllison315

I'm here too Feel free to add me! I'm on all the time (literally haha!)

clambert1273

This is what worked for me.... and its flexible - I love eating what I want It's an excellent, informative and detailed post!


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

Cheri0830

I'm 56 and I hope this is the last time I have to try and get it off I just want to keep it off, feel good about me, feel good in my clothes ( the ones I can't wear right now) And feel good to play with my grandson and I have the 2nd grandbaby on the way. We can do this.

yalitza88

Hello,

One again 'Im starting this over again from the beginning. Back to basics. Starting with planning out my meals and starting Insanity AGAIN. But this time I want to do this with support " A buddy " I prefer a female. Someone I can relate to that's down to earth. If interested please let me know...Thanks


Email. yltzbeauchamp@yahoo.com

cajun_qt

well done on your eating! You must have had a good protein score for the week!

paxbfl

OP doesn't HAVE to do a crap load of cardio in order to lose weight.

Except she LIKES cardio. In her profile she says "I like running, swimming, and LOVE dancing!" and she wants to do a half-marathon and (maybe) a full marathon.

So my advice would be to do cardio if you like it. If you do cardio and you have a bad day or two, it won't destroy your whole week. It makes it a LOT easier to stay under your calorie goals - and gives you important health benefits. Look into doing HIIT - high intensity interval training. It's a great way to push yourself a bit and really get your metabolism fired up.

Since you've struggled with your weight your whole life, I suspect the real problem is FOOD. I'm the same way. When I first started MFP I was SHOCKED to see how many calories I was eating in a day. I figured I was eating between 2,500 and 3,000 calories. In truth, I was eating between 3,500 and 4,000! Well, it's no wonder I couldn't lose weight!

When I got my eating under control, I kept working out (lots of cardio!) and the weight just dropped off. I lost 40 pounds in 4 months. I've since lost another 10 and maintained that loss for the past 6 months. I've reached my body fat goal of 12% and set a new PR for the half-marathon (under 2 hours for the first time in my life (I'm 46).

I allow myself a "free day" every week or two. When I get tired of counting every calorie and denying myself food, I just log "free day, 3,500 calories" and hit "logging complete". Then I eat whatever I want. This gives me a nice mental break (usually paired up with a physical rest day). By the end of the day I feel so crappy that I'm extremely motivated to have a good week.

Lately I've gotten tired of feeling really crappy, so I've limited my "free day" gluttony a bit but I still log it the same to get that mental break from logging.

Two other recommendations for you... first, I recommend giving up all simple carbs (sugars, white bread, white rice, etc) for a couple of weeks so you can break the cycle of addiction (AKA the sugar roller coaster). If you're like me, you'll have withdrawal symptoms - headache, cravings, fatigue, irritability, etc. for about 3 days. Then you'll feel a lot better and have a lot more willpower over sweets and carbs. Eat lean protein, complex carbs, veggies and lots of water.

Second, eat multiple small meals every day instead of 3 large meals. This helps keep your blood sugar more stable, so you're less hungry and have more control over cravings. You'll also feel better - more "even", less fatigue after eating - that afternoon slump feeling after a big lunch.

Here's everything I did to lose 40 pounds in 4 months. The calorie counts I used were wrong (I've since bought a HRM) but you can see I was pushing myself quite a bit. You don't have to push yourself this hard, but if you like cardio maybe you will enjoy it! Speaking for myself, I feel AWESOME.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/920970-how-i-lost-the-fat?hl=how+i+lost+the+fat#posts-13975455

P.S. Feel free to add me as a friend if you really want to get this done!

determined_erin

You can eat those things but just watch the portion sizes. I believe as long as you are in your calorie range, you will be able to lose weight.

Npettersen

Wishing you luck, I have been steadily gaining weight here & there for the last 5 years. Every couple years we go on a beach vacation and I restrict my diet and heavily exercise a few months before because I cannot stand the thought of being at the beach with family & friends all of which are in better physical shape than me, then I promptly put all the weight back on after. Self confidence is key and though I feel I have that in spades once I am actually in a bikini my self appreciation tends to take a nosedive! The problem in my past is that I have approached weight loss as a one time end "goal". I don't think you are being too aggressive but you may want to set smaller goals and work up to the bigger one. Take it from me all or nothing rarely works. Cabo is going to be amazing no matter if you lose 20 or 40 pounds. Maybe a long term goal is to view food and exercise with the thoughts like "would I eat this if I was going to the beach tomorrow? " or " what workouts would I do this week if I was going to be at the beach in 14 days?" Keep up the enthusiasm!!! I know you will look amazing!!!

cvstokke

I really do appreciate everyone's advice and encouragement! I am definitely not gunning for losing 2 lbs every week and I have learned from my mistakes that cutting below 1200 calories is a terrible idea for long term results. My current MFP goal is set at 1.5 lbs per week with a goal of 1200 cal net per day. I think what I'll do is do my best to keep it to 1200 but in light of what you've all said, not stress if I go up to 1400-1500 net here and there.

Also thanks a TON for the info on replacing the fitbit! I emailed them and am gathering the info they requested to hopefully get my replacement for free!

wilsoje74

Just curious what about them is aggressive?

Also for the person who said not to eliminate food groups, I totally agree. The only reason I'm trying to reduce my wheat intake is because of the allergy. I'm realistic in knowing I can't cut it out completely because I like things like pizza too much

Trying to change everything all at once is aggressive and probably why you can't sustain it long term. 1200 cal is low, 2 lb a week is high.

cvstokke

Thanks for the constructive feedback and the friend adds. I'm looking forward to hopefully making it stick this time.

duckiebayb

I know how it feels! I am on the shorter side and have always been a little heavy or "thick" as some people like to call it. I swear this has to be my 10 millionth try at trying to get healthy and back in shape. I love to eat and snack from the moment I wake up until Im ready for bed, Im trying very hard to retrain myself to be more aware of my decisions.

I'm wishing you the best of luck and know that you will be able to reach your goal weight loss prior to vacation!! I am constantly on here, posting and encouraging everyone around me!! Feel free to add me

doointhis4me

I used to really like snacking all day..what has worked for me is drinking a lot.. Of water... I try to get 8-12 cups a day..helps me feel full and cuts down on the snacking..hopefully this would work for you too good luck :-)

SezxyStef

I would do the same thing if I was only netting 1200 a day?

Why so little?

You don't have over 100lbs to lose...so 2lbs a week is too much to fast....

paxbfl

I would do the same thing if I was only netting 1200 a day?

Why so little?

You don't have over 100lbs to lose...so 2lbs a week is too much to fast....

If she she eats 1500-1800 calories and burns 300-600 in the gym to net around 1,200 she will lose a lot of weight and feel awesome. Work in some lifting in there, and she'll look awesome too. I see no problem with it.

But that's different from starving yourself on 1,200 calories and feeling crappy. That's not sustainable over the long-term.

Mr_Knight

I've tried this so many times, but I'm trying to not let that discourage me.

Why not? Without facing up to what has happened before, the millionth time will end up just like the 999,999 previous times.

Own the failure first.

donnymom

That was beautifully written.

dimplz1965

Sweat is fat crying. I've never heard that before and I need to print that out and put it on my computer so I drag my behind away from this thing and get that fat crying!

Gingerspice45

I am also starting over for the millionth time. I'm looking to lose 100 pounds. I'm hoping I can do it by sometime in 2015 or end of 2014. I have an overeating problem when I'm stressed. I started after Thanksgiving and going strong so far.