what gets you through?

irishdancer23

the past couple months, i have had no motivation. seriously. none. i have been bingeing, and as of this saturday, i have gained back EVERYTHING i lost in my 6 months on MFP. i feel tired, stressed out, and overall absolutely disgusted with myself. however, the bigger problem is that apparently i'm not disgusted enough with myself to stop overeating. i i have had so many moments when I think "this is the 'aha' moment. this is where everything will fall into place. when i tell my success story, this is what it will be about." i've cried, i've screamed, and i've done pretty much everything in between. however, another thing i am sick of is whining to everyone about how badly my journey has gone in the past few weeks. i know that support from friends can be amazing, but in the end, i know that its up to me. so my question to everyone is this: what keeps you going? it could be an inspirational story, song, quote, experience, routine, ANYTHING! this is my last attempt...i keep wanting to give up and just get away from it all, but i know if i do that, my weight will spiral out of control. i just need that little push!!!

pinkgigi

Sweetie, just one foot in front of the other. Look inside yourself and see what else is gong on, address those things that may derail you, and think about what worked last time.

I put on most of the weight I lost last year when my son was sick, and finally something clicked in January, and I've been back on track (mostly) since. Mostly by acting like I'm a success, sometimes the action has to start before the motivation.

good luck, you deserve to be fit and healthy, so what are you prepared to do to make it a reality?

GG

JRMcCaghren

I am 20 years old, and recently started having signs on high blood pressure and was at high risk for a stroke. My family history also includes diabetes. So, basically I have to lose weight or deal with some serious consequences. It won't be pleasant, but perhaps you should think about what your weight is doing to you (at least, if you have a lot to lose). Because, reality can be a pretty strong motivation.

bjfmade

I am doing this and sticking with it because I love how I look and feel and it just keeps getting better. What is my other options.....eat and eat and eat crap all the time and feel like crap or eat what I want that is good for me and feel great. I only have one person to answer to and that is me. Every morning when I look in the mirror I can either choose to have a good day or a bad day. I choose to have a GREAT day. I take losing this weight as a challenge to me. I know that once I put my mind to something, I will do it. This is my lifestyle change and I am sticking to it!

You can do this, find what works for you and do a variety of exercising so you can always change it up. You can do this...

beckyhope

I think when you keep up with your MFP friends on how you are doing every single day is very helpful. I have a few very sweet and encouraging friends who celebrate with me when I'm happy and have had success and help me and comfort me when I'm down and have had a bad day. This is a great help for me - because they will notice if I'm falling off the wagon and will help me get back on. My biggest piece of advice would be - don't deprive yourself. I have consistently (although semi-slowly) lost weight by allowing myself little treats every day. There is no "off-limits" food. If I feel like eating ice cream, I will work it into my day. If I feel like having that 900 calorie meal I love from TGI Friday's - I can have it. Not to say that I can eat that way everyday - but I think it's incredibly difficult to stick with something when you feel deprived. You can't do a temporary diet change - no sweets, no bread, etc and expect to want to stick with it. Instead when you make a life-style change - allowing treats, adding workouts when you're hungry, having some over calorie and under calorie days - you will feel less resentment and won't be deprived of those yummy treats. I hope this helps and encourages you. It's never too late to jump back on the wagon.

baycat107

What keeps me going are the compliments I get from friends and co-workers. Also, I really like finding out I have dropped a size in my jeans. Also, when I look into the mirror, and see the way my clothes fit, it amazes me. (Is that really me?) And that's what keeps me going.

jellyfishjen

One day at a time, and sometimes I have a bad day or even 2 or 3. But thats it I force myself back and I exercise. My motivation came just over 12 months ago when at a family gathering for my mum's 80th Birthday, I saw my cousins and noticed how unfit we all were. And then with in days one of my aunties had a major stroke. I keep that in my mind always, when I go walking, or do zumba, or really when I don't feel like going. I recently went to that aunties 80th birthday ( she is wheelchair bound, very little speech but the spark is there in the eyes, trapped in a useless body) . I saw everyone again for the first time in 12 months I was 20kgs lighter and I hope inspired some to change their life style. I am still in the obese range so still have a long way to go. I make myself small goals. I have about 4 kgs to lose to be in the over weight range so that is my next target.
Find something that works for you. Take it slow and at the end of each week, look back and ask yourself was that so hard can I repeat that week or could I even do better. Make sure its managable and adjust to it.
Reward yourself. And don't wait for a huge weight loss for a reward, congratulate yourself along the way. Rewards can be simple, like a bubble bath, or a visit to an Art Gallery, treat yourself to a magazine. Whatever gives you pleasure to do.
Wish you all the best on this new journey in your life.

lamlam2468

The thing that really helps me is the "accountability thing." I open up my food/exercise diary for everyone to see, and that keeps me accountable to stick to my calorie goal. I have just started trying to plan my meals the day before, and that keeps me to a schedule. If you need extra encouragement, feel free to add me as a friend.

Rain_Howard

I've had this struggle for years. Hell, a couple decades. Between the depression, social anxiety, chronic pain and a lovely eating disorder tossed in like a cherry on top of a sunday, I've had my problems. I've tried many times over the years to lose the weight, to get in shape, to fix things. Every time I failed I sunk a little lower.

I got to the point that suicide was a frequent thought in the back of head. I had many days that I didn't care one iota if I woke up in the morning or not. I was dieing one day at a time, slowly and painfully. And I thought there was no way out. I had no hope. None.

And then, not all that long ago, I had a moment of clarity. Bigger than an"Aha" moment. Or perhaps the big bang of moments. That moment is in the process of changing my life for the better. One step at a time one day at a time. I realized that I have a choice. That I don't have to live that way I have my entire life.

When I have bad days I think about the past and I think about the future. I think about the things I want to do and can't because of my health. I think about my kids and how I want to be around for them. I think about how much better I feel already. And I find people who feel the same way.

Sit down with a piece of paper, or your computer and make a list. A pro/con if you will. Write down what you want from life. Write down how you would like to feel. Then write down how you feel now. Look at the two and figure out what you need to change in your life to get to the other side. You can do this. I can do this. We can do this. Grab the sparrow by the tail and hang on.

JipsyJudy

I log on here when the going gets rough and start reading posts in the motivation and support section. I keep the MFP app on my cell phone and enter food I'm thinking about eating before I eat it. (You can always delete the entry if you don't eat it.) I read articles on WebMD and the Livestrong web sites. If I still can't resist, afterwards I get on a stationary bike or go for a walk and burn off some of the excess before I will eat again. Drinking lots of water actually helps. Taking naps helps; I sometimes set my alarm and take a 15 minute nap before dinner. Don't try to do more than you can. Lately I changed my goal from losing 1 pound each week to just maintaining my current weight, even though I still need to lose more weight. This lets me eat a little more every day and is helping me avoid overeating. I joined MFP after losing 16 pounds and I lost another 6 after joining here, but now I'm stalled. I realized this is the very worst time of year for me and my diet. Cold weather and short days make me want to eat comfort food and hibernate. And we're now in that darn Halloween - Thanksgiving - Christmas - New Years holiday food zone. So I am focusing on simply keeping off the weight I've lost so far for a while, and I will go back to trying to lose more weight when I can stop feeling as if my food cravings are ruling my life.

JipsyJudy

I log on here when the going gets rough and start reading posts in the motivation and support section. I keep the MFP app on my cell phone and enter food I'm thinking about eating before I eat it. (You can always delete the entry if you don't eat it.) I read articles on WebMD and the Livestrong web sites. If I still can't resist, afterwards I get on a stationary bike or go for a walk and burn off some of the excess before I will eat again. Drinking lots of water actually helps. Taking naps helps; I sometimes set my alarm and take a 15 minute nap before dinner. Don't try to do more than you can. Lately I changed my goal from losing 1 pound each week to just maintaining my current weight, even though I still need to lose more weight. This lets me eat a little more every day and is helping me avoid overeating. I joined MFP after losing 16 pounds and I lost another 6 after joining here, but now I'm stalled. I realized this is the very worst time of year for me and my diet. Cold weather and short days make me want to eat comfort food and hibernate. And we're now in that darn Halloween - Thanksgiving - Christmas - New Years holiday food zone. So I am focusing on simply keeping off the weight I've lost so far for a while, and I will go back to trying to lose more weight when I can stop feeling as if my food cravings are ruling my life.

JipsyJudy

Here's a good explanation of why we gain back weight we've lost. I think the solution is simply vigilence forever!

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/26/health/post-diet-weight-regain/index.html

dls06

Before you put anything in your mouth, Think before you reach. No one can stop you but you.
I don't bring things into the house that tempt me. In the beginning I had no will power so if its not here I can't eat it. I seldomly say " the heck with it". I hate it but even at restaurants I try to make the healthiest choice. At party's I let myself taste but don't go crazy. Once you give yourself the ok it's all over. Good luck.
AND NEVER STOP LOGGING!