Difficulty Putting Myself Back on Track

Does anyone have an awful time getting back on track with exercise/healthy eating once you slip up? I can do great for a week and then something emotional usually gets to me so I eat something bad, then since I screwed up, I see that as an excuse to continue eating crap and not moving.

Is this junkfood addiction?
Is this lack of motivation to lose weight?
Perfectionism?
All of the above?

I mean, don't most people realize they ate something "off plan" and then just go back "on plan"? I'm a little lost as to why I feel like an unsupervised teenager and go wild as soon as I make a mistake. Maybe my heart's not in this?

Replies

ngyoung

how planned are your meals? You set them out ahead of time for the day/week? It has helped our family to have every diner planned out for the week ahead. I then figure out my lunch at work depending on how diner went with leftovers that night or in the morning. Portioning out your snacks for the day helps too. If you find yourself wandering the kitchen hungry looking for a snack you usually are not going to make the best choices. I am not a very organized person and I don't plan everything ahead every day but it is one thing that helps a lot. I am sure you have heard to not go grocery shopping while hungry. Same can be said for when figuring out what you want to eat.

It can also help to have a go to restaurant meal that you know is a healthy choice at many favorite restaurants so if you're having a lazy day you can just go grab one of them. Jimmy John's unwich and Chipotle burrito bowl are personal go-to for me.

bcattoes

It happens to a lot of people. The best thing you can do is stop looking to food for comfort. Emotional eating is dangerous, because life is full of problems. You need to find other ways to deal with stress. Meditate, go for a walk, pray, phone a friend. Whatever works. But eating will never, ever, make the problem better.

It's okay to go off plan now and then. Many people find it helpful and actually plan "cheat" meals or days. But part of the plan needs to be keeping those days occasional.

Save your off plan or "cheat" meals for happier occasions like a party, wedding or reunion. Then you can actually enjoy the eating instead of feeling guilty after.

spngbob

My thing is getting back to a regular exercise routine. If I travel or get sick, (just got over the flu....sick with that for a month), I find it REALLY hard to get back to exercise. I look at my bike and weights EVERY day, tell myself that 'later' I'll do it. Later hasn't come yet. Been a week. Hoping that by posting this I will get my motivation back. They say that by writing (typing) everything down is a good way to police yourself. OK, I know.....JUST DO IT will work as well! Weights today for sure....just....later. lol.

bcattoes

My thing is getting back to a regular exercise routine. If I travel or get sick, (just got over the flu....sick with that for a month), I find it REALLY hard to get back to exercise. I look at my bike and weights EVERY day, tell myself that 'later' I'll do it. Later hasn't come yet. Been a week. Hoping that by posting this I will get my motivation back. They say that by writing (typing) everything down is a good way to police yourself. OK, I know.....JUST DO IT will work as well! Weights today for sure....just....later. lol.

"later" can be a fitness killer. That's why I find it helpful to schedule workouts, even though I workout at home. On work days it's immediately after I get home from work. On weekends, first thing in the morning. If I put either off I don't do it.

MaraDiaz

Congrats on losing 43 pounds.

Here is a thought that motivates me and has ever since I lost my first 20 pounds or so:

If I quit now I'm going to gain every ounce back and then some in way less than half the time it took me to lose it, and all my hard work will have been for nothing!

spngbob

FINALLY!!!! Getting my mojo back! Did 100 leg curls of 10 lbs! Three times a week is my goal, not bad for being sedentary with the flu for a month. Maybe add the bike mid-week.....see how I feel.

kelly7912

I'm suffereing from major winter blues over here. This week I have gotten that push to get back at it since I remember how unhappy I was before, and now from being lazy since Christmas, I am winded taking the stairs. Been back into walking, elliptical, and introducing weights. Getting back into it reminds me how much I loved it and missed it!! Just start off slow, and a strong support group helps get you back on your feet