I have difficulty committing, which is why I can't do this.

PUMPEDFORFITNESS

Okay so, I've been on MFP for a couple of months now. My starting weight was 140. My current weight is 140. Here's how it all breaks down for me:
I'm a social butterfly. I go to movies, lunch and dinner dates, banquets, and multiple things ALL including food. I have tried: eating beforehand, packing food to bring, planning ahead of time, EVERYTHING, but I always end up bingeing.
I can have a period of days where I don't leave the house or hang out with friends and then I can lose 3 pounds in a SNAP. But them, somebody plans something, and I ruin it.
I have difficulty committing to this, and I don't know what to do. Also, I'm having Thanksgiving dinner TOMORROW instead of Thursday (because of family planning issues) and there will be: Turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes, cake, pie, and all kinds of desserts. I'm scared!
I always fluctuate between the 136-140 area. I don't know what to do, or how to get determined and committed. HELP!

mistresseeyore

Try moderation. portion control.

vim_n_vigor

Make small changes until you get to your goal. Start with portion sizes. Small popcorn, lunch portion meals, adding more activity. If you want it bad enough, you will find a way.

margiemommy

i would say that u just need to portion control what u eat when u are out and when u are no longer hungary just stop. u can try over chewing ur food they say if u chew ur food 20 times befor swalloing it gives ur brian more time to regester that u ahve eaten so maybe that will help. but if none of that works then it time to **** or get of the pot just figure out if u want to really lose the weight or not and committ or don't it is up to u . u have to make the choice. i hope it all works out for u

tiptoeketo

The fact that you're stating you CAN'T do this says a lot about your approach to losing weight.

Start telling yourself that you CAN, and that you MUST lose, and then MAKE IT HAPPEN.

YOU are the only one that can make it happen.

significance

Try adding more exercise to the mix, to give yourself more leeway. Try eating less (but not nothing - just a little less) on the days when you don't have social events, so that it averages out to your target over the week. Keep in mind that even though you've decided to eat something, you don't have to eat the entire serve: any excess is just as much wasted on your waist as in the bin! Try to find some new fun things to do that don't involve food.

psmd

Make your diary public, at least to your friends. Make sure you log everything. Naturally you'll want to start improving it. Good luck! Starting is the hardest part but you can do it...

tcpowell25

How often do you workout? Maybe if you add a workout routine, drink plenty of water also...then you will be able to eat your calories back. This is just a suggestion because I didn't see where you added exercise or water to your post.

femme62209

If you want it bad enough, you will find a way.

Exactly.

Hoppymom

Try moderation. portion control.

This^ You can eat what you want on days like this, but use moderation. One or two bites of pie skip the ice cream. One helping of the appropriate serving size of the other foods. Lots of veggies; no butter, minimal sodium.
I get it about committing. You have to be there in your head. For me it was the day the doctor told me I was pre-diabetic at 267 pounds. I haven't binged or gone off track since August when I first started. Committment is a choice whether it is in food control, fitness level, smoking cessation or marriage committment. You chose to recommit or not every time you are confronted with food. Your choice. If you want to lose you will chose portion control, nutritious foods and a life style of better health or not. Your choice. No one here can do it for you. I've lost 33 pounds and have 100 to go. My choice is to get healthy now. Best of luck. You can if you want. Your choice.

Kyliechristie

Sounds to me like it is not a high enough priority to you at this point in time and you need to make a choice about living the way your are and being happy or changing your lifestyle. Sorry if that sounds harsh.

daffodilsoup

"Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right."

gsager

Sounds like your happy with yourself and don't really want to do anything yet. This is a great site to use when you decide you want something different.

kyylieeeeee

I'm always out, too. Lots of eating and drinking with friends, more than one night a week. But I also eat as healthy as possible on the days/meals I'm not out, plan ahead (as far as knowing if I'm going to be eating a lot of carbs or fat or something that night, I'll have a high-protein breakfast with veggies so that I don't feel so guilty later on). I work out all the time. I turn social times into workout times. Me and my best friend run 3 miles before we go out to eat. My boyfriend and I go on long walks with the dogs. My sister and I do an hour and a half ashtanga yoga class before going out to the bar on Saturdays.

Plan more nights IN with your friends, and you be the one in control of the menu. It's much easier to portion control and count cals when you're the one making the recipes from scratch. Cooking your own food will also result in less processed food in your diet and less sodium.

I haven't stopped being social, not in the least. But I've made changes about how I think of social times. If I feel like bingeing on food when I'm out with friends or family, I'll eat lots of meat, dairy, and veggies, rather than lots of bread, pasta, and dessert.

Open your mind to the idea that it's not as impossible as you make it seem! That was my biggest hurdle when it came to running; I always said I just couldn't do it. Now I can happily run 5 miles without a problem. You CAN commit and you CAN do this!

stevenleagle

OK you don't weight that much so I am assuming that you don't have that much to lose really.

However, even if you do, consider the fact that mfp is simply about logging your meals and your exercise. Believe it or not that's all it does. The rest is up to you.

Therefore, I suggest the following to anyone who has a hard time committing and to beginners and more advanced users alike. I'm not an expert but the following steps seems to have worked for me so far:

PHASE 1: the discovery phase. These steps helped me on my weight loss journey initially:

Step number 1: Log everything. If you don't have the time and/or have trouble remembering your day, simply take photos of all your meals with your camera (a little awkward at functions I know, but find a way). You can then enter in your meals when you have the time - ideally just before bed time is always good for me.

Step number 2: analyse what you have eaten over, say a few weeks. If you have already tried mfp, even better - you have a wealth of data.

Step number 3: identify what you could have done better. Could you have eaten one piece of cake when you ate one and a half? Were you drinking enough water? (the more water you drink, the less space for sodas and er food). Did you really have to have that candy bar from the service/gas station?

Step number 4: make small changes each week, changes that don't hurt. Are you a party animal? No worries, try attending one less party each week. Or leave earlier. Or dance more and eat less. Turn your back to the snack bar. Dilute your alcoholic drinks a little.

Step number 5: As you make your changes, go back to Step Number 1. Regularly review your week.

PHASE 2: challenging yourself

Once you have logging and making small changes down pat, then you can go to PHASE 2: challenge yourself by setting goals. Start of with little challenges if you aren't too motivated based on what you have done in the past. Aim to eat 5% less for the week. If that is too easy, aim for 10% Personally I see mfp as a bit of a "game". I see if I can beat my "top score" in exercise and diet a little each week. Remember to challenge yourself my eating healthier and by moving/exercising more. Eg if you are not exercising at all, try to fit in a short 10 minute walk each day the first week. Then add some hills/incline the next. Then add some time. Then go faster. Small challenges, that's all. Personally I have been taking my time with all of this, I don't care if I only go through 120 calories in exercise whilst others do 1,200. My number 1 competition is myself. That's not to say that my mfp friends don't inspire me. They do. They tell me where I should be in "x" weeks/months/years.

melanie_J

Can't never could.

happydaze71

I think you dont want to change your lifestyle so you are finding excuses.
There are all sorts of ways around this. Portion control is THE biggest issue here.... I dont believe in eating before you go out, because if you have no self control you will still eat when you are out then you will have eaten double.
Dont be depressed about this... ask yourself if you really want to be slimmer and do you think you could cut down your portions and fit in a walk a day
If the answer is no, then just live with it, be ok with yourself.
'If the answer is yes, then you will go out of your way to NOT be on a diet, but simply to make better choices, and eat smaller portions of food.
I am a huge socialiser, I just dont make it about food anymore, and I had to teach myself that food is always going to be there and I am going to be ok if I dont eat that enormous slice of lemon meringue pie!!!!
Its about baby steps to start with... just do it... dont make a production of it and tell everyone you are on a diet then end up feeling like a failure.
Just start... slowly, cutting back bit by bit, until you are sticking to your calories... and I bet if you dont say anything, no one will even notice you are making changes.
Good luck!!!

Megan2Project

Bring gum... Choose a healthy portion in your cal allowance, and when you're done, pop in a piece of gum. The cinnamon stuff has been working wonders for me OR exercise before you go to stock pile calories and let yourself endulge a little!

summalovaable

Maybe its your approach making you unsuccessful? If your eating before, during and after you clearly just love to eat! Maybe try intermittent fasting for a few weeks. It might fit your lifestyle a little better? (assuming most social activities occur later on at night that is!)

ullgetthere

Hi!!

I wanted to see how your progress was coming. I am at 244 pounds and find it sooooo hard to lose weight. I am looking for people to keep in touch with and that we can motivate each other in our efforts!!

Caramel2610

bumping to read other comments later