Dieting for a year and getting nowhere..

Penny_Wren

I've been using MFP for about a year now and have been exercising and attempting to diet, and I haven't lost any weight beyond about 7lbs, which I yoyo between constantly. I have the motivation, I just find it hard to say no and one thing turns into a huge binge very quickly!

I really want to actually lose the weight, for myself and to show my friends and family that I can do it. Any tips for staying on track and being able to say no to bad food? I need to do this because I'm getting seriously fed up!

formersec

Plan your meals. If I don't plan ahead, I'm more likely to go hog wild and eat everything in sight. Be sure when planning ahead that you get enough food from all the basic food groups, not just a few. If you only eat fruit or vegetables, you aren't going to fill up. You need protein and dairy and yes, even some carbs and fat. By eating from all food groups, you keep tour body well nourished and in turn keep your metabolism high so you can burn the fat and lose weight.

Also, don't try to skimp on your allotted daily calories. It's ok to be aittle under or a little over, but if you have your daily calories set at, say, 1200, and you are only getting in maybe 900, then yes, you are starving and yes, you will be more likely to overeat. There again, if you eat from all of the basic food groups, you should be able to meet or come close to your daily calorie target.

Also, look at why you are bingeing. Is it out of boredom? Then find something to occupy yourself. Take a walk, work on a hobby, something to get you away from food. If these binges come from emotional issues (say, a fight with your partner), try to resolve the conflict. Some problems might require professional counseling.

Steelheart7

It truly is your frame of mind. I was so unhappy for years dealing with my divorce etc etc etc .. that no matter how much I wanted it, I just couldn't stick to it. Something would always trigger me to eat. Didn't matter how much I planned or wrote or bought. It is your mind that you need to change. Until you do that it won't happen. People told me all the time, just set your mind to it and you can do it. I truly thought that my mind was set .. I prayed about it every day, I talked about it, I bought all the right foods .. and by the end of the week I was throwing away spoiled healthy food that I didn't eat and feeling sad because the box of ho ho's that I bought my son was gone and he didn't eat one.

Slowly I got happier and my frame of mind changed from I HAVE to do this and I NEED to do this to I really really WANT to do this. Choosing to be healthy is a choice too. The more I do it, the more the happiness builds. That feeling that I have is so much stronger and better than any ho ho could ever be.

runnercheryl

I agree with others. It's about getting your mentality right. You're probably not truly motivated. You might believe you are, but when you find that real motivation it outweighs the desire to binge.

I attempted 'dieting' quite a few times, believing I had the motivation. Then, one day I really DID find my motivation, and I stopped 'dieting' and started living a healthy lifestyle. It's not always easy, but once you've found your true motivation it all works out. Until you've got it, it's going to be even more of a struggle, an on-off thing, a diet.