I am not a quitter but I acted like one.

steveh08
steveh08 Posts: 66 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hi I’m Steve and I almost quit. I was giving up on myself. I started last year at 310.2 pounds. I worked my butt off and lost 75 pounds this last year. But I guess I started to get comfortable with my new body. I was starting to like it. I got lazy, very lazy. I stopped logging, I stopped working as hard. What was I thinking? I knew I wasn’t close to my goal yet. The mind is a terrible thing sometimes. It was telling me to quit and I listened. Why? I wanted to keep working on my body but my mind kept me going in different directions. It’s okay to eat that today. Can even have a little tomorrow is what I started thinking. It’s too damn hot outside to workout. See even the weather person is saying be very careful outside. So I listened to them. It’s time to win the mental can. I am better than this. I am stronger than this. I want to look better than this. I want a body I can be proud of again. Thank you to all the people here that continue to support me in the good times and the bad. It means more to me than you know. Sorry for the rambling but I had to put it in writing. Thanks again to those special people on MFP that would not let me give up on me.

Replies

  • MaudeBeige
    MaudeBeige Posts: 282
    :happy: Goooooo.... Steve! From one unquitter to another!
  • lavieboheme1229
    lavieboheme1229 Posts: 448 Member
    Good for you! I catch my brain doing this sometimes too "But you look good now, don't worry about those last 15 pounds, you can go up to maintenance and stop logging now!"

    Then I tell my mind it's a little *****, and put the bag of chips away. Good for you, keep up the great work!
  • MissFit0101
    MissFit0101 Posts: 2,382
    Good for you for getting back with it. Many of us have gone through times where we just aren't giving 100% anymore, but it's the getting back on track that counts. Good luck to you, I hope you reach all your goals!
  • bemott
    bemott Posts: 180
    I know all those voices. I think we have to fight them all out lives. But the healthier, smarter, stronger part of you is still being developed and wil leventually just wrestle that weak, giving up on yourself and your goals part to the ground. Good for you for putting it in writing and for recognizing what's going on. Keep at it. You are most definitly not a quitter.
  • greasygriddle_wechnage
    greasygriddle_wechnage Posts: 246 Member
    just when you think your out, that *kitten* fat SUCKS you right back in!!! way to recognize! keep going! :smokin:
  • ohmariposa
    ohmariposa Posts: 372 Member
    Don't ever give up :-) I lost almost 60lbs and then got really busy at school (directing a play, yearbook stuff etc) and went off track for almost 3 months...gained back 5lbs and then decided nope...I am AM NOT getting fat again. SO I have been back to logging for a month and feel so much better about myself. You are worth it and you can do it. Everyone hits snags in the road...proud of you for all your accomplishments :happy:
  • deineira
    deineira Posts: 75 Member
    Hi Steve,
    The good news is you're still here, and posting about taking a break. That's more than half the battle, I think. You are already ahead of most people who say they are going to try to lose weight, and then do nothing to very little about it. I have watched several people close to me try this journey and quit within a month or two, and you're still here a year later. That is something to be very, very, very proud of.

    I think sometimes we need to take a break from obsessing over our weight and our food. I think these little breaks are helpful for our sanity, and most importantly, our long term success. Changing our habits is a marathon, not a race, and so you've got to hang in there for the long haul. That also means that sometimes you do great, sometimes you fall short, but you keep staying on the path of taking better care of yourself, eating better, and exercising, and you've still improved your health exponentially.

    You're already back on track, because you're still HERE!
  • royaldrea
    royaldrea Posts: 259 Member
    Glad you have decided to keep going, Steve! I struggle with this too. Distinguishing between actually putting ourselves first and doing whatever the hell we feel like doing despite the consequences is difficult, but once you figure it out and stick with it, it changes everything! Congrats on your initial loss and I wish you well on your journey! :)
  • ccpowers
    ccpowers Posts: 203 Member
    You so did NOT quit....didnt even come close, you just took a break and enjoyed life a little extra. And the break was shorter than all others. Next time it will be even shorter again. I am proud of you and I know you are going to get to where you want to be. And know.....I will NEVER EVER let you quit, or even come close! I need you on this journey too much!
  • sarahharmintx
    sarahharmintx Posts: 868 Member
    Way to go Steve. Sometimes its benefical to see it in writing. Keep up the good work and remember this post the next time you want to walk away.
  • berniemay
    berniemay Posts: 78 Member
    Great post! I can totally relate to what you have gone through. I did a fitness show at the end of May and trained extremely hard for six months. After that show I fell into a really bad funk and was doing exactly as you said - got too comfortable with my body, ignored all eating strategies, slacking on my exercise, etc. In the two months since the show, I have gained 10 lbs. I knew that I would gain some back since I was on such a strict low carb diet, but 10? This morning I woke up with the attitude that "I can do this!" I checked into the gym at 5:10 this morning and did 50 minutes of cardio. I am going to start logging my food on here again, and making better food choices. I want to lose about six pounds to get down to where I want to be. Then I want to start working on my strength and body fat %. We can do this! We will do this!
  • Diary_Queen
    Diary_Queen Posts: 1,314 Member
    Now that's the Steve we know!!!! Welcome back buddy!
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Glad to see you back at it Steve! :muah:
  • runnerjenn0708
    runnerjenn0708 Posts: 400 Member
    You're MY inspiration!!!

    You're #1 FAN - Jenn
  • trhjrh06
    trhjrh06 Posts: 2,272 Member
    Thank you for posting this. I am in the EXACT same spot right now. The past few weeks have been not so good for me. I never had the mind set of giving up, but for some reason just couldn't get back at it.

    You have done an amazing job and will continue to do so, as I will!

    Thank you. Just helps me realize I'm not the only one that goes through hard times. I've been at this a year and this has been the first real time i have felt very frustrated about it all.
    Thank you :)
  • winamb
    winamb Posts: 18 Member
    Like they say.....Fall down 7 times, get up 8!!! I have struggled as well and have let it all go. Stress will do that to you. But, you are back now and that is all that counts!! Great Job!
  • MassiveDelta
    MassiveDelta Posts: 3,271 Member
    Hi I’m Steve and I almost quit. I was giving up on myself. I started last year at 310.2 pounds. I worked my butt off and lost 75 pounds this last year. But I guess I started to get comfortable with my new body. I was starting to like it. I got lazy, very lazy. I stopped logging, I stopped working as hard. What was I thinking? I knew I wasn’t close to my goal yet. The mind is a terrible thing sometimes. It was telling me to quit and I listened. Why? I wanted to keep working on my body but my mind kept me going in different directions. It’s okay to eat that today. Can even have a little tomorrow is what I started thinking. It’s too damn hot outside to workout. See even the weather person is saying be very careful outside. So I listened to them. It’s time to win the mental can. I am better than this. I am stronger than this. I want to look better than this. I want a body I can be proud of again. Thank you to all the people here that continue to support me in the good times and the bad. It means more to me than you know. Sorry for the rambling but I had to put it in writing. Thanks again to those special people on MFP that would not let me give up on me.

    Steve this is me. Glad you came back.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Hi I’m Steve and I almost quit. I was giving up on myself. I started last year at 310.2 pounds. I worked my butt off and lost 75 pounds this last year. But I guess I started to get comfortable with my new body. I was starting to like it. I got lazy, very lazy. I stopped logging, I stopped working as hard. What was I thinking? I knew I wasn’t close to my goal yet. The mind is a terrible thing sometimes. It was telling me to quit and I listened. Why? I wanted to keep working on my body but my mind kept me going in different directions. It’s okay to eat that today. Can even have a little tomorrow is what I started thinking. It’s too damn hot outside to workout. See even the weather person is saying be very careful outside. So I listened to them. It’s time to win the mental can. I am better than this. I am stronger than this. I want to look better than this. I want a body I can be proud of again. Thank you to all the people here that continue to support me in the good times and the bad. It means more to me than you know. Sorry for the rambling but I had to put it in writing. Thanks again to those special people on MFP that would not let me give up on me.

    Because we all have a long list of "shoulds" in our head and if we can be perfect it doesn't count.
    If we are uber-strick, it's easy to get tired and give up.

    What saved me here was realizing I don't have to be perfect I just have to be better...
    When I realized my "bad days" tracking were still better than any day before I was tracking... I'm not perfect, but I'm improving.
    ...Okay, so I went over my target calories, still when I click the button at the end of the day it's still saying I'll weigh less in 5 weeks than I do now. (as long as I'm under maintenance calories for my GOAL weight, I'll get there eventually)

    I am a big fan of a series small sustainable changes... Let it become habit then reassess often and tweak, not all of your changes will work... it's trial and error, so adjust again.

    Yes, there are days when I say when I'm frustrated that I'm not meeting my "shoulds".
    And once I would say "I can't do this, why bother..."
    Now I say "it's okay to take a break..." (as long as I stay under my maintenance calories for my CURRENT weight, I shouldn't gain) Relax eat what I want and get back with the program.

    And really the program is just learning a how to eat for the long haul. Learning how to eat in a way that enhances my life. I don't want to live a life of deprivation, but I realize I can't live a life of constant overindulgence. That food is fuel which enables me to live an awesome life.
  • scrapbooklady
    scrapbooklady Posts: 77 Member
    Thanks Steve! I really needed to read that today. I am not about to quit or anything but it is a good reminder of what my mind can do. I am all about the "it's okay to eat that today, Its okay not to workout for a day or 2." Those things lead to 2 days and then before you know it is a week and then 2, and then I get down on myself and quit. I am not giving in this time. It is all about a lifestyle change for health! Proud of you, too!
  • Izzyrb1234
    Izzyrb1234 Posts: 29
    Hi, I am new here, so I'll see how things go. If its of any help....im trying (despite my deviance today) to think what I put in my body I want to be energy - all this processed stuff is not energy - its chemicals..tasty chemicals sometimes, I'll admit. But if I can continue to develop this perspective, I am hoping it helps me create a better base from which I choose foods. Don't know if this helps at all, but it doesn't sound like you are a quitter at all......
  • Restybaby2012
    Restybaby2012 Posts: 568 Member
    Sometimes that "quiting episode" is necessary for us to be able to refocus and to see exactly WHERE we can end up AGAIN if we are mindful of where we've been and how we got there. Good on you for catching that little liar that was sitting on your shoulder. As long as you're willing to keep trying we'll keep supporting you.

    I lost over 100 lbs a few years back and got busted up in a couple semi truck accidents and then got lazy as I struggled through recovery from a broken back and fractured neck. Last year I started here and got lost. ~sigh~ Suffice it to say Ive got the 100 to lose again. The difference this time is Im aiming for a lifestyle change versus a diet to "hurry up and lose ___lbs"

    Sorry didnt mean to de-rail your thread. I wish you much success

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