Did you used to sabotage yourself?

SunnyLynnie

If there is anyone out there who USED to sabotage their own efforts at losing weight and getting fit and you successfully stopped, I'd sure like to know how you did it.

Any advice would be appreciated!

krisiepoo

ahhh... I'm a chronic self-sabateur (is that even a word?!)... as soon as I have positive results I quickly negate them

Can't wait to see some good responses!

weird_me2

I still self sabotage, but I've gotten better. I recommend the book The Beck Diet Solution by Judith Beck. It's a cognative behavioral therapy book and has exercises for you to work through and help recognizing sabotaging thoughts and responding to them. I bought the book years ago but am just now getting in to it, and it has been helpful.

dexter4564

It was the main reason I have tried and failed at least 20 times over the last couple of years. But the way I managed to stop it was with MFP. Every time I have doubts, I log onto the forum and look at the before/after pictures. They give me the motivation to stay on track.

Maryaly40

used to?? I STILL do. I'm prolonging my progress and I'm working on the why. One day at a time.

JenniferAHaines

Unfortunately still do. Lost 35 lbs and have slowly gained back 10 over the last 6 weeks. Ugh. Don't know why whenever I make positive progress I do this to myself. Trying to turn it back around now.

CrisN99

Oh yes! I only just recently stopped. The rule of thumb is if you ask anyone for 'help' with your efforts and they tell you something that hits a nerve or makes you mad- they're right! Change it.

There was a post not too long ago, something like 'You're not special'. While it sounds cruel its really true. You have to count calories and create a deficit. You have to burn more than you take in. You have to avoid certain food situations or learn to deal with them. In that, we are all the same.

Stop thinking about it, hoping for it- whatever. Its only 20% headwork. The other 80% is LEGWORK. Just make the right choices one day at a time and watch your success pile up in front of you.

You can do this!

SusanMcAvoy

I bought a Fitbit and it motivates me. I had lost 47 pounds but sabotaged myself and gained 17 pounds back. Some of it was because I got shin splints and I was so mad I ended my diet for a while and ate anything I wanted. Not good :grumble: Then I went on vacation and said screw it!! But the Fitbit really has me up and motivated again. Fitbit Ulta is the best kind. I love to see my numbers climb. And I'm back eating below my calorie goal too. Sometimes it takes something new to re-motivate us. I just hope the shin splints don't come back. Good luck!! :flowerforyou:

cici1028

Still do... but not nearly as badly as I used to. I don't think you ever stop... I just think you get better at controlling it. Without fail, any time I have an event coming up that I want to look great for or if I see a certain number on the scale, I interpret it as an excuse to lighten up.

I think the trick is just to keep trying to stay on track. Schedule rewards for yourself that don't involve food and really stick to it! And reward yourself for NOT slipping back into old habits.

tigerlinly

i cant say i totally stopped but i have learned to control it. instead if dekiberatly going way out of control and eating everythign in sight and then some because i was mainly boredom eating i have cut way back and now instead of a bag of chips and can of dip i may grab a slice of cheese or a handful of trail mix, a pudding cup of a yogurt cup so i am slowly getting there

SoDamnHungry

I sometimes did, by going to a bakery or something. But that was a short sabotage, so it'd be over soon. I guess I've just overcome myself, because I still sit at a desk full of candy, and there's a bag of Jelly Bellies on my nightstand. I just haven't given in to my own evil plots.

ljd0693

I joined a weight loss support group and finally got my wife to on-board. You need to keep people around you that are supportive.

urloved33

I would like to know how they did it to.

Yellabutterfly05

Oh yes! I only just recently stopped. The rule of thumb is if you ask anyone for 'help' with your efforts and they tell you something that hits a nerve or makes you mad- they're right! Change it.

There was a post not too long ago, something like 'You're not special'. While it sounds cruel its really true. You have to count calories and create a deficit. You have to burn more than you take in. You have to avoid certain food situations or learn to deal with them. In that, we are all the same.

Stop thinking about it, hoping for it- whatever. Its only 20% headwork. The other 80% is LEGWORK. Just make the right choices one day at a time and watch your success pile up in front of you.

You can do this!

This^^ No more to say

urloved33

yes the why always trips me up...do we have to know why to stop?

used to?? I STILL do. I'm prolonging my progress and I'm working on the why. One day at a time.

PandaPants0612

Yup! Former (and hopefully never current again!) binge eater here.

I'd eat really healthy, then stop by a fast food place and easily gobble down 1000-2000 calories, just out of comfort and NOT hunger.

I've been doing a lot better, but I still have days that are a little iffy. No fast food binges since I started MFP though, which I consider a victory

I guess planning my meals beforehand has really helped, along with making sure I have healthier choices to fall back on when I feel like bingeing (lately, its been grapes). I also haven't eaten fast food from any place besides Taco Bell, and TB is "safe" to me simply because I can't "car-binge" on Taco Bell. Its simply too messy to eat in my car, unlike a burger or chicken sandwich from BK. Also, when I go to TB (my bf and I love it lol) I always get the fresco chicken tacos with the salsa. 150 calories and 2 fills me up.

jess7386

I used to sabotage myself by having one bad day, saying "screw it," and starting again next week. This was a pattern that probably caused me to gain about 30-40lbs. I've realized recently that I'm not going to ever be perfect, but that I need to get back on the wagon ASAP if I eat something bad/don't work out.

I've also realized that I can't beat myself up about my weight anymore. I'm on the path to a healthier life, and I'm doing absolutely everything in my power (within reason) to drop the weight and feel better about myself. Beating yourself up only leads to reinforcing a poor attitude towards weightloss and thus, reinforces being overweight and unhealthy. So for now I'm trying to enjoy the foods I eat, enjoy exercising, and enjoy the way my body is changing just a little bit every day.

I hope this helps someone!

kristimartiny

I still sabotage myself...ugh.... not sure why. Do I not deserve to be healthy? What am I afraid of? Still trying to figure that one out! One day at a time.

elise9832

I used to sabotage myself all the time. I would go "off" my diet for a weekend or on vacation, but I always regretted it. Now when I am tempted to cheat, I remind myself of the times I cheated, and how they made me feel. I ask myself how far ahead would I be if I had not cheated that time? That line of thinking usually gets me to stay on track.

I also try to plan a "treat" snack or meal maybe once a week or once every two weeks. This way when I'm tempted to cheat I can say no to whatever unhealthy thing I'm about to do without feeling like I'm deprived.

HeatherSanto

It was always the "Today is a bad day, just start fresh tomorrow" mindset. What changed is that this moment is bad and its done. Salvage the rest of today, don't blow an entire day. That helped me.

literatelier

Yes, I always have. The why of it has been percolating at the back of my mind for a long time. I think I was afraid that if I successfully lose all my weight my life won't change in the ways I sort of fantasize it will, and everything will just be the same only I'll be fitter. And then I would just think there's no point.

But then I've slowly been realizing since May, when I finally made a serious commitment, that it doesn't matter if my life doesn't change, because this is what I want. I stopped dreaming about what my life will be like when I'm in shape and just buckled down to get there, because I accepted the fact that my life won't suddenly be fabulous - but I WILL be happier.

MTBrob

Actually I used to sabotage my self a lot.. Over the year I would want to lose weight and maybe I would try for a day and then I would go out and order a cheeseburger.. There are many ways you can sabotage yourself from your food choices to even looking at yourself in the mirror..

For Years I could look at my self and thing I am good looking.. I could do a little look tilt my head a certain way get my hair just right and be like yeah I look good.. The problem was I wasn't focusing on the rest of me.. That growing gut down below..

Finally after seeing a picture of my self I had to weigh my self I was close to 300lbs..
Day 1 started that day ..

There were a lot of bumps in the road and continuous Sabotage, but I kept pushing through, then I began to change my mind set to go along with my changing body and thats when real results happen Mentally, emotionally and physically.

You have to change your mind set to change your body because your old ways are nothing but a loop that leads you back on the path of obesity.

You have to get uncomfortable to see changes, because they don't happen in your comfort zone.. Push your boundaries and you will change..

My mindset has changed and so has my body .. Self sabotage is something I help people not do to themselves now.

fit4lifeUcan2

I used to but then would get mad at myself and work extra hard to reverse the damage. Now before I reach for the junk food I think to myself do I really want to ruin all of that hard work? NO!! So I don't eat it.

Liberty_7728

At one point I was down to 147lbs and worked my way right up to 240! That is serious sabotage if you ask me...I had to look at my "relationship" with food. What is food to me? I started noticing when I felt accomplished or happy, it was my Que to "treat" myself or take my kids out for ice cream. Sadly when I was stressed or upset I would make a bowl of popcorn with extra butter and have a whole frozen pizza to make myself feel better. REALLY! Yuck...needless to say I am still working on what exactly my relationship with food is. I look at it as though it were an addiction. People who smoke need to replace the hand to mouth motion of putting the cigarette to their lips in the same manner I needed to replace the my emotional connection with food. Changing my outlook has been a slow process but I am starting to realize that food is only a fuel for getting my body to function at maximum performance. I am trying to turn my emotional outlet towards a bike ride or a jog on the treadmill. Even to curl up and read a book has been a better outlet than food ever was.
So I recommend looking at what is going on when you sabotage yourself and working from there. Good luck with your journey!

OnWisconsin84

I failed because I became obsessed with the scale. And I was only eating 1200 calories while doing too much cardio (i.e. netting way less than 1200). That's not sustainable for long-term success. I threw my scale out 168 days ago & haven't weighed myself since. Subsequently, I have not had any issues with binge eating in that entire 168 days. For me, the number on the scale ruined my day. If it wasn't what I thought it should be I would eat. If it was less than what I thought it should be, I'd still eat sometimes...thinking 'oh I can get away with a little more...' Definitely not healthy. Now, I net at least 1800 most days, I cut back on cardio & focus on weights, don't deprive myself of any 'bad food' (I eat it when I want, in moderation, so long as it fits in my #s for the day), don't care about the number on the scale because I've learned to trust myself and my body. I feel the best I ever have and this is the longest stretch I've ever gone with maintaining since I lost over 110# in 2009.

PurpleEpiphany

I don't know if it counts as sabotage (it probably does), but I used to chicken out. I didn't WANT to step on the scale, because I didn't want to know what it said. I didn't WANT to count calories (the past few months have been the first time I've ever done this) because I didn't really want to know how many calories I was taking in.

As someone else said, the bottom line is that it's hard work. Many of us are managing what amounts to an addiction, only it's an addiction you can't just quit cold turkey. You have to make a choice about what's more important to you, eating bad food or being healthy. I'm not saying you have to never have any kind of treat ever again, but (for me anyway) it has to become the rare exception rather than the rule.

LoraF83

I used to sabotage myself. I would spend an hour in the gym and then think that it was okay to have Wendy's for lunch (burger, fries, and a frosty! yikes!). Or I would drink 5-6 Mt. Dew's a day. I would let myself get sidetracked from my goal way too easily.

The difference this time? I really want it.

StarvingDiva

I wish I could say I conquered this but i haven't. I too when I get low or to a certain level i start to self sabotage. But in the past I would completely give up and now I just look at each meal, each day, a new way to be better.

lizziebeth1028

I used too sabotage myself! I would be so strict Monday through Friday, in fact I was eating too few calories to offset my mega calorie weekends. You end up in this exhausting cycle of extremes - starvation during the week, excessive workouts, then bingeing on the weekends. Ugh it's no way to live. When you truly learn moderation....you can get out of that exhausting cycle and start seeing results. A healthy lifestyle means 7 days a week not 4 1/2! I still have special occasions, events and vacations where I'll indulge more then usual but for the most part I stay consistent.

SunnyLynnie

I sometimes did, by going to a bakery or something. But that was a short sabotage, so it'd be over soon. I guess I've just overcome myself, because I still sit at a desk full of candy, and there's a bag of Jelly Bellies on my nightstand. I just haven't given in to my own evil plots.

lol yes, evil plots indeed. "I'm just buying this bag of chips for my kids". The kids never see it.

SunnyLynnie

You're helping me!!