Can't commit - anyone else experience this?

AnR28

Hello Everyone,

I'm new here and trying to get myself back into the swing of being healthy.
It seems I can do this for a few days and do everything very well and even see some pounds lost!
But somehow I stop after a few days and undo any success I previously had.

Did anyone else experience this in their journey? Is it a commitment flaw or am I just fighting some very hard-to-break habits?

Any tips on how to beat this and to commit 100% to a new lifestyle would be great!!

thanks!

Jillian130

It has to be exactly that...a lifestyle. Don't think of it as a diet or you will fail for sure, because you limit yourself on your food and then you binge. Make it routine. Make it a habit. Like brushing your teeth or making your bed. Just because its the weekend do you stop brushing your teeth and making your bed? Do you stop brushing your hair just because its the weekend? No, you do all those things because its habit, a routine.
Another thing, how bad do you want to be healthy or lose weight? Your body can't change if you don't change your habits. If you always do what you always did, you will always be what you always were. Period.
So if you want it...go get it! work for it!
Put it this way...
You don't get it by STARING
You don't get it by WISHING
You don't get it by DROOLING
You don't get it by HOPING
You don't get it EASY
You get it by
Getting off your *kitten*
WORKING for it
EVERY SECOND
of EVERYDAY
for the rest of your LIFE.

I have this pinned beside my computer monitor, beside my dresser mirror, inside my lunch tote, its everywhere! To remind me, that if I want to change my appearance and my health, then this is what I have to do. Period.

Hope this helps, but in the end you have to do what works for YOU. And this works for me.

NikkiSmo

Yep it's up to you. I would say just about every person has done the yo yo diet plan most of their life. Like it has been said this is a "LIFESTYLE" you can't think of it as a diet, quick fix. It's learning how to balance the healthy food (which you know you need to eat) with the unhealthy food (which we all LOVE to eat). You can still splurge and have a treat but you need to work it into you calories and after a while it will be become 2nd nature. Good luck, you will know when your ready for this extreamly hard but very rewarding journey. "If it were easy everyone would be fit" a quote from my husbans after I started to complain that it was to hard!! LOL

curtnrod

You don't want it bad enough...yet. When you make a healthy lifestyle a priority in your life, you'll find your level of commitment will rise to the challenge.

Yummamamma

I did the same, on and off for a long time. This time, I am serious. I think you have to eat, sleep and breathe it. Make it your #1 priority and obsession

WendyTerry420

I haven't had any problems staying within my food goals. But, your eating issue sounds similar to my tobacco issue. I agree that you have to want it bad enough before you are ready because you have to change your lifestyle, including your buying habits, and you have to fully commit or it won't work. I can empathize though.

KeshiaV

I've been there! It can be really difficult and frustrating to make a lot of changes all at once and that can wear down your commitment. Try changing a few small things at a time...like limiting how much you eat out per week or substituting water for other sugary drinks. Once you get the hang of those things and they become second nature, add in a few more changes. Eventually you'll translate all of your unhealthy habits into healthier alternatives. Doing it slowly may help to limit your frustration. It was important for me to remember that it took years of unhealthy habits for me to gain the weight, so it's going to take awhile for me to lose it. Best of luck!

imchicbad

only if your lazy:noway: . you have to fight. and its work.:huh:

AnR28

Thank you for putting this into perspective! The thing that gets me is that I already have healthy habits - I don't drink soda (never really liked them), I eat out once or twice a week and always choose healthy sides (nothing fried, ever). I think my problem is portions, so learning how to control them is very, very difficult!

Helloitsdan

Some of us drive an hour to work daily and are on our feet logging 16k steps a day.
We get up an hour early to workout and preplan our meals a day in advance.

When you are ready then join us!
=D

Maybe you dont understand the numbers part?
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

jdploki70

I've found that the biggest problem I had when starting out was I changed too much too quickly. After the third or fourth time of faltering, I finally decided to change smaller things. If portion size is your problem, that one is actually pretty easy to fix. When ever you go to portion something out for yourself, go ahead and put as much as you usually do on your plate. Then take half of that and put it back in the pan or in a Tupperware bowl for tomorrow's lunch or dinner. Fill the void with a piece of fruit, but only after you have eaten your meal and moved on with your day. I lost my first 25 lbs or so just by not going back for seconds at dinner.

Avandel

Thank you for putting this into perspective! The thing that gets me is that I already have healthy habits - I don't drink soda (never really liked them), I eat out once or twice a week and always choose healthy sides (nothing fried, ever). I think my problem is portions, so learning how to control them is very, very difficult!

I found that portion control was the easiest, start measuring & weighing everything. Give yourself some type of low cal snacks in between your main meals. You can do this! :flowerforyou:

Jillian130

Thank you for putting this into perspective! The thing that gets me is that I already have healthy habits - I don't drink soda (never really liked them), I eat out once or twice a week and always choose healthy sides (nothing fried, ever). I think my problem is portions, so learning how to control them is very, very difficult!

Use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. Or, try dividing your plate into 3 sections. Lean Protien (such as chicken, fish, lean beef), veggies/salad, and your carbs such as sweet potato, or brown rice. Once your plate is finished thats it. And drink plenty of water throughout the day to help curb hunger and to keep everything moving through your system. Keeps metabolism going and you don't get dehydrated. Often you will find that if your hungry its your body's way of something I need some H2o, its getting dehydrated.

AnR28

Great tips!

I also know that carbs take up too much % of my diet, any tips on how to limit your carbs (i.e. I'm talking breads of any kind and pasta like mac N cheese on occasion). I was on a severe diet several years ago where I went months without any type of majorly processed carb (no breads, no pastas, hardly any fruits). I went into prolonged ketosis and had yellowing of my skin around my mouth and fingers!! My doctor thought I was hurting my liver too much and I slowly let those foods back into my diet. Now that they are back in full force, I am afraid to let them go again. I was the lightest in terms of weight I had ever been, but I clearly was not healthy.

Mistyblu08

I am in the same boat ....life just always seems to get in the way....bad habits of my own and my family knocking a ***** in my resolve every week but I am not going to give up....one day at a time...one change at a time til I get it right ...is my new mantra you can do this...I can do this...we all can do this...one day at a time...we give ourselves goals but dont give up if you dont make each goal at the given time...rome wasnt built in a day and we are human,,,,give yourself the room to make mistakes and learn from them

Goal_Driven

Yeah, we've all fallen off the wagon here and there but you have to ask yourself.. like I do everytime I think of just eating what I want to, "Do I really want to give up everything I worked my *kitten* off for, for this one thing!?" It's so easy to put on but really hard to get off. I've had a few slip ups here and there. But I have been noticing myself feeling more guilty about it each time, so I cut it out and get back on track immediately! It's up to you and what you want. I don't want to see my progress disappear after I worked hard for it, do you?

alpine1994

Thank you for putting this into perspective! The thing that gets me is that I already have healthy habits - I don't drink soda (never really liked them), I eat out once or twice a week and always choose healthy sides (nothing fried, ever). I think my problem is portions, so learning how to control them is very, very difficult!

Portions were my problem too. I bought a digital food scale from target and use it every day. I also am constantly using measuring cups and spoons. I never guess, not yet. It really put things into perspective for me about how much I was overeating.

Rayzback

My first goal was just to log everything, I didn't worry about being over anything. I had no idea what a portion was or how many calories I was eating. After a few weeks of seeing how bad my current diet was, I started to naturally curve what and how much I was eating. I'm not sure when it happened, but it did...

x_danaa

I can never commit to it! First day is okay, you know, breakfast, lunch, dinner. But after that, I tend to think 'ahh, **** this, I'll lose weight another time' and then I binge.

It's so annoying.....

busymnmom

I struggle as well. I do good a couple of days, then I get thrown a curve ball. My curve ball is usually my very unsupportive husband. School starts back up after labor day and I get a new schedule at work, and I am hoping that once we get that routine going, I can get back into it. It is hard, but I keep plugging away at it!

aqm22

Great tips!

I also know that carbs take up too much % of my diet, any tips on how to limit your carbs (i.e. I'm talking breads of any kind and pasta like mac N cheese on occasion). I was on a severe diet several years ago where I went months without any type of majorly processed carb (no breads, no pastas, hardly any fruits). I went into prolonged ketosis and had yellowing of my skin around my mouth and fingers!! My doctor thought I was hurting my liver too much and I slowly let those foods back into my diet. Now that they are back in full force, I am afraid to let them go again. I was the lightest in terms of weight I had ever been, but I clearly was not healthy.

Carbs are not bad. Your body uses carbs to function. TOO MUCH CARBS is bad just like too much of anything is bad. It's all about balance. Whenever you eat, look at your plate, do you have an array of different types of food (different veggies, starch, protiens, fats, etc) or is it just overloaded with starch and a little protein and maybe a tiny bit of veggie?

It's all about balance.

Apocalypse_Meow

There is no special trick , tool or rule. You just have to do it.

jynxxxed

I really think that the people who struggle most with this are the people who change their eating habits drastically and then expect to stick with it. For many, that's simply not possible. Most people can't go from eating large amounts of pizza and junk food, to say.. eating on the Special K diet and having a few bowls of cereal and stuff like that with no "real" food.

Eat what you want and just budget it in. Set yourself limits.. like only one 'dessert'-type junk item a day so you won't binge on it. Fit everything within your calories/macros and don't worry about the rest.

When you get more structured in the future, maybe begin replacing some of the 'junk' you eat with healthier options. Try to not expect too much too soon.

tryinghard71

Did the same thing. Was always starting over and over and over. I agree with all the other posts. When you want it bad enough it sticks. Now I get pissed off if someone plans an event that makes me miss a workout. It is number one to me.

dodihere

It has to be exactly that...a lifestyle. Don't think of it as a diet or you will fail for sure, because you limit yourself on your food and then you binge. Make it routine. Make it a habit. Like brushing your teeth or making your bed. Just because its the weekend do you stop brushing your teeth and making your bed? Do you stop brushing your hair just because its the weekend? No, you do all those things because its habit, a routine.
Another thing, how bad do you want to be healthy or lose weight? Your body can't change if you don't change your habits. If you always do what you always did, you will always be what you always were. Period.
So if you want it...go get it! work for it!
Put it this way...
You don't get it by STARING
You don't get it by WISHING
You don't get it by DROOLING
You don't get it by HOPING
You don't get it EASY
You get it by
Getting off your *kitten*
WORKING for it
EVERY SECOND
of EVERYDAY
for the rest of your LIFE.

I have this pinned beside my computer monitor, beside my dresser mirror, inside my lunch tote, its everywhere! To remind me, that if I want to change my appearance and my health, then this is what I have to do. Period.

Hope this helps, but in the end you have to do what works for YOU. And this works for me.

what she said

jacksonpt

Is it a commitment flaw or am I just fighting some very hard-to-break habits?

IMO, it's some of both.

Old habits/lifestyles are hard to break. Motivation often comes with progress, and for a lot of people, good decisions lead to more good decisions, but bad decisions (being lazy, eating poorly, etc), lead to more bad decisions.

Could also be that you're just not ready to make the commitment.

CrisN99

I used to get SO mad when people told me I didn't want it bad enough. But thats what it is. Just like quitting smoking, or drinking- in order to lose weight you have to fight your head and do the right things everyday. The down side is that you just can't eliminate food like you can tobacco or alcohol. You have to actually get in your head and do the work.

So everyday, just do what it takes. I have been in a plateau for TWO MONTHS. And I am still giving it everything in my workouts, and eating according to plan because I know for a fact two things. 1. Bad diet and no exercise definitely does not get me results, and 2. At some point, my body will stop fighting my efforts and I will lose again.

You CAN do this. You have to want it. Then work like crazy to get it!

mcn79

When I kept trying and failing to lose weight it was for one of two reasons. Either I wasn't ready (like others have said) or I was too extreme.

It is my opinion that if you aren't ready quite yet, that is ok. Start observing your behaviors... notice if there are certain foods you overeat or trigger you to take more. Think about if there are any emotional "triggers" for you, etc. Once you observe and recognize things, it is easier to change them. Also, if you don't already, learn to accept yourself as you are now.

That being said, if you are ready, I second the suggestion about taking a look at the link that was posted in another response... Dan's "road map" post and don't be afraid to eat more calories than you think of as a "traditional" diet. I have lost almost 20 lbs over the past 2 1/2 months and I can truly say I haven't felt deprived once. Trying to get the most out of your food choices helps, too. I don't do it 100% of the time, by any means, but when I eat empty calories, I notice!

Dragonnade

Look at how you succeed at other things in life and see if you can work that in to losing weight.

For instance, I'm ridiculously goal orientated but I also need to have control. So I set goals to do with exercise and try and keep a deficit. I tried goals for losing weight but the lack of control meant slight angsty hissy fits when I didn't hit them.

And the result is in the last 6 months I've lost about 4kg and put on 4lbs of muscle, just jogged myself to 9 1/2 km, did a rowing triathlon in the gym just for kicks and I'm the fittest I've ever been. And my bodyshape has just shrunk.

If you can link what works for you in other areas of life, you're more likely to succeed purely because you already know how to motivate yourself.

Helloitsdan

Pre log your diary the night before.

Add protein and fats first.
Add essential carbs in.
Like my diary today.
I made lunch first.
A wrap!
Did the protein and cheese, mustard and greens.
Decided on bread choices.
Since dinner is subway I opted to eat a wrap for lunch instead of flax rounds or bread.
If dinner was a salad then I would have chosen bread instead.
I always have slow carbs and a protein before bed.

Breakfast isn't really breakfast today so I'll spread my fruits around and eat them whenever I like.
I have about 100cals left over so I may have done chocolate.

You pre log then edit.
If you ate cooking for a family and you only eat dinner together then leave dinner empty and allow 500-800cals as a buffer.

stephiegirl1215

You don't want it bad enough...yet. When you make a healthy lifestyle a priority in your life, you'll find your level of commitment will rise to the challenge.

This, I love this. Also I would add that starting slowly may help you stick to it more. If you dive in restricting everything and pushing yourself really hard then you're bound to be miserable. Do what you think you can maintain and work in more healthy habits. Also finding healthy ways to incorporate your favorite foods helps me a lot, that way I don't feel like I'm restricting anything. Learning to enjoy small portions (200-300 calories or less) of really well prepared and good quality indulgences is a treat for your psyche but won't break your calorie bank. Also what worked well for me in the food department is to have your favorite healthy staples in the house and just make sure you eat those before you eat anything else in the day. That way you're either too full to eat things that aren't as good for you, or you'll save them for later as long as they fit in your calorie bank. Also stocking up on my favorite things that were healthy didn't feel like I was depriving myself cause I enjoyed those things anyway. I don't force myself to eat bananas just because they're good for me, because I hate eating them.
For fitness, just try to find something you like an start out 10 minutes of it whenever you can. Also just get up and walk around your house or office for a few minutes every hour or so. You don't even have to think of it as exercise, you just need to get your blood moving to take care of your body! Or to go get more water from the farthest place you can Make it work for you and you'll find you can commit to more and more things. Also learn to do your research. Google what exercises burn the most calories, are the most fun, are the most beginner friendly, etc. You'll learn great tips and maybe be motivated to try something new!