Never thought I'd be posting in this section :(

welloiledmachine

Congratulations on the weight that you have lost. Beating yourself up isn't going to make things get any better or easier. Yes this is a journey, but a journey that you can enjoy.

First of all about your concern for craving bad food when all is said and done. If you learn to Eat Clean those cravings start to go away. You need to cut out the fast food and processed food. All they do is send messages to your brain to want more.

Secondly, as for your evening snack, that's not a bad thing, it just depends on what it is. Always choose a clean snack.

Thirdly, do not let carbs scare you. They are an important part of your diet. Make that complex carbs and carbs from fruit. Complex carbs are your 100 % whole wheats, quinoa, brown rice, sweet potatoes. Stay away from the white stuff. Carbs give your body fuel so you can keep going.

Basic rule: When you combine the right carbs, protein and fat in each meal you will be able to maintain your blood sugar levels and avoid over eating and those yucky afternoon slumps. It's a good idea to eat 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day. 3 squares don't cut it. I eat 5 meals a day and each one has carbs, protein and fat. This is what works for me and many others.

Next, you need to write down your GOALS in order to make it more likely for you to succeed. I have a great article in my blog about setting goals. You need to set short, mid, and long term goals. Writing them down is crucial as well as telling people what you plan to do.

Don't forget the exercise. Without that, it's pointless. Your health is based on 80% nutrition, 10% genetics, and 10% exercise. Cardio is great, but you also need resistance. Strength training is crucial in burning fat. MUSCLE BURNS FAT. Also with weight lifting, you continue to burn calories even after you are done.

There are a lot more things I could share with you, but I think this would be a good start. Friend me if you'd like.

Hang in there and I know you can do it.

sophiareal

First of all, congratulations on your weight loss - I once lost 36lb over a similar time period and I know it is hard work, every single day!

The other posters have already made some good suggestions, so I will try not to duplicate, but just had a few additional thoughts:

- try to cut out your post dinner snacks completely (even if you have calories left) and schedule a cheat day once a week - the weight loss during the week will be quicker and some claim that a cheat day a week can boost your metabolism and make sure you dont plateau. Now I am not saying your cheat day should be an all day binge fest, but there should be one day a week where you can have some ice cream, have a muffin from starbucks for breakfast, order (small) popcorn at the cinema. However, limit it to once a week. I have found that my sugar cravings have almost disppeared and that sometimes I wont even crave something on my cheat day (only having one cheat day means I think about my treat quite carefully so sometimes I cant find that one thing I would want!)

- try to make your meals more 'haptically' appealing - this sounds all quite weird, but apparently it is easier for the body to feel satisfied and not crave anything if your meals consists of lots of different textures, flavours and colours (the different colours also ensure a good supply of different vitamins) - so yeah, have a mixed salad with lots of different veggies, some hummus in the middle, some seeds scattered on top, some jalapenos for a kick and some crispy flatbread for the hummus and you should feel a lot more satisfied then if you ate the same calories but as a pureed soup!

- lastly, and how this work will completely depend on your circumstances, but try and treat yourself when you reach some milestones - put away some money every time you los 1lb or 5lbs and use this towards something you wouldnt otherwise buy when you reach your goal. Equally, recognise each 1lb lost as a big achievement - I still remember punching the air every time I completed one additional km during my first half marathon, because although this happened every 6mins for ca. 2 hs, each km was hard work and you should treat each 1lb loss the same! So whatever it is, whether it is an extra 30mins. of 'me time' in your favourite coffee shop reading your celeb gossip magazine while drinking tea, whatever it is, but it should be done consciously thinking about it as a treat - I did that yesterday, 1h in my favourite coffeeshop with a white americano and a fitness magazine - cheap and yet effective.

Twins2007

damn, i know you're being honest, but that is NOT what I wanted to hear.... what about the cravings for bad stuff you used to eat? Do those get any less?

I mean, I liken this to quitting smoking. When I quit, I still thought about it every now and then for a year, and I know it makes me queasy to even think about it NOW.

Will I be like that eventually with french fries and chocolate donuts?...

"Will I be like that eventually with french fries and chocolate donuts?..."

Not sure. But what I do know is that when I am happy with myself I simply don't want these things. When I am sad, overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, tired and feel defeated all I want is these things.

I know how you feel....I have been stuck since August....I figure if I would have lost 5 pounds a month in 2011 I would have reached my goal of losing 60 pounds. But I haven't. What I have been able to do is lose almost 30 pounds and keep it OFF...I could have given up, gained it back and then weighed more than what I started off with...


It's NOT easy. Some days are good. Some days are Bad. Some days just plain suck.

The important is that you continue to come back to yourself...

Why do you want to lose weight?

What can you do to achieve your goal and actually like what you are doing to get there? (Exercises you love, eating what you like (just modified a little!), ect...

Surrond yourself with MFP friends that are encouraging, motivating and challenging.

I couldn't have done it without them...

Hang in there...Take it one meal at a time if you have to...

P.S. Have you heard of Geneen Roth? Her books are Life changing...

E xo

mazza2marilyn

bump

Ali_TSO

bump indeed

ajfrench

I agree with the suggestion about trying a cheat day or meal. I just upped my calories per day and added a cheat meal each week. It helps satisfy my cravings. I'm only losing about .5 lbs. a week but at least I'm losing.

If you're still craving, try some sugar free candy or sugar free jello pudding. Works for me.

ChgingMe

If you amp up your exercise you will see results. Also the scale is a liar. I weigh 175 lbs at 5"3 and I'm in a size 10. go by how your clothes fit you. Its a mind set as well. you have to change the way you think about food. that is what i had to do. No longer eating just to eat. I try to see it as fuel for my workouts. I still don't eat like im supposed to all the time. But ive found if i work out, I still lose weight.

Try Turbo Fire for an excellent work out. Calorie/Fat burn. But be warned. It is really hard. If you hang in there i guarantee you will see results in as little as 2 weeks. I am almost 50 years old and I know, if you exercise hard core you will see results.

Hang in there girlie... It will happen for you.

kendib

Congrats on the current weight loss!

I looked at your food diary and realized the sodium was high/over almost every day. This is something I have majorly struggled with on this journey and by no means have a complete answer for. In my case when my sodium intake is high for several days in a row I will gain or not lose weight at all. Usually, when I get that part of my diet under control, everything else follows.

When grocery shopping I tend to look at the sodium before the calories.

Just a thought.

kathyc609

i stopped eating sugar - after a couple days i stopped craving it and now it is nothing to me. no desire for cookies cake or ice cream and its been 3 months

welloiledmachine

i stopped eating sugar - after a couple days i stopped craving it and now it is nothing to me. no desire for cookies cake or ice cream and its been 3 months

I'm doing a no sugar challenge for the month of January through Skinny Ms. Challenge. Was wondering if you use any type of natural sugar like Stevia, honey, agave. The only source of sugar allowed on the challenge is fruit. i couldn't believe how much food has sugar in it. Before the challenge, I stayed away from sweets for the most part, but when I started the challenge I couldn't believe all the foods I couldn't have. I will say that I feel so good and only upped my % of clean eating.

kathyc609

i stopped eating sugar - after a couple days i stopped craving it and now it is nothing to me. no desire for cookies cake or ice cream and its been 3 months

I'm doing a no sugar challenge for the month of January through Skinny Ms. Challenge. Was wondering if you use any type of natural sugar like Stevia, honey, agave. The only source of sugar allowed on the challenge is fruit. i couldn't believe how much food has sugar in it. Before the challenge, I stayed away from sweets for the most part, but when I started the challenge I couldn't believe all the foods I couldn't have. I will say that I feel so good and only upped my % of clean eating.

I do use stevia and just yesterday used agave nectar to eat with protein pancakes. and honestly i use sweet and low mostly (my mom was diabetic my whole life so we grew up using it). i eat chobani yougert which i am not sure about what sugar may be in that but just have it once a day for breakfast. i mostly just eat fresh vegetables and chicken, turkey, eggs, and fish. its been working for me - and i use to be addicted to sugar - cookies, candy, and cake icing. once i stopped i lost the desire to eat it at all. also i will eat an apple or berries but its natural sugar and limit to 2 servings a day

Ali_TSO

Congrats on the current weight loss!

I looked at your food diary and realized the sodium was high/over almost every day. This is something I have majorly struggled with on this journey and by no means have a complete answer for. In my case when my sodium intake is high for several days in a row I will gain or not lose weight at all. Usually, when I get that part of my diet under control, everything else follows.

When grocery shopping I tend to look at the sodium before the calories.

Just a thought.

Yeah, I just added sodium on today so I could get a grasp of it, lol