How do I start over again???

MrsE03

Last year I lost 60 lbs with MFP and exercise...throughout the fall/winter/spring I've managed to put back 20lbs. How do I start over and get my motivation back? I'm SO disappointed in myself. Giving in to temptation is my biggest hurdle. HELP!!!

sheedy17

slow steps, I started with giving up junk food and still eating the same way I did, I then picked a diet and stuck with it for a month, and then i choose to count calories and now I am 63 pounds lighter, Picture what you would look like with the weight that you would lose, Ive never seen myself healthy and skinny so I cant get a visual of what I look like, that motivates me at the gym to work hard and get that final session in as I am excited to see what I would look like.

Id be happy to try to motivate you, the first step is trying, there is support here for you, add me if you want!

reddz12

Start the same way you started last time. You've noticed and accepted thats the first part.. so do something about it! Get up get moving and make smarter decisions.

healthygreek

Let yourself give in to temptation everyday but stay within your calorie goal.

HeidiCooksSupper

I'm right there with you. I lost with MFP then fell off the wagon and retrieved all those pounds and one extra. It took me a few weeks of dither and fits and starts but finally, I decided to spend a week logging my food without changing anything to see that I was indeed eating TDEE+10% -- enough to gain about 1/2 pound a month on a steady basis. On week two, I resumed the TDEE-20% that worked so well before and am, indeed back on the downward path.

So, do what you need to do. The methods you used before that worked are still here AND so are a bunch of folks in the same boat and ready to help you row.

venus_blue

I've done this- more than once - and it is very disheartening. You just pick yourself up, brush yourself off and accept that you are human. You lost 60 pounds, you know you're capable and motivated enough to do the work, you just need to find that drive again. Think about why you want to lose weight, what being fit means to you and how it feels when that weight comes off. Picture the life you want, and keep picturing it. Intention is an important factor of success. Count on pals you make here. Accountability and support are great motivators for most people and plenty of folks here are willing to be your cheering section. Fee free to add me if you like.

Also, don't exclude foods, just make room for them so that they are not such a "temptation". If you know you can have a cupcake, or pizza or whatever your biggest temptations are, you'll feel less impulse to overindulge from feeling deprived.

You can do this!

venus_blue

I'm right there with you. I lost with MFP then fell off the wagon and retrieved all those pounds and one extra. It took me a few weeks of dither and fits and starts but finally, I decided to spend a week logging my food without changing anything to see that I was indeed eating TDEE+10% -- enough to gain about 1/2 pound a month on a steady basis. On week two, I resumed the TDEE-20% that worked so well before and am, indeed back on the downward path.

This. Very helpful advice.

homemadehippy

I'm right there with you. I lost with MFP then fell off the wagon and retrieved all those pounds and one extra. It took me a few weeks of dither and fits and starts but finally, I decided to spend a week logging my food without changing anything to see that I was indeed eating TDEE+10% -- enough to gain about 1/2 pound a month on a steady basis. On week two, I resumed the TDEE-20% that worked so well before and am, indeed back on the downward path.

This. Very helpful advice.

I did this too. It worked for me. I was in the same boat as you. I had lost 35 or so, gained back 10 over the winter and got myself back on track. You can do it too!

Ninkyou

Start with weighing and logging everything you put in your mouth. The rest will follow.

bizgirl26

Don't beat yourself up. Think about why you lost control the last time. Was it because you stopped tracking, went back to your old habits etc? Sometimes if you lose too quickly and are not eating enough you end up feeling deprived and binging . Then you feellike a failure and give up. Allow yourself some treats but don't give up. Remember how good you felt when you lost the weight before :flowerforyou:

Frank_Just_Frank

Same way you started last time. It will come back. Good luck!

Holly_Roman_Empire

Let yourself give in to temptation everyday but stay within your calorie goal.

This. It seems whatever method you tried before wasn't realistic for long-term success.

Pema91

Don't think it as starting over. That is where I always go wrong. For me, phsycologically, this puts a huge amount of pressure on to myself in one way but also gives me an 'out' in another. But this is because I am a habitual procrastinator.
Think of it as a continuation, a whoopsidaisy but the show must go on, must try harder, etc etc. This forces you to stop beating yourself up about it and will hopefully put you in to a better state of mind to lose the weight. I fully endorse the theory that stressing over putting on weight can hamper your weight loss goals.

Good luck sweety, cyper hug from Scotland.

Px

AmyRhubarb

When I started back for the very last time (1026 days ago!! woot!), I began by logging into MFP every single day. I was inspired by the people on my friends list, and I read the success stories section of the boards every morning. I also remembered how much it SUCKS to be starting over again, and vowed that this would be the last time.

After logging in daily, I also started logging my food daily. Didn't matter if I was over, or slipped up & ate junk - my goal was set to a reasonable loss level, and I aimed for goal every day, but I logged every little thing. I looked back over my dairy at the end of the day and the end of the week, and found the areas where I did well, and the areas where I could do better. I decided that some foods weren't worth the calories and some were, and adjusted my portions to make it fit into my goals.

Exercise goes great with good eating, so I began planning things out a week at a time. I'm a morning exerciser, and getting it done early helps me avoid excuses later in the day, and avoid that feeling of regret for not having it done it. I chose workouts that fit into my schedule, knew what was ahead for each day, and put my workout clothes out the night before.

So one step at a time, and 1026 days later, I have reached my weight loss goal and beyond! Logging is a habit, eating good food AND treats and fitting it all into my goals is a wonderful habit, and exercise is a habit - and I enjoy it! I can stick with these habits for the rest of my life, and I plan to! No more starting over - EVER, just continued progress! :drinker: I'll drink to that - and fit it in my goals! LOL

dbmata

Last year I lost 60 lbs with MFP and exercise...throughout the fall/winter/spring I've managed to put back 20lbs. How do I start over and get my motivation back? I'm SO disappointed in myself. Giving in to temptation is my biggest hurdle. HELP!!!

Same way you started over with gaining weight back. You make a decision and commit to a course of action.

MrsE03

Thank you all for the great support...I will pick myself up and dust myself off and go back to the way I was before I let temptation rule me. I can do this! I just have to remember what my motto was at that time..."Discipline is remembering what you want".

PinkyFett

How did you start before? I'd day if it worked once, try that again?

suzieqcookie

I'm right there with you. It took me 18 months and gaining almost ALL of it back, but it was hard. I tried doing what i did before (pick a day and just do it) but it just didn't work for me. So this time, i spent a month working on my eating habits first (addressed the snacking, portion size and food choices issues) and it was MUCH easier to start logging again. I am back to looking forward to it every day! We are all here if you need us :flowerforyou:

littlelaura

while regaining is disappointing for sure, think on the bright side, 20 lbs gained is better than the full 60 so you are still down 40 lbs yay for you! Restart by just taking a walk and making a few good choices with your food. It will come back to you.