How to get over the initial hump

9xuzts

So I've been trying to lose weight for years, but nothing ever changes. I get about two or three weeks into a diet and then lose all motivation and binge and gain back all the weight I lost initially. What can I do? It gets depressing.

AggieCass09

stop binging...make SMALL changes to your lifestyle that you can stick to for ever (smaller portions, adding in 20 minutes of activity, etc.)

melizerd

Set lots of mini-goals for yourself so it's not one big number. Put up a sign on your fridge "Are you bored or are you hungry?" I eat when I'm bored so that was mine but yours could say something different.

Know that it takes time to really form a new habit. I planned out what I would eat for the first month down to the letter ahead of time. That kept me plugging along in the "ZOMG I'M STARVING" portion, because I was used to eating so much before I thought I was hungry when really I just needed to get used to normal portions.

channa007

Change your view. Don't see it as a diet but rather a new lifestyle that you can maintain and stick to your calorie goal. When you get hungry grab some veggies and drink water.

SergeantSunshine_reused

Take one day at a time :flowerforyou:

Dont try too hard! Just make small changes so you dont feel overwhelmed :]

Michelle9939

I think what has really helped me is my online weight loss buddies. They are supportive and encouraging to me. And seeing the number on scale go down motivates me to keep going. In the past, I never stuck to a diet. But now I am eating and not starving myself. I am exercising. I am seeing results. I have been doing this for 6 weeks now and have lost 7 pounds. I feel like if my lazy butt can do this, anyone can.

taso42_DELETED

What does your 2 or 3 weeks of "diet" consist of?

Gwooh

I agree!!!! TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME AND MAKE SMALL CHANGES!!!! I do the same thing you do...I just tried Low Carb...while i lost 7lbs in a week...the weekend came (with a hurricane) and I ate it all back. I have taken a look back and I notice how much I have changed to lose 22lbs since January. You CAN DO IT!

healthybabs

Here are some things that helped me to succeed this time when I had also failed so many times before:

1-Take the word "diet" out of your vocabulary, instead call it a lifestyle or a journey
2-Instead of thinking about what your final goal is, think more in terms of your daily goals-they are much more achievable on a daily basis. such as: walk 10 minutes every day this week, cook a new vegetable 3x this week, if dessert is your nemesis limit it to 2x per week instead of daily. Get the idea?
3-Start educating yourself - There are many good websites out there to learn about sodium, sugar, high cholesterol, etc. tune into whatever your specific health risks are and learn what you can do to turn them around.
4-Learn how to read labels and what they mean to you and your journey
5- Take your measurements and some "before" pictures, they are both great motivators when you need it most
6- Don't freak out about the scale, just start to develop some good habits first and the weight will come off
7-Don't be so hard on yourself. Just because you slip up one day is no reason to call yourself a failure, just get back after it and learn from the slip. Was there a trigger to it that you can possibly avoid next time around?
8-Journal everything and start keeping a blog. They are great tools for reflection which you might need from time to time or just to give your self a pat on the back!!

Feel free to friend me, would love to help you along if you are willling.

belinda_b

Just keep going. Don't even think about it. Just do it.

9xuzts

Thanks guys! I guess you're right, and I just need to take it slow. I'm probably too restrictive with myself so that I end up craving sweet things even more. I'll start making some smaller changes so that I can stick to them. Being in college doesn't help things too much tho. lol Man, the munchies hit the hardest at midnight!