What Made You Quit the First Time and Start Again?

onwarddownward

I was recovering from surgery, but because I was so sick from diet pills, a four week recovery from surgery took eight months. The weight came back so fast. Twenty pounds the first month.

cwaters120

I let other peoples negative thoughts about what I was doing/ how I was doing it get in the way of what I knew was the right thing. It was "a lot of work" for me to battle the negative thoughts on top of the pre-planning, the exercising, and the tracking. I was living it as a diet and allowed myself to be mentally sabotaged and lost focus. THIS time, the difference is I KNOW what I need to do and this is a lifestyle change not a "diet". THIS TIME, I don't listen to peoples negativity which lately has had the weird effect of having them SUPPORT me instead - they go for hikes with me and we choose places to eat out that I KNOW I can find healthy options at. THIS TIME I bombard myself with healthy web pages and recipe sites to keep my focus. THIS TIME? THIS TIME I WILL SUCCEED because I am more determined and much more focused on my health.:drinker:

CudyBug

I lost 50 lbs and then got pregnant. That is what did it for me. Gained 40 back and am holding on to it because I am busier and less motivated, unfortunately.

FindingMyself24

For me it was my pregnancy....i got pregnant with my second and was freaking out because i didnt want to gain everything i had lost...and of course i did.....i felt discouraged knowing that i had to start all over again..plus having two kids under 2...my daughter is now 14 months...i attempted several times before....but i would always lose my inspiration and quit...this time is different though...ive lost all the extra weight..and ive become more educated on the human body..etc etc....after i had my daughter i was 216... and 203 when i started trying to lose...im 174.4 now...ive lost 28.6 pounds....but didnt join MFP till 16 pounds ago..it was in JAN of this year...i didnt know such a wonderful tool existed...i LOVE it...and i truly believe its helped me...i now look forward to seeing the next workout i wanna try...im on my last week of TurboFire (week 12)....and ill be doing Billy Blanks pt 24/7 for four weeks (while im on vacation)...then ill be starting p90x...i cant wait!!!!

libertygirlfla

which first time? there's been several. last first time it was because i hit a goal and got sloppy. one cheat meal turns into a day, turns into a week, turns into a month, etc.

This!

ElyseL1

My grandmother died and i gained back everything that I had lost and kept off for over a year. Then i bought a scale when I moved into my new house and couldnt believe how much i weighed!

BigBrunette

My weight loss attempts have mirrored my struggles with depression. Now that the depression is under control, I'm making a concerted effort to eat well and count calories. And it's working.

fortimer

I joined here exactly a year ago because I ballooned to 227. I lost motivation, quit suddenly and just came back this week. Exactly 40 pounds heavier! Also, I rekindled a love affair with red wine which didn't help. A couple of glasses a night adds a heavy dose of empty calories.

Anyway, I'm back and hopefully this time for good...

ForMyTomorrow

I quit smoking and didn't want the stress of dieting on top of that. This sunday is one month smoke free. I have since started to run and am starting to watch what I eat again. I was down 25 pounds and I am still down 10 pounds. So, I am still better than I was when I started. Right?

I would definitely say better now! Great job quitting smoking and not gaining it all back.

soggypuppet

I was thin growing up so when I hit middle age I had no experience in "watching my weight". I tried weight watchers last year and did very well. Then the holidays hit and I had no coping skills. Now that the busy season at work is over all of the people in the office (literally) are watching what we eat and some are trying to get more active.

keep2it

The key question in your post, I think, is "what is it that made you stop? Was it gradual or sudden?"

I have tried losing a few times before with various methods. For me, the things that made me stop each time have been gradual. Maybe feeling like I'm doing well, so thinking it's ok if I ease back a bit; or getting a bit bored with it; or feeling disheartened if I had too many weeks in a row with no significant loss; or having an intense few weeks at work and getting home too late to cook healthy meals and exercise too many days in a row; or in one extreme case my dad dying and me then falling in an emotional heap after a few weeks; or...

This is my first time using MFP and I intend for it to be my only time. This time around I have realised that as well as looking at my diet and my exercise, I really need to work on keeping my motivation strong. Reading the forums weekly helps with that. (Thank you all you MFP posters!)

I also read a great quote early on: "Motivation is what gets you started. Routines are what keep you going." So I have put in place routines for exercise, healthy shopping and even for motivation.

krhn

Young, dumb and no time! :bigsmile:

watfordjc

The two first times as a teen: stupid nutrition advice and "points" systems.
The first time with a dietician: a "healthy eating" booklet that used plates and pyramids IIRC that didn't take my mental health into account - those potatoes and green things on that plate looked like they needed to be cooked.
The first/last time in 2008-10: the "quit" point was because of "no progress" on the scales, measurements, and photos - I should've been comparing over a longer period than a week. Also the ~25% of the time I wasn't "eating clean" because that requires being capable of cooking.

This time is simply modifications of what I did last time so my compliance rate is better, with additional tools (iPhone/iPad and apps, Ki Fit, 12-weekly Bod Pod assessments, etc.) so I can track my progress with less formulas and estimates.

What made me start again?

"I should really lose some weight."
"You know how to do it."
I do, why haven't I made adjustments to what I did last time instead of waiting until I'm capable of cooking again? (I'd currently weight ~293.25 lb if I were still waiting until I reach that point.)

UrnAsh

I've got two kiddos under two, haha! Really I just kept making excuses. I've finally cut beer out of my life so that should help somewhat..

twinmoon

For me, it's all about logging. Every time I gained the weight back, it was when I stopped logging my food & exercise. So, here I go again. I've been logging consistently, and that alone makes me feel empowered to keep going, even if I eat too much one day. The key isn't not to cheat or overeat - it's inevitable for those of us who struggle with food and weight. The key is bouncing back after a bad day. I also find the MFP community very helpful and encouraging. When the going gets tough, I read posts here and get lots of encouragement that way.

lisahewitt22

I went about 7 months and only lost a few pounds so I was hoping I could stop logging and stop exercising but would still maintain the 30 pounds I'd already lost. Sadly I was wrong. Since summer's coming and its getting hotter I put on a pair of my favorite shorts from last year and they dont fit! So here I am again and this time im not giving up :mad:

SteelySunshine

LOL First time....

1. Stress
2. Counting calories made me cry, a lot.
3. Sometimes I would quit abruptly, but it was usually gradual
4. Math also makes me cry
5. Stress

I started again by accident. I was losing weight for a couple of month's before I noticed, then I started making more changes on purpose. Then I found this site. Then I got a scale. I don't know my exact starting weight, but I do know my starting size, about how many calories I was eating a day prior to October and about how many I cut out between October and March, so long story short I lost about 30 lbs before starting here.

I kind of liked that I didn't know I was "dieting". I didn't think about what I was eating all that much I was just trying out different vegetables and different ways to prepare foods and kind of keeping an eye on how many carbs I was eating (way too many and still too many), but I was constantly tweaking things swapping things out, for example a normal snack might have been a moffin or a slice of pizza or two, a sandwich, or a big bag of chips and maybe a candy bar on top of that. So, I swapped out that type of snack for Sun Chips and a V8 still not the greatest snack but it was a lot less calories than what I was eating and more fiber added bonus even though it was less calories it was more satisfying. So, I am still constantly tweaking things, trying to get my protein levels up and adding more veggies and variety of veggies, and looking for lower carb options for food.

I think I will be able to stick with it this time because I am finding out what works and being patient with the process of doing that. I am tolerant of mistakes like trying something and having it not work for my tastes. And I am willing to try just about anything like baked kale.

Also if I don't stick with this I will get sick and die. It will be a sort of a long process and very likely painful. I could also go blind before I croak. And I don't really want to have problems with my feet. And I really don't want to have to have insulin injections. Also I want to get small enough so that really nice people on the bus don't feel like they have to give me their seat.

MrsBioChem

I stopped recording over the holidays... Thanksgiving through NewYears because I thought it was "impractical" with all the traveling and eating food that was not in the database.

Then it just took my pants getting too tight for me to start back up again.

StellaP77

Reached my goal weight and thought I didn't need to count calories anymore.

Eleanorjanethinner

I've been on hear for nearly two years off and on. I lost about 7-8kg (about 14-16 pounds) to start with towards my goal of 10kg or 20 pounds then emigrated to a new country. Lots of change!

Since being here I've gotten a lot fitter with all the walking that's part of my daily routine. I put on 2-3 kilos (4-6 pounds) over about six months.

I listened to the folks saying 'eat more to lose more' and tried 1340 calories a day but really didn't lose weight. I've decided that doing a half-arsed job is just pointless 'cos I feel restricted but don't actually lose weight. I'm now aiming for 1200 a day and have lost for the last three weeks.

I want to hit my original goal loss then keep going 'till I'm a proper size 12 trousers (US size 8, I think?). Then stay there forever!

zumbajheri

Thank you everyone, I read every post and being on these message boards reading your stories really helps me keep going. The only thing i can think of to add that hasn't already been said, is that I cook for one. It's not only boring, it's unsatisfying because I like to eat with someone and enjoy the meal I/we prepared. My bf has weird eating habits and the only food we have in common is pizza, so I have eaten too much darn pizza. In my family, like many of you perhaps, our socializing is around food & we like to eat out a lot. I don't have a consistent workout partner, so that makes me sad sometimes, if I'm being honest lol.. I guess a big part of this journey for me is learning how to do this alone- making my own food as much as possible, not relying on a gym buddy, and refusing invitations out to dinner/the bar to only 1-2 week. I realize also that there is a fear or discomfort with doing this by myself, which is something I want to do some soul searching on. Thankfully, I have mfps for support because nobody in my friends or family circle is being as serious as I am. Edited to add: for example, your Mom and sister bring over pastries when they know you're watching what you eat. Or my friends who make workout plans flake at the last min, and I'm excited to workout together! Not everyone is on this journey and I respect that.

One thing that really resonates with me from this thread is to remember tomorrow is a new day, and to not let it become that entire day, wknd, week etc. of cheating. I went out to dinner last night and had takeout tonight. Mostly good foods, but no way to say how much for certain, which makes me nervous, but I'm gonna let it go and do better tomorrow.

ellepribro

It wasn't a conscious decision and it happened gradually. I would have one unhealthy meal, which turned into a day, into a week, and so on. I also think I tried for the wrong reasons before - with a date in mind to weigh a certain amount, to be 'skinny' rather than healthy and fit, and so on.
This time I'm enjoying what I'm doing and eating and there is no expiration date.

JDBLY11

So, I've noticed a fair amount of people on here lost a bit of weight, stopped trying, gained it back and are on their second try.

I was wondering, what is it that made you stop? Was it gradual or sudden?

I'm hoping to use foresight and know some warning signs so I can really stick to my guns and see this through. My whole family is a bunch of "Fad Dieters" and when they don't see results right away they give up. I never want to be that person.

Absolutely no judgement! I'm proud of anyone who is trying! I just want to keep trying with you all and not give up!

I lost 60 lbs doing WW after I got out of the hospital. I was staying at my parents temporarily so it was quite easy to lose weight. After my husband and I moved into our apartment I tried to get going again but I found that I was hungry all of the time. I had such a hard time sticking to the points. Also, the program had just changed from Momentum to Pointsplus so I took the free points as an opportunity to eat all of the fruit I wanted. I gained weight as a result. I guess I just burned out. I tried off an on to get back on program over the next year but I could never reign in my eating. I gained 100 lbs over that year. I think it was partially the medicines I was on. After getting off of the medicine and working with my points target so I can lose weight and enjoy fruit in the quanities I enjoy I started losing weight again. I don't feel that hungry right now. I am not sure why.

pavingnewpaths

Plateau's kill me. For me, even if ONE week I find myself gaining, I start spiraling downwards. I'll get upset and aggravated and then just think "Well, this isn't even working so why bother?!" then basically eat everything around me.

Obviously, I regret it afterwards. Usually I'm able to pick myself back up after a week or so. But last time it lasted about four months, and I gained about 10 pounds back. I'm not at square one again, but I could've been at my goal weight had I not let that one setback ruin everything.

Anyway, I'm almost back to where I was before and I've learned to weigh myself less often so there's no repeat of that incident. You just need to find your weakness and - if you can't get over it - find a way around it.

Wilmingtonbelle

I could blame regaining 70 lbs on my thyroid cancer, brain mass, migraines, drug interactions, and working full time while pursuing a PhD.

Well, I did blame it on all of those things and more.

While those things are real, so was the fact that I didn't watch what I ate or exercise. I used my poor health to justify my poor eating/exercise and SURPRISE then came worse health.

Starting over isn't fun. There will always be people who saw you lose then gain it back, unsupportive family and friends, and those inner voices that make you doubt if you can do it again.

But starting over is the key. I have learned what caused my failure and hold myself accountable.

I reward my success no matter how small with things that make me feel great about me....pedicures, new walking shoes, a fit bit, a kettle bell, a mountain bike, as long as it isn't food and good for me, I reward myself after each week of healthy eating within my calorie limit and exercise.

I have a mirror on my fridge and I force myself to stare into it before I open the door. I also have motivational quotes and pictures of the smaller me on cabinets. It reinforces why I need to be committed to a healthy lifestyle. It isn't easy but seeing those pounds slowly melt away is the best thing I can do to live longer and work towards better health. :flowerforyou:

Slainte :drinker:

mmddwechanged

Once, I did very well. I lost thirty pounds, lifted weights, felt great and met my goal. Next, I noticed that I could lift just once a week and keep my strength ( which was pretty good at the time) and I also noticed that I could eat 1000 calorie bags of potato chips pretty frequently and still not gain weight. Well, after a few months of this, as well as going back to school and spending most of my time writing and studying, I gradually started to gain it back and I gained most of it back over a couple of years.

I was also on a prescribed diet and exercise program. A difference this time is I just follow IIFYM which means I can eat a variety of different foods without following too many rules.
I think this will be easy to continue because it is suitable for me. I also choose my own exercise routine based on my own limitations and goals.

Back then, I took it to heart when a few people looked at me with concern and told me not to lose any more weight. Now, to maintain, I will continue to track and to understand that those sometimes well meaning comments will have no influence on my lifestyle choices.

RandomMiranda

I've lost/gained the same 15-30 pounds several times since college. The big thing for me is not establishing new routines quickly when I go through a transition. I lost college weight, then gained during grad school, lost that weight while I was a nanny, then gained when I moved to Texas and started my PhD, lost again, then gained when I got a boyfriend, lost again, then gained 30 after getting married last summer and starting a 3rd job last November, and here I am. When my routine changes, everything gets thrown off.
Also, I delude myself into thinking that i can make good choices when I'm not tracking. It's like my brain thinks if I don't track it the calories don't count, and I have never gotten to the point of not liking the taste of crappy food. I completely lose track of what I eat.