Yo.Yo.ING Me! HOW DO I BREAK THIS CYCLE!

I joined MFP in Janurary and like you did great the first couple of weeks and then it slowed to weight loss was 15 lbs. I was 5 to 10 away from my goal weight and 10 of it has come back and get the scale to move. I know I got lazy in my logging food and is hard sometimes when I eat at my boyfriend's. I still excerise and log it but I just am determined to keep going and not resort to my bad habits of taking laxatives like I did afew years ago. I have my days where I just want to throw in the towel and eat what I want and how much, but have seen a difference in the mirror and know I feel better when I eat better. I take it one meal at a time and day! You can do this and I start my day here to get motivatied for the day ahead.

I'm a yo yo too.

Feb 2005 - > 260lbs
Jan 2006 - > 148lbs
Oct 2008 - > 235lbs
May 2010 - > 166lbs
August 2012 - > 225lbs

I'm 214lbs this morning.

Yep.

The first time I lost weight too fast and was WAY too strict (1200-1500/day no exceptions, would skip eating to drink alcohol as I was in university). Put on a mental health drug that is notorious for weight gain and ballooned right back up. Second time I was much more reasonable and was able to keep the weight off for over a year, but a period of high stress in my life had me running back to my old over eating habits.

This time I'm doing it like the second time again, but with more exercise and more focus on learning to cope with stress in a healthy way. Wish me and my poor internal organs luck that I don't mess it up again.

I used to be the same way.

In Junior High, I wore size 0.
Highschool, size 2/4.
Around age 20, I wore a size 14/16.
Around age 21/22, I wore a size 6 (from eating 600 cals or less a day).
Around 22/23, I maintained a size 6/8.
23/24, I got back up to a size 14.
Now I am 25 and I'm wearing a size 4 again. Hopefully the changes will stick.

For me I think that making small changes is the best way. Also, don't go too low on calories. Google "Fat 2 Fit Radio" and use their calculator. I have struggled in the past with eating too low calorie, and that causes your body to lose muscle mass, causing you to be apt to gain your weight back easily.

Good luck with everything!

PS: Also, for me, becoming a pescatarian has helped a lot. But I know it's not for everyone!

I agree with everyone who says make small changes you can stick to. I think it's reasonable to expect some ebb and flow in weight. Life changes, and it can be challenged to stick to a plan.

I, too, have done to yoyo. That's why this time I'm less concerned with how quickly I lose the pounds and more concerned with the habits I'm trying to cultivate. One of those is tracking. I try not to cut myself any slack on tracking, even if I cut myself slack on what I'm eating. Just being honest with myself helps. I'm hesitant to make any extreme changes just for quick results because I know how quickly those results can be reversed.

Take a look at your dieting habits and ask yourself, "Is this something I can live with 6 months from now? A year from now? IS THIS SUSTAINABLE?" If the answer is no, than you may want to re-evaluate how you are approaching this.

My own approach is to eliminate NOTHING but allow myself anything in MODERATION. (Learning moderation takes time, so if you miss the mark the first time, don't beat yourself up.) The only exercise I do regularly is walking my dogs, because I know I can sustain that. I make an occasional gym visit, but I really don't have the energy to make that a regular part of my life at this point, so I'm not going to start a habit I know I won't stick to. I try to minimize processed foods, but I'm a full-time working mom, so I give myself some grace there.

Life's too short to stress dieting. Take good care of your body and it will take care of you! Good luck!